The Victorians of Clarion

Early Houses in Clarion, Iowa

The A.D. Box House

221 Central Ave East, Clarion, Iowa

This relic of the Gilded Age was constructed in 1901 by A.D. Box, the proprietor of the local livery. Being near the center of town, the house is known throughout the community for its large turret, that of which overlooks the surrounding neighborhood. Being of the Queen Anne genre while still boasting Victorian accents, this iconic house reminds us of a time when Victorians and Queen Annes adorned the landscape of north central Iowa. The ten-room home has a grand entrance hall, that of which displays a large open staircase and plenty of oak woodwork. The entire home takes advantage of natural wood and earth tones, giving the residence a sense of peace as well as grandeur. According to the Houses on the Prairie, the home was originally designed for entertaining, to the extent that the third floor was designed to serve as a ballroom. Yet it is the large porch that encases the south and east sides of the home that may be the home’s greatest virtue. Being that the structure sits upon a small hill, the additional height provided by the porch gives the resident the sense that one is overlooking a valley to the east. The entire atmosphere created by the space communicates an expression of tranquility. Though the home sat in disarray for many years, Sidney and Susan Baker have been committed to restoring the property to its original state of grace and poise. Under their management, the A.D. Box house now serves as the Clarion Inn Bed & Breakfast.

Wright County Monitor, Clarion, Iowa      ---   May 24, 2012

The Jeremiah Fairbanks House

120 First Avenue, S.E., Clarion, Iowa

Jeremiah Fairbanks was born in the state of New York in 1848. As an adult, he located in Clarion circa 1880 to start Clarion’s first lumber yard.  According to the Houses on the Prairie in 1890, Jeremiah built this beautiful house on what is now the southwest corner of First Avenue and First Street in the southeast quadrant of town; and fortunately, other than the porch being enclosed and a few other minor alterations, the home is almost identical as to how it originally appeared 120+ years ago. The front entrance hall opens up into one of two living rooms, a dining room, as well as to the kitchen. Likewise from here, there is also a large open staircase that rises up to a spacious hallway that leads to the bedrooms and bath of the second floor. Though the bedrooms are spacious, the rooms of the first floor are also large, with high ceilings and significant woodwork. Every room boasts a different wood, ranging from oak, to walnut, mahogany, to that of cherry. Even the floors are characterized with parquetry flooring. Though the property served as apartments for many years, Deslyn Schutt has taken on the responsibility of refurbishing this fine example of Victorian / Queen Anne architecture into a beautiful single family home, as it was originally intended.

Wright County Monitor, Clarion, Iowa  -----    June 21, 2012

The Thomas H. Crowe House

120 Fourth Avenue, NW, Clarion, Iowa

The Thomas H. Crowe residence was constructed back in 1883. As such, this early date places this beautiful work of art as one of the first homes of the Victorian genre to ornament the streets of Clarion. Thomas, an orphan who was raised in Davenport, Iowa, settled in Clarion and purchased the parcel of land which lies on the southeast corner of what is now Main Street and Central Avenue. Originally the parcel was used as an implement business only to eventually be converted into a men’s clothing store, that of which was called Crowe & Son. For those of us who remember, it was his son, C.H. Crowe, that would so fondly greet youngsters with candy whenever they visited his store to purchase Cub Scout gear. The Thomas H. Crowe house is an immaculately preserved example of Victorian architecture, with its customary steeply-pitched roofs and ornamental trim. The gazebo found in the front of the residence compliments the home’s Gothic silhouette, taking us back to an idyllic time when worries were few and far between. Unfortunately, the house sat in disarray for many years, having had experienced many owners.  However, the Richard Stockwell family purchased the property in the 1970’s and spent considerable time reviving the structure. Since then, David and Colette Johnson have taken on the responsibility of maintaining the home’s Victorian integrity; in turn preserving one of Clarion’s proud treasures.

Wright County Monitor, Clarion, Iowa  ----  June 7, 2012

The Alexander House

119 Third Avenue N.E, Clarion, Iowa

This beautiful example of Victorian Architecture was completed in 1884 by Duane Young, Sr. The home had been commissioned by Young for his daughter and son-in-law, the E.A. Alexander’s. With its two-story veranda and gingerbread trim, the house themed a fairytale appearance as it eloquently adorned a double-lot parcel. With the intent to further accent the home, each of the two lots were then garnished with manicured trees as well as immaculate rose gardens. As per the Houses on the Prairie, 1976 , the entrance hall to the home was stately, having a high ceiling and a parquetry floor. From this main hall, a large, open staircase gave way to an open balcony on the second floor, giving a bird’s eye view to the beautiful entryway below. Likewise, another proud element of the domicile were two embellished parlors, both also having high ceilings, extensive woodwork, as well as elaborate furnishings. Though most of the ornate Victorian décor, trim, veranda, and porch have been removed, the house still stands today across the street from the United Methodist Church in Clarion.

Wright County Monitor, Clarion, Iowa   ----    May 17, 2012

Featured articles from the Wright County Monitor - Clarion, Iowa; Photographs from Wright County Iowa Assessor's Office Records