Room arrangement of the house after it was remodeled by Mulroney included living room, hallway and open stairway to the second floor, dining room, kitchen with walk-in pantry, playroom, solarium and enclosed back porch on the first floor; five bedrooms, bathroom and sleeping porch on the second floor. Rooms now include living room, entry hallway, parlor, dining room, kitchen, breakfast nook, bedroom and bath on the first floor; five bedrooms, bath and kitchen on the second floor. An apartment area on the second floor is presently not in use.
Mulroney acquired the property in 1914 and immediately remodeled the existing house. An additional basement area was excavated, the house was moved farther back from the street and turned around so that it fronted to the west on Thirteenth Street. Room arrangements were changed and the house modernized. The house has also been remodeled in recent years by the Michelfelders and other owners. The Mulroney family resided in the home until 1932. Through the years the house changed ownership several times, the Michelfelders acquiring it in 1966.
W. V. Mulroney was the son of pioneer settlers, Mr. and Mrs. J. M. Mulroney. Born in 1867 he attended local schools and in 1890 with a brother, J. R. Mulroney, established the Mulroney Brothers General Store, operating it until 1905 when they organized the Mulroney Manufacturing Company which had its first plant at the southwest corner of Central Avenue and Tenth Street. After fire destroyed this building the three-story building at First Avenue North and Seventh Street was constructed and the company operated there for many years. Later it was sold to Marso & Rodenborn.
In 1927 Mulroney entered the insurance business under the name of Mulroney Insurance Agency. The agency is now operated by his sons William V. (Bill) Mulroney and Richard J. (Dick) Mulroney. The elder Mulroney was married in 1896 to Elizabeth Howard and they were parents of six children. They are Mrs. Eleanor McKenzie, Miss Helen Mulroney, Mrs. Gertrude Barnes, Miss Elizabeth Mulroney, William and Richard. Mulroney died in 1950 at age 82; Mrs. Mulroney died in 1952, also at age 82.
THE CHASE HOME
The Chase home
1320 10th Avenue North
This large English-type residence at 1320 10th Ave. N. was built in 1926 by Dr. Sumner B. Chase, a well-known eye, ear, nose and throat specialist. It is now owned and occupied by Don N. Kersten, Fort Dodge attorney, his wife, Merope, and family. They acquired the home in 1961.
Dr. Chase and his wife, Edith, purchased lots in the newly-platted Crawford-Armstrong Addition in 1922 and four years later built the main section of the beautiful and authentic English style home. In 1933 the Tudor or playroom wing on the east side of the house was added.
The house has main floor, upstairs area and full basement and there are five fireplaces of various sizes. The present first floor arrangement includes living room, dining room, television room, kitchen and breakfast area that originally was a maid’s room and bath. There is also an entrance hallway. A recent addition to the house is a large open deck along the north side overlooking the wooded and ravine area. The upstairs has four bedrooms and two baths.