The Findlay home
1707 8th Avenue South
Findlay then purchased Tobin College in partnership with J. F. Monk and the two operated this widely-known educational institution for many years. The three-story frame college building was located at the northwest corner of First Avenue North and Seventh Street. It burned down in 1929.
In 1899 Findlay was married and the couple were parents of two sons—James Franklin Findlay and Maurice Findlay. Mrs. Findlay was an early secretary of the YWCA.
Findlay was elected to the city council while the city was operating under the ward system of government and served during 1910 and 1911. Still interested in civic affairs Findlay later was elected mayor of Fort Dodge in 1923 under the commission form of government established in 1911. He was reelected to four additional terms, serving a total of 10 years in the mayor’s office. His tenure of office was the longest of any of the city’s mayors until Albert Habhab was elected mayor in 1959 and served continuously through 1973—a total of 14 years.
THE STUDEBAKER HOME
Dr. John F. Studebaker, who established his medical practice here in 1908, built this large two-story house at 2018 8th Ave. N. in 1914. Dr. Studebaker and family occupied the home until he retired in 1942 and moved to California.
The house was then sold to Richard Hess, U. S. Gypsum plant manager here; then to Mr. and Mrs. Roy V. Murray in 1947. In 1948 the property was sold to Robert M. Kelley, Fort Dodge insurance man, and Mrs. Kelley who occupied it with their family until 1974 when it was purchased by R. Thomas Price, Fort Dodge attorney and Mrs. Price. The Prices now reside there.
The Studebaker home
2018 8th Avenue North
Originally the house included living room, parlor or music room, dining room, library used by Dr. Studebaker for his medical books, large kitchen and bath on the first floor; four bedrooms, sleeping porch and bath on the second floor. The house has been remodeled and modernized at various times, the Kelleys adding a family room on the north side 15 years ago and a bedroom and bath on the second floor.