Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1914-05-19
QUAINT BRICK HOUSE IN EAST
END DESTROYED BY FIRE
4 DURING NIGHT.
STOOD HALF CENTURY
Built by Paul G. Daum In 1858 for
Home on His Farm-Sold to
Ben amin Ladd In Spring
Of 1868.

! o'clock Sunday morning totally de
y stroyed the old brick house on the hill
8 of Van Buren, avenue just above Main
street In the etst end, and removed q
landmark that has stood for more than
half century and attracted much at
tention for many years from persons
driving in and out of town in the east
portion of the city. It was as visible
to passengers on the railroads as from
the street and stood like a sentinel on
the hill, weathering all the storms and
ravages Of time without any apparent
! deterioration. The place is best recall.
! ed by the older residents as the old
Ladd home.
Paul Daum, Builder.
The history of the place goes back
to the very early days of Ottumwa.
At the time it was built the village Of
Ottumwa lay some distance to the
west and it was the home Of one OF
the earliest pioneers. Paul C. Daum,
father Of w. R. Daum, built the house
in 1858. The house was of brick and
the best OF timbers were used in the
woodwork OF the building. Until few
years ago 1t had always been painted
red and its front was graced by one
OF the old style double deck porches
that rose the entire height of the fore
portion Of the house. 1t was built by
Mr.. Daum for the family home and
was located on the Daum farm of
Lightweight acres. The construction
started in the spring of 1858 and by
winter 1t was finished and the family
located in it.
Bought by Benjamin Laid.
79a Five, years later the place was sold
by Mr. Daum to Benjamin Laid. the
transfer taking place in March. 1868.
Thus it got the name "Old Ladd Place"
that stood with it for generations. For
many years it has been rented out to
families and has been in the possess
sion Of Rev. A. w. Miller, 40 Weller
street, for long time.
At the time of it's destruction there
were no tenants in the place, the own
er having planned to raze the build
Ing and convert the material into two
smaller and more modern homes for
rent. Rev. A. w. Miller is out of the
/. city and his family were not aware OF
the IRE until informed by The Courier
Sunday afternoon.
No estimate Of the loss could be as
certained and the amount Of the lnsur-
ance was not determined on account
Of the absence of the owner from the
city. The unusual hour of the fire and
the fact that there were no occupants
at the time makes the origin matter
Of mystery.
The blasts of the engine whistles
from the Burlington yards aroused the
people residing in the neighborhood at
an early hour and by the time the fire
department arrived there was large
number OF people out gazing at the
burning building. The department had
to lay 1000 feet OF hose to reach the
IRE from the nearest plug at Foster
avenue, and was unable to save the
structure, The building having been
pretty we'll burned before the connec-
ton was made was not easily affected
by the water and burned flercely for
long time. The eminence on which the
building stood made it throw glare
for a great distance while the fire last
ed. Showers Of sparks carried on the
night air for a considerable distance
and were menace to property In the
vicinity for blocks, as some of the
burning PARTICLES were found on the
ground considerable distance from the
ire The department did not return
to the station until nearly S o'clock.
The interior of the house was entirely
destroyed, but the walls stand firm as
a testimonial to the builder