Dwellings -- Iowa -- Fort Dodge; Fort Dodge (Iowa) -- Buildings, structures, etc.; Historic buildings -- Iowa -- Fort Dodge
The house originally had five rooms on the first floor—living room,
library, dining room, solarium, kitchen and pantry; the second floor had
four bedrooms, sleeping porch and bath. The third floor attic area also
had two finished rooms. The house had large front and back porches.
Smith was born in Pennsylvania in 1867 and came west as a young man to
Grinnell where he attended and graduated from Grinnell College. Moving
to Fort Dodge he then was employed by The Messenger until entering
public service.
Smith was married in Fort Dodge to Grace Hepler, daughter of Charles B.
Hepler, the contractor. They were parents of three daughters—Mrs.
Margaret Lowrey of Seattle, Wash.; Elizabeth, deceased; and Mrs. Thomas
(Gretchen) Porter of Fort Dodge.
Mr. Smith died in 1919 at the age of 52 years; Mrs. Smith died here in
1948.
[Illustration: The Smith home
1205 5th Avenue South]
THE HORN HOME
For many years this residence at 1201 6th Ave. S. was the home of Paul
Horn, widely-known cabinetmaker, inventor and industrialist. Built in
1908 it stands on a lot generally known at that time as the highest
point in the city.
Mr. and Mrs. Horn and family resided in the house as it was originally
built until 1924 when it was completely remodeled. After remodeling the
house included a large kitchen with breakfast nook, dining room large
enough to seat 18 persons and with a built-in buffet expertly crafted by
Horn which covered the entire south wall of the room. Also on the first
floor were large living room with solarium, family room and powder room.
The upstairs of the house is reached by a stairway that divides at a
landing. One section of the stairway leads to the area with two bedrooms
and bath; the other to three bedrooms and bath. The third floor has two
rooms. The Horns retained possession of the home until 1964 when Mrs.
Horn moved to Friendship Haven.
Horn had many hobbies in addition to his unique skill at woodworking.
These included stonework and growing of special flowers. The basement of
the house was completely finished and included his hobby shop with both
wood and metal working equipment. Attached to the house on the south
side is a small greenhouse where Horn raised many flowers.
A native of Germany, Horn learned cabinetmaking there and came to Fort
Dodge in 1902 and worked for a time at the Fort Dodge Planing Mill. In
1909 he established his own business here known as the Paul Horn Cabinet
Works where he manufactured store fixtures and repaired fine furniture.
It later became the Horn Manufacturing Company.
In 1922 he invented Horn Folding Partitions for use in schools and
public buildings throughout the United States. Some years later—in
1938—Horn invented the Horn Folding Bleachers that were made here and
installed in school gymnasiums in all parts of the country. During World
War II the Horn company made and installed large airplane hangar doors
for military installations throughout the US.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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