Her artistic ability became widely-known and she started art classes at her home and also taught art in other towns. She was especially known for her beautiful china painting and many persons in Fort Dodge and the area now have dishes painted by her or by some of her students. The room in the house now used as a den was the classroom where students did their china painting.
Miss Richardson resided in the large brick house until her death in 1945. The property then was bequeathed by Miss Richardson to Mrs. Gilligan (Katherine) who was her nurse prior to her death. Mrs. Gilligan and her husband, Thomas, have occupied the home since 1947.
THE LEARY HOME
The Leary home
225 So. Seventh Street
A large house with huge columns reminiscent of elegant southern plantation homes has dominated the northeast corner of Third Avenue South and Seventh Street since shortly after the turn of the century.
It is the house at 225 S. 7th St., built in 1901 by Dennis E. Leary, a prominent Fort Dodge grocer for many years. Ownership of the property has changed several times and the house is now owned by Robert Walters who acquired it in 1956.
The house has now been converted into five apartments—two on the first floor, two on the second floor and one in the attic area. Walters resides in one of the downstairs apartments—others are rented out.
Originally house had a large hall, living room, parlor, dining room, kitchen and pantry on the first floor. The second floor had four bedrooms, bath, den and large hall. All floors were of hard wood and walls had much beautiful fresco work. Leary purchased property in 1893 at Third Avenue South and Seventh Street which had a small house on the lot. This remained until 1901 when it was moved to Second Avenue South and Third Street to make way for the large Leary home.
Leary, a native of Boston, Mass., came to Waverly, Iowa, with his parents and remained there until 1893 when he moved to Fort Dodge. On arrival here he purchased property at the southwest corner of Central Avenue and Seventh Street and established a grocery store there. He operated this store until 1903 when fire destroyed the building.