2007 Tour Review
Raffle
All adult Tour ticket holders may enter a raffle for prizes offered by the DOHE Tour
Sponsors.
The 2007 winners.
2007 Featured Homes
The 2007 tour featured 6 homes in the Langworthy District. Almost 800 people took advantage of the beautiful Spring weather to step back in time to a more gracious era. DOHE docents provided information on the history of each home. An informative brochure with pictures and a Map was provided as a guide.
Check out the video of our 2007 tour. Broadband Low Speed The movie takes a few moments to load.
264 Alpine
The Langworthys were a large and industrious family that figured prominently in Dubuque and Iowa history. Brother Edward constructed the first house in the future state of Iowa in Sept. 1832. Brother James helped construct the first school house in Iowa (1833) before hiring Lyman Dillon to construct the military road between Dubuque and Iowa City. In 1836, James built the second brick home in Dubuque, on the corner of Iowa and Twelfth streets.
Brother James acquired the land from the U.S. government becoming the first citizen owner of the land. While the land claims were filed in 1851, it is uncertain when the home was actually built, publications varying between 1848 and 1856. In 1861, a claim was filed by Solon and Julia to expand their land for farming by 21.52 acres.
In 1862, Solon Langworthy was appointed Lieutenant and Quartermaster of the 27th I. V. L., and fought to preserve the Union in the Civil War, resigning and returning home in 1864. Thereafter, he engaged in various enterprises, including banking and lumbering. In 1879, Solon and Julia sold part of their land to the city for the widening of Third Street. Again in 1891, the family gave the city additional sections of their property to construct Alpine Street, the present-day street on which the home resides, and Langworthy Avenue (today, Langworthy Street).
In 1907, Julia died, leaving the estate to her children legally subdividing the land into six lots. The property was sold in 1934 to W.J. Ewe. Ewe immediately sold the property to August and Emma Klein, who divided the house into apartments. The property has since passed from Emma's children to Clarence Hamilton in 1970, as well as from Hamilton to Jeremy Wainwright (present owner) in 1998. Jeremy and wife, Keisha opened the west-facing division of the home, an addition added around 1870, as a Bed & Breakfast in 2006. The couple has done extensive restoration work to the building, with work still in progress
890 West Third Street
This stately Italianate home was built in 1879 for Englishman, Jacob Rich. Mr. Rich was a politician and editor who had recently moved from Chicago to Dubuque with his new bride.
In the 1930's the home was divided into apartments and in the 1950's it suffered the loss of a two-story wraparound porch. Fran and Ellen Henkels purchased the home in 1985 and have sensitively renovated it throughout.
The exterior has been magnificently repainted and has appeared in several books on Victorian architecture, including American Painted Ladies. Inside, the home is graced with 12-foot ceilings, five fireplaces and walnut woodwork in its thirteen rooms. Pocket Doors on the main floor are even adorned with the letter "R" (for Rich) etched in the glass.
The Henkels have decorated the home with carefully selected walnut and rosewood Victorian furniture, much built by local craftsmen. Additionally, a collection of artwork and Dubuque memorabilia enhance this fine home.
1011 Melrose Terrace
This charming craftsman-style four square was built in 1920, most likely by local builder, Chris A. Volker. Volker is thought to be the builder due to the use of Volker stone and inclusion of the home in early promotional photos.
This home, as well as others in the Langworthy district, was placed on the National Register of Historic places in 2004. Interior features include; original doors, woodwork, windows, wood floors, light fixtures, French doors, built-in china cabinets, buffet and wrap-around window seat.
Exterior features include; historically authentic paint scheme, exposed rafters, two-thirds, full-width Volker stone porch with open side terrace, milk box and bell.
The current owners Duane and Tanya (Cook) Drish purchased the home in 2003. The Drish's have painted most of the rooms in the home and have refinished the hardwood flooring in the dining room. The home is tastefully decorated with a combination of old and new decor.
390 Hill Street
This highly detailed late Queen Anne Victorian was built circa 1906 by Joseph Melloy, a local land developer. It is mostly known as the Albert and Ella Hartig Home. During 2007 this home celebrated two notable achievements: it turned 100 years old and received a Dubuque County Historical Society Restoration Award. Mr. Hartig was a prominent Dubuque pharmacist and founder of the Hartig Drug Store chain. Al and his wife Ella lived in the home for 40 years from 1913 to 1953.
When Jim and Jo Ann Edwards purchased the home in 1988, it was in need of major restoration work both inside and out. The exterior had lost its' wrap-around veranda, the back porch was rotted and falling apart, and the lapboard was covered with asbestos siding, with the soffits and eaves wrapped in flat aluminum stock. The Edwards' completely restored the entire exterior, painting it in a five-color historically appropriate color scheme. Jim spent two years rebuilding the front veranda from the ground up. He turned all 262 spindles and made all the gingerbread trim. Jo spent several months on scaffolding restoring the Fleur-de-Lis tin soffit at the roof line of the turret and Jim made all of the fish scale shingles for the turret and double bays. At the back of the home, Jim replaced the double porch with an attached carriage house graced with four dormers. The structure is large enough to accommodate three vehicles, with a large Victorian gathering room, bath, laundry room and library on the upper level. The interior of the home was also completely restored by the Edwards'.
The house is furnished with antiques that the Edwards' have collected over the years. Notable antiques include the 1880's master bedroom set originally owned by the first Lt. Governor of Wisconsin, the large 1880's German sideboard with hand-carved griffins located in the dining room, and a genuine 1929 Magic Chef fully-functioning stove in the kitchen.
265 Alpine Street
This beautiful Queen Anne style home was built sometime between 1895 and 1910. Although it is presently being researched for the exact building date, the home was the dream of Dr. John and Mrs. Jennie Meshinger. The couple had hired architects Guilbert and Littlefield and contracted Thomas T. Carkeek to build this lovely home.
The distinctive exterior features of this home include the attractive round turret; bay window; shed-style roof over a full 3rd storey with patterned shingles and recessed openings; and a 2nd floor porch with double round columns. The interior is just as detailed. Original elements include the quartersawn oak staircase, hardwood floors, and pocket doors. Everywhere one looks the quality craftsmanship of the time is clearly evident.
David and Julie Lott and their five children are the present owners who have been vigorously restoring the home and building out the 3rd storey for the past eight months. Purchasing the property came after a tragic house fire at their previous home at 563 West 11th Street that ended a four year restoration project they had recently completed.
450 Alpine Street
Constructed in 1901, this American Four-Square is clad in cedar shakes and is accented by a Portico that gives way to the former twostorey carriage house in the rear.
The exposed woods beams that are encountered throughout the first floor, as well as the hand-carved staircase, show off the Craftsman influence of the home. Other Craftsman inspired details include the cedar-lined closets in every room, maple wood floors and beautiful leaded glass windows. However, English Tudor elements also exist in the interior of the main living room hallmarked by the plastered walls, built-in bookshelves and fireplace.
Of notable interest is the fantastic and unusual oval dining room, which includes a plate rail and original built-ins. Upon purchasing the 3-story home in 1998, owners Bob and Cindy Steinhauser discovered the original, hand-tinned copper light fixture in the basement and restored it, prior to hanging it in its original location in the dining room.
Over the past nine years, the owners have also completed numerous exterior restorations to the home including repairs to the dormers, soffits, repair of the original wood storms and screens, rear enclosed porch, carriage house, outdoor fireplace and brick patio. Interior project included renovation of the first-floor bathroom, upstairs bedrooms and landscaping improvements.
A noteworthy rumor about the home is that Al Capone used to "hang out" at this house on some of his many visits to Dubuque. One reason he is said to have liked the home is because of the sheltered door from the basement that could mask his comings and goings.
2007 Tour Raffle Winners
| 1st Prize | Green Fees for four at The Meadows Golf Course | Doris Lange, Hazel Green, WI |
| 2nd Prize | A night's stay at The New Diggins Inn | Grierson, DBQ, IA |
| 3rd Prize | A night's stay at The Solon Langworthy B&B | Lynn Langel, New Vienna, IA |
| 4th Prize | Brunch for two at Timmerman's Restaurant | Mary Jo Gillespie, DBQ |
| 5th Prize | Bottle of Park Farm Wine | Ken Link, DBQ |