|
HERBERT HOOVER
The Hoover Houses and Community Structures Historic Structures Report |
|
TABLE OF CONTENTS
HOOVER COTTAGE
A. Significance
B. Legal Description of Property and Chain of Title
III. THE COTTAGE AND ITS OCCUPANTS, 1871-89
A. The Hoovers, 1871-79
1. Jesse and Eli Hoover Build a Cottage
2. Contemporary Descriptions and Photographs of the Cottage
B. The G. M. D. Hills, McCalebs, and Victoria and the Cottage
1. The Cottage as a Domestic Battleground
2. The McCalebs and the Cottage
3. Victoria Hill and the Cottage
IV. THE SCELLERSES AND THE COTTAGE, 1890-1923
A. A Structural History
1. Port Scellers Relocates and Remodels the Cottage
2. Improvements to the Cottage, 1890-1912
3. Life in the Cottage, 1890-1916
a. The House and the Family
b. Thirteen Years with the Scellerses
c. Port Scellers--Thresher
d. Port Scellers Passes On
e. The Last of the Children Leave Home
V. THE HOOVERS AND WEST BRANCH, 1914-1928
A. The "West Branch Times" Discovers Herbert Hoover
B. The Cottage as a Source of Mementoes
C. Mrs. Hoover's First Visit to West Branch
D. Secretary Hoover's 1923 Visit
E. The 1928 Homecoming
1. Hoover is Invited to Speak at West Branch
2. The Preparations
3. The Hoovers Breakfast at the Cottage
VI. JENNIE SCELLERS--HOSTESS TO THE NATION
A. The Cottage as a Tourist Attraction
B. Two Famous Bands Visit the Cottage
1. The U.S. Marine Corps Band's September 1930 Performance
2. The U.S. Army Band's September 1931 Performance
C. The D.A.R. Marker
D. The Des Moines Reconstruction
E. The Cottage as a Subject for Artists
1. The Allen Philbrick Painting
2. The Henry Standing Drawing
3. The Grant Wood Painting
4. The Morgan Painting
F. Mrs. Jennie Scellers Dies
VII. THE RESTORATION OF THE COTTAGE A
A. Allan Hoover Acquires the Property
1. Initial Efforts of the Family to Purchase the Cottage
2. The September 1933 Visit to West Branch
3. Fred Albin Acquires the Property
B. The Restoration of the Cottage
1. Hoover Visits the Site with Architect McKay
2. Plans are Prepared and Approved
3. The Restoration of the Cottage
4. The Construction of the Caretakers' Lodge
5. The First Caretakers—Mr. & Mrs. Stratton
VIII. THE SOCIETY AND THE FOUNDATION
A. The Herbert Hoover Birthplace Society
1. Its Organization
2. Bill Anderson is Elected to the Presidency
B. The Organization of the Herbert Hoover Birthplace Foundation
IX. CONSTRUCTION, MAINTENANCE & LANDSCAPING, 1939-1970
A. Landscaping the Grounds, 1939-40
1. Positioning the Bronze Isis
2. Beautifying the Grounds, 1939-40
3. The Stone Retaining Wall
4. The Wooden Bridge, Picnic Tables, and Dam
B. The Iowa Legislature Makes an Appropriation
C. Park Development, 1948-1954
1. Land Acquisition
2. The 1948 Master Plan
3. Landscaping
4. Construction of the Surpentine Drive
5. The Stone Entrance-Way
6. The Gateway to Cottage Yard & the Park Dedication
7. The Park Gets a Utility Building
8. The Shuffleboard Courts
9. Landscaping and Maintenance, 1952
10. Capital Improvements, 1953
11. The Boy Scout Shelter
D. The Reconstruction of the Blacksmith Shop
1. As Part of the Park Master Plan
2. The Family Withdraws its Opposition to a Reconstruction
3. Bill Wagner Plans a Reconstruction
4. The Reconstruction
5. The Dedication
E. Landscaping Goals
F. Maintenance and Repairs to the Cottage, 1961-62
1. Yokum's Inspection
2. Bill Wagoner's Inspection
3. Improvements
a. The Underground Electrical System, Recapping of the Chimney, & Installation of a Sprinkler System
b. The Cottage Gets a Heating System
c. The Stabilization of the Porches & Replacement of Rotted Exterior Boards
d. Repairs to the Sash
e. Other Projects—Rebuilding the Rustic Bridge & Repairs to the Isis Statue
4. Hoover Vetoes the Proposal to Enclose the Cottage
G. Cottage Maintenance, 1963-70
H. Problems Caused by Flooding
X. THE GREAT—THE HUMBLE—THE COTTAGE
A. Visitation, 1939-40
B. Lou Henry Hoover's June 1939 Visit to the Cottage
C. Visitation, 1940-46
1. The Shrine Becomes Increasingly Popular
2. The Johnson Wedding
3. Governor Wilson's Visit
4. The War Years
D. Herbert Hoover's 1948 Visit to West Branch
E. Park Visitation, 1948-1953
F. The Eightieth Birthday Celebration
1. The Invitation
2. Planning the Celebration
3. The Celebration
G. Hoover and Truman and the Dedication of the Library
1. The Beginning of a Life-Long Friendship
2. The Dedication of the Library
H. The Eisenhower, Nixon & Johnson Visits
XI. THE COTTAGE AND ITS FURNISHINGS
A. Personal Property Owned by Jesse & Huldah Hoover
1. Inventory of Jesse Hoover's Estate
2. Inventory of Huldah Hoover's Personal Estate
B. "Memories of a Little House" by Lou Henry Hoover
1. Mrs. Hoover s Interest and Research
2. The North Room
a. Parlor
b. Dining Room-Kitchen
3. Bedroom
4. Carpets and Wallpaper
5. Back Porch and Woodshed
C. Toys and Christmas
D. Items Purchased from Miles & Townsend
E. Cottage Fixtures
F. The Furnishings, 1939-1970
1. Furnishing the Restored Cottage
2. The Waters Cradle
3. Care and Cataloging of the Objects
XII. THE GROUNDS AND OUTBUILDINGS
A. Fence Enclosing the Yard
B. Boardwalk from Cottage to Downey Street
C. Pump
D. Drain and Rain Barrel
E. Flowers and Shrubs
F. Vegetable Garden
G. Privy
H. Chicken House
I. Orchard
J. Cellar
K. Outbuildings Purchased or Built by Port Scellers
FRIENDS MEETING HOUSE
A. Significance
B. History of the Meeting House, 1855-1879
1. The Friends Come to Iowa
2. The Friends in Cedar County
3. The Schoolhouse as a Meeting House
4. The Construction of the Meeting House
C. Construction and Maintenance History of the Meeting House, 1879-1883
1. Construction of South Porch & Other Improvements, 1879
2. Construction of Boardwalk & Fencing of Burial Grounds
3. Crosbie's 1881 Description of the Meeting House
D. Cleavages in the West Branch Meeting
1. The Gurneys and Wilburites—Progressives and Conservatives
2. Removal of the Partition & Remodeling of the Meeting House
3. New Lamps and Fencing
4. Janitorial Duties
5. The Interior is Repainted & New Lamps Acquired
E. Construction of the Parsonage
F. The 1891-94 Remodeling of the Meeting House
1. The Organ
2. The Removal of the Sheds & Construction of a Barn
3. The Proposal to Modernize is Approved
4. The Work
5. The May 1894 Hail Storm
G. The Church is Wired for Electricity
H. The Friends Church, 1903-15
1. John S. Stribbling as Pastor
2. Clarke Brown as Pastor
3. Laura Townsend's First Pastorate
4. Walter Miles' Pastorate
5. Fred L. Ryon as Pastor
6. Charles W. Mesner as Pastor
7. The 1910 & 12 Yearly Meetings
8. Improvements to the Buildings & Grounds
I. The Meeting House Becomes a Theater
1. The Decision to Build a New Church
2. The Meeting House is Relocated
3. The New Church
4. Remodeling the Meeting House into a Theater
5. The Pastime Theater Opens
J. The Pastime Theater Becomes a Garage
K. The Purchase, Relocation, and Restoration of the Meeting House
III. THE MEETING HOUSE— ITS INTERIOR ARRANGEMENTS & FURNISHINGS
A. Tad Hoover's Recollections
B. Mrs. Odell's Recollections
WEST BRANCH SCHOOLHOUSE
I. ADMINISTRATIVE DATA—WEST BRANCH SCHOOLHOUSE
A. Significance
B. Construction History of Schoolhouse
1. Building the Schoolhouse
2. The Construction of a New Schoolhouse
3. The Organization of the Independent School District
4. The Old Schoolhouse is Relocated
5. Tad and Herbert Hoover Enter School
6. West Branch High School Graduates its First Class
C. The Schoolhouse as a Residence
1. It is Relocated and Becomes a Home for the Rowlens
2. George Yetter as Owner
3. Improvements Made by the Taylors
4. The Bruce Thompsons and the Schoolhouse
D. The Foundation Acquires and moves the Structure
SECOND HOOVER HOUSE
I. ADMINISTRATIVE DATA—SECOND HOOVER HOUSE
A. Significance
B. Legal Description of Property and Chain of Title
C. A Structural History of the House
1. The First Owners
2. The Hoovers and the House
3. The Witters and the House
4. Dewey Linn & Glenn Brown Raze the House
D. Reminiscences of the Second Hoover House
1. Tad Hoover's Recollections
2. Mattie Pemberton's Recollections
3. Mrs. Lou Henry Hoover Writes of the House
4. L. C. Rummells' Recollections
5. Glenn Brown's Recollections
E. Photographs of the Second Hoover House
1. Photograph, Circa 1882
2. Photograph, Circa 1910
3. Photograph, Circa 1907
4. Photograph, Circa 1920
A. Fences
B. Walks
C. Trees
D. Vegetable Garden
E. Flower Garden
F. Well
G. Outbuildings
1. Barn
2. Privy
3. Shed or Chicken House
H. Rain Barrels
WEST BRANCH BANDSTAND
I. ADMINISTRATIVE DATA—WEST BRANCH BANDSTAND
A. Significance
B. Structural History
1. The Town Pump and the Cornet Band
2. Construction of the Bandstand
3. Band Concerts, 1908-11
4. The Removal of the Bandstand
C. Photographs of the Bandstand
1. Circa 1909 Photograph of East Elevation
2. Circa 1910 Photograph of East Elevation
3. Circa 1900 Photograph of East and South Elevations
4. Circa 1908 Photograph of North Elevation
D. Recollections of Details not Shown in Historic Photographs
THE DOWNEY STREET BRIDGES
I. ADMINISTRATIVE DATA—DOWNEY STREET BRIDGES
A. Significance
B. Structural History of the Bridges
1. The Vehicular Bridge
2. The Footbridge
C. Recollections of the Bridges
1. The Vehicular Bridge
2. The Footbridge
D. Photograph of the Footbridge
APPENDICES
Appendix A—The Rowlen Boys in the Spanish-American War
Appendix B—Additional Data on Houses Covered in Historic Structures Report—Buildings in the Core-Area, Herbert Hoover National Historic Site
Appendix C—Notes on Boardwalks, Sidewalks, and Streets in the Core-Area
LIST OF MAPS, DRAWINGS, AND PHOTOGRAPHS
PLATE I Plat Locating Structures Described in this Report.
PLATE II The Miles 1878 Panoramic View of West Branch & Hoover Cottage.
PLATE III The Henry Standing Drawing of the Hoover Cottage.
PLATE IV The Allen Philbrick Painting of the Hoover Cottage.
PLATE V The W. L. Morgan Painting of Hoover Cottage and Blacksmith Shop.
PLATE VI Grant Wood's Painting, "The Birthplace of Herbert Hoover."
PLATE VII Herbert Hoover's Return to the Birthplace Cottage, August 21, 1928.
PLATE VIII Jennie Scellers' House, Circa 1928.
PLATES IX & X Bruce McKay's Drawing for Proposed Restoration of Hoover Cottage.
PLATES XI & XII Bruce McKay's Site Plan for Proposed Restoration of Cottage & Construction of Caretakers' Lodge.
PLATE XIII Herbert Hoover's June 1937 Visit to the Cottage.
PLATE XIV Restoration of Hoover Cottage—Removing weather-boarding from the Scellers House.
PLATE XV Restoration of Hoover Cottage—A load of lumber is delivered.
PLATE XVI Restoration of Hoover Cottage—Looking for Lot Lines.
PLATE XVII Restoration of Hoover Cottage—Removing the weather-boarding from this Cottage.
PLATE XVIII Restoration of Hoover Cottage—Putting shakes on the Roof.
PLATE XIX Restoration of Hoover Cottage—The south and east elevations.
PLATE XX Restoration of Hoover Cottage—The Structure has been painted white to simulate whitewash.
PLATE XXI Restoration of Hoover Cottage—The south and east elevations.
PLATE XXII Construction of the Caretakers' Lodge—Excavating the Basement.
PLATE XXIII West and South Elevations of Caretakers' Lodge.
PLATE XXIV Organizational Meeting of Herbert Hoover Birthplace Society.
PLATE XXIV-A Restoration of Hoover Birthplace, showing UTG Duct Lay Out and Reinforcement of Floor Construction.
PLATE XXV Positioning the Isis Statue.
PLATE XXVI Friends Meeting House Interior Arrangements.
PLATE XXVII Friends Meeting House, Circa 1902.
PLATE XXVIII Friends Meeting House, West Elevation, 1963.
PLATE XXIX Friends Meeting House, East Elevation, 1963.
PLATE XXX Friends Meeting House, North Elevation, 1963.
PLATE XXXI Friends Meeting House, Joists, Sills, and Flooring.
PLATE XXXII Friends Meeting House, West Elevation of Relocated Structure.
PLATE XXXIII Friends Meeting House, Restoration of West Elevation of Relocated Meeting House.
PLATE XXIV West Branch School House, Circa 1878.
PLATE XXXV West Branch School House, Circa 1940, East and North Elevations.
PLATES XXXVI, PLATES XXXVII, PLATES XXXVIII, XXXIX Plans of the West Branch (Quaker) School.
PLATE XL Second Hoover House, Circa 1882.
PLATE XLI Second Hoover House, Circa 1907.
PLATE XLII Second Hoover House, Circa 1910.
PLATE XLIII Second Hoover House, Circa 1920.
PLATE XLIV West Branch Bandstand, South and East Elevations.
PLATE XLV West Branch Bandstand, North Elevation.
PLATE XLVI West Branch Bandstand, West Elevation.
PLATE XLVII West Branch Bandstand, East Elevation.
PLATE XLVIII Downey Street Footbridge.
PLATE XLIX Reconstructed Blacksmith Shop—Site Plan.
PLATE L Reconstructed Blacksmith Shop—Plans of South, East, and West Elevations.
PLATE LI Reconstructed Blacksmith Shop—Floor Plan.
PLATE LII Reconstructed Blacksmith Shop—Plan of Forge.
PLATE LIII West and North Elevations of Laban Miles House.
PLATE LIV Front Porch of Charles E. Smith House.
PLATE LV East and North Elevations of Dr. James Staples House.
| <<< Previous | <<< Contents>>> | Next >>> |
heho/hsr/contents.htm
Last Updated: 28-Jul-2006