An entry hall just inside the front door leads to the large living room with high beamed ceiling and a Spanish style fireplace. Other rooms include a dining area, kitchen, two large bedrooms and bath and another bedroom over the garage. Just off this bedroom is a veranda over a portion of the garage. The backyard has a large screened-in porch and patio.
Trauerman came to Fort Dodge from Sioux Falls, S. D., in 1921, purchased the C. H. Pill Furniture Store and changed the name to the Home Furniture. He remained in active operation of the store until 1940 when he moved to Corpus Christi, Texas, but retained an interest in the business. The Trauerman home changed ownership several times after that until purchased by the Lunns in 1970.
Harold W. Burch joined Trauerman as an officer of the Home Furniture in 1933, coming here from Clinton. In 1950 Trauerman sold his remaining interest in the business to Burch and the late Kitty Munn. Earlier (in 1947) the Home purchased the McQuilkin Furniture Store, transferred its operations to the McQuilkin building and remained there until 1960. The store then moved to a new building at 611 Central Ave. In 1972 the business was sold to the Kelly Furniture Company. In 1974 the Elliott Home Furniture took over the 611 Central Avenue location.
Trauerman and his wife. Lucille, were parents of three children—two daughters and a son. They are Betty Frantz, Weslaco, Texas; Marjorie, New York City; and Joe Trauerman Jr., Palatka, Fla. The elder Trauerman resides in San Jose, Costa Rica. Mrs. Trauerman is deceased.
THE W. V. MULRONEY HOME
The Mulroney home
625 No. Thirteenth Street
A Fort Dodge work clothes manufacturer is credited with re-designing and remodeling this Haviland Homestead Addition home at 625 N. 13th St.—a home whose history dates back to 1880.
He was W. V. Mulroney who, with his brother J. R. Mulroney, was associated for many years in the operation of the Mulroney Manufacturing Company. The company was a widely-known maker and distributor of work clothes and gloves under the trade name of “Fort Brand.”
The two-story frame residence is now owned and occupied by Dr. and Mrs. Theodore J. Michelfelder. It is located on two lots at the southeast corner of Seventh Avenue North and Thirteenth Street.