Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1909-04-01
LANDMARK O CITY
GOES UNDER HAMMER
OLD SHERWOOD PROPERTY
SOLD FOR ss7 AND GIVES WAY
TO FlvE-sToRY BUILDING.
OCCUPIED SAME SITE
FOR A HALF CENTURY
Old House Built of Native Lumber by
"Nisser" Sherwood Has Interesting
!History-Was Mansion of the City,
and For Years Was the Bon Ton
Boarding House of Town.


"a Marshalltown landmark, having a.
history Of more than ordinary interest,
was sold under the auctioneer's ham,
mer Wednesday afternoon, and will
soon disappear from the site on which
J 1t has stood for fifty years. It is the
old. tWo-story square frame building
situated just south of the city JAIL on
South First avenue. on ground upon
which the new five-story Masonic
temple is to be erected. The ancient
structure was Knocked off, to Lacey
j. Patterson for s37.
History Of Half Century.
The erection Of this building was
commenced, according to tradition. in
1858 and 1859, but was not completed
for several years, one old resident says
not until 1864. A man known as Mig
ger" Sherwood was it's builder. Sher-
wood was not a negro, but gained the
nickname by reason of his skin be
ing dark to swarthiness, as was also
that Of his children. The money with
which the house was built was fur
, nished by his wife, which she re-
ceived from an estate in England.
Was the Mansion of the City.
The house was constructed of ma
tive hardwood lumber made in
"Hank' Anson's saw mill. The siding
was hauled from Iowa City. The roof
was of cut shingles, manufactured in
Joe" Straws shingle mill, the first
of ifc kind in rt Of CT 10
Door frames and some of the other
finish We're of black walnut. This
house was the finest in Marshalltown
at the time and was considered a
veritable mansion for years.
An oId-Time Boarding House.
A small host of people have occupied
this venerable house in it's time. Am ong
the earlier occupants now recalled We're
A. M. Williams, who recently died at
Gearing. He conducted it as a board
ing house Tor a number of years. Sam"
Taylor, the veteran harnessanaker, also
kept boarders in the building a long
time.
For two years ex-Postmaster w T.
Bailey and wife occupied the building
and conducted boarding house that
was considered the bon ton boarding
house in town. Among the thirty-five
boarders who sat down to the table set
by Mr.. and Mrs. Bailey were such we'll
known people as T. j. Fletcher, Moses
Waterman and wife, DR. Chapman, DR..
Kierulff, II. r. Smith, WIFE and the lat
ter's sister, and B. L. Burritt. Two of
Mr.. and Mrs. Baileys sons, William
Burgess and Fred T., ware born in this
house. :.
The house was subsequently occu-
pied as residence, sometimes by two
or more families. In later years 'sHam"
Miller had his printing office in the
building. In more recent times it has
been the habitat of numerous saw filers
and repairers, and abe" Dodge has
had a paint shop therein for several
years
The decay and dust and CRIME of half
a century show gloonily in nearly ev-
cry portion of the old building, particu-
larly the interior. 1t is a somber relic
of a bygone glory in Marshalltown
edifices.l but like so many, many struc-
lures of pioneer days must give way
before the march of progress and mod
ern building enterprise.
A provision of the sale was that the
building be removed at once It is I'M
derstood that Mr.. Patterson will move
1t to one Of his lots on North Eighth
street and remodel it for a residence.