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The E.G. Larson home

300 N. Ninth Street

One of Fort Dodge’s early-day businessmen—E. G. Larson—built the home pictured above in 1881. It still stands erect and stately at 300 N. 9th St.

A huge porch that originally extended across the front of the house is now missing and in its place is a small stoop and second floor balcony with wrought iron railings. Otherwise, the exterior appearance of the home is generally the same as it was in the 1880s and later. In recent years the outside brick walls have been painted white adding to the attractive appearance of the venerable home.

The two-story house originally had 13 rooms which are now divided into three apartments—two on the first floor and one on the second. Foundation walls of the house are constructed of native limestone and upper walls have four layers of brick measuring 16 inches thick.

Larson, a native of Norway, came to Fort Dodge in 1868. Trained in tailoring, he began work in John W. Hardin’s shop, later working in other tailoring shops here. In 1872 he started his own tailoring shop, leasing one side of the room then occupied by C. Rank’s shoe store. Outgrowing the quarters he then moved to Fessler’s building on Central Avenue. A few years later he leased a new brick building owned by Angus McBane and put in a complete line of ready-made clothing in addition to his tailoring department. Business prospered and he bought the building where the store was located.

In 1892 Larson retired from active business and devoted his time to other interests here. In later years he was in the banking business as an officer and director of the Security Trust & Savings Bank which operated until the early 1930s. He was also an officer of the Larson Clothing Company which was sold in 1920 to the Glazers.

There were three sons and two daughters in the E. G. Larson family. They included Ben P. Larson Sr., Olaf Larson, Clarence Larson, Martina and Louise Larson, who was married to Eugene Gates. Miss Martina Larson resided in the family home until 1935 when it was sold. Present owners of the Larson home are Mr. and Mrs. Orrin R. White who purchased the property in 1947.