Corydon Brown House facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Corydon Brown House
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 Location in Iowa
Location in the United States
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| Location | Humboldt County Historical Museum (off IA 3), Dakota City, Iowa |
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| Area | 0.6 acres (0.24 ha) |
| Built | 1878 |
| Architectural style | Italianate |
| NRHP reference No. | 7800122378001223 |
| Added to NRHP | November 14, 1978 |
The Corydon Brown House is a special historic house located in Dakota City, Iowa, United States. It was officially recognized and added to the National Register of Historic Places on November 14, 1978. The house was once owned by Corydon Brown, who was a miller (meaning he operated a mill to grind grain). For many years, this house was a lively place where people gathered.
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Building a Home on the Prairie
Corydon Brown came from a well-off family in Syracuse, New York. In the 1860s, he decided to move to Dakota City, Iowa. However, his wife was not keen on leaving their comfortable city life for the tough prairie. So, Corydon traveled alone. He took a train to Dubuque, Iowa, then a stagecoach to Fort Dodge, Iowa. From there, he followed an old Native American horse trail north to Dakota City.
When Corydon arrived, he found men living in simple log cabins and even caves near the Des Moines River. He bought over 600 acres (240 ha) of land on the prairie. He then started building his home using clay from the area to make bricks and local limestone. Corydon's wife had said she would only move to Iowa if she could live in a house as nice as their city home. After eleven years, she finally joined her husband on the prairie.
Life After the Browns
Corydon and his wife lived in their beautiful house for eleven years. Then, they decided to move to Des Moines, Iowa to be closer to one of their five children. Usually, the oldest son would take over the family property. But Corydon's eldest son did not want to live on a farm. So, the house and land went to the second-eldest son.
Eventually, the property was sold to another family. Over time, the large house was even turned into apartments. Later, a new buyer purchased the farmland and the apartments. However, they did not use the main house. Sadly, the once grand home was neglected and became a place where neighbors would leave unwanted items.
A New Purpose for the House
Luckily, the land where the house stood was eventually given to the Humboldt County Historical Association. They worked hard to fix up and restore the house. Many other old buildings from the area have also been moved to this site. Today, the entire area is known as the Humboldt County Mill Farm Historical Museum. It's a great place to learn about the history of the county!
House Style: Italianate Design
The Corydon Brown House is built in a style called Italianate. It's a two-story building made of brick, measuring about 30 by 60 feet (9.1 by 18.3 m). The bricks used to build the house were actually made right there on the property!
The house has some cool features. You can see a decorative trim called a cornice under the roof on the front and sides. The corners of the house have special brickwork called quoining, which makes them stand out. There are also two porches with flat roofs and thin wooden posts, adding to its classic look.
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