James Gamble House facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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James Gamble House
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 Location in Iowa
Location in the United States
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| Location | 527 Wisconsin Ave. Le Claire, Iowa |
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| Area | 1 acre (0.40 ha) |
| Built | 1855 |
| Architectural style | Italianate |
| NRHP reference No. | 79003692 |
| Added to NRHP | March 30, 1979 |
The James Gamble House is a special old building located in Le Claire, Iowa, United States. It's been listed on the National Register of Historic Places since 1979. This means it's an important historical site that is protected and recognized for its past.
The Story of James Gamble
James Gamble was born in Ireland in 1821. When he was just two years old, his family moved to the United States in 1823. They first lived in Delaware and then moved to Pittsburgh in 1836.
James started working in the printing and publishing business. He helped publish a newspaper called the Warsaw Signal in Warsaw, Illinois, from 1840 to about 1842.
Later, he decided to study medicine. He went to medical schools in New Orleans and St. Louis. In 1847, he earned his medical degree from the University of Missouri. That same year, James Gamble moved to Le Claire, Iowa. He worked as a doctor there for almost 50 years! He was also involved in local doctor groups and served on the Le Claire school board for more than 20 years.
What Does the House Look Like?
The Gamble House is a two-story building made of brick. It sits on a strong foundation made of limestone. The house looks like a style called Italianate palazzo, which means it has a grand, balanced design inspired by old Italian palaces.
The bricks are laid in a special pattern. The main part of the house has three sections, and on each side, there are smaller, one-story sections. The roof is low and gently sloped, called a hipped roof, with wide edges that stick out, known as eaves. The smaller side sections also have low, sloped roofs with simple, narrow decorative edges called cornices.
The main front door is a little to the left. It has narrow windows on the sides, called sidelights, and a window above the door, called a transom. The front porch might have been added later. Its flat roof is held up by two wooden columns.
To the right of the entrance, there's a narrow, flat roof supported by large brackets. This roof hangs over two tall windows. The porches on the side sections are simpler. They have square posts that are either standing freely or attached to the house. The railings, called balustrades, have thin, turned wooden pieces that look similar to those on the front porch.
Behind the house, there's a one-story section that was probably used as a summer kitchen. This was a common feature in older homes, used for cooking during hot weather to keep the main house cool. It's connected to the main house by a long roof supported by slender posts.
