May, 2009 Newsletter
April Meeting
Clarke Manor Bed & Breakfast hosted our April meeting. This Italianate mansion was built in 1854 by Dubuque dentist Ebenezer Clarke on Seminary Drive (later re-named Clarke Drive after Mary Frances Clarke of Clarke College – no relation). The Clarke family owned the home until Dr. Clarke’s death in 1907.
The Roshek family purchased the home in 1908 and kept it in the family for 3 generations over 80 years. They significantly expanded the home. The home also played a role in the income tax evasion trial against the Roshek’s – who had been furnishing the home with Roshek’s Bros. furniture without declaring it on their taxes. Oops!
The Esser family purchased the property and owned it for 4-5 years before selling it to Mario and Angelina Bertonili – owners of Mario’s Italian Restaurant on 13th and Main.
Current owners, Taylor and Barbara Walter purchased the home as a vacation home, but then converted it to a B&B. The innkeeper, Rose Ames, gave a presentation on the history of this historic Dubuque home.
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