Noble-Kendall House facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Noble-Kendall House
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 Location in Iowa
Location in the United States
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| Location | 209 E. Benton Ave. Albia, Iowa |
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| Area | less than one acre |
| Built | 1907 |
| Built by | A.E. Noble |
| Architectural style | Classical Revival |
| NRHP reference No. | 84001289 |
| Added to NRHP | July 14, 1983 |
The Noble-Kendall House, also known as Kendall Place, is a special old house in Albia, Iowa, United States. It's famous for its unique building material and its connection to an important Iowa governor.
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Discovering the Noble-Kendall House
This historic house was finished in 1907. It was built for Alvis E. Noble and his wife, Cordelia. Mr. Noble was a local businessman. He owned a factory that made concrete blocks. Their old house had burned down, so they needed a new one.
A Unique Building Material
What makes this house special is that it was built using concrete blocks. Back in 1907, this was quite unusual for a home. Most houses were made of wood or brick. Building with concrete blocks showed off Mr. Noble's own business. The house also has a beautiful style called Neoclassical. This means it looks a bit like ancient Greek or Roman buildings.
Nathan Kendall: A Governor's Home
The Noble-Kendall House is also famous because of Nathan E. Kendall. He was a lawyer in Albia who became a very important politician.
Kendall's Political Journey
Nathan Kendall was a member of the Republican Party. He started his political career in 1899. He was elected to the Iowa House of Representatives. He even served as the Speaker of the House for a while. This means he was in charge of leading the meetings.
From 1909 to 1913, he served in the United States House of Representatives. He represented Iowa's 6th congressional district in Washington, D.C. Because of some health problems, he decided not to run for re-election in 1912. He returned to Albia to continue working as a lawyer.
From Home to Community Center
In 1916, Nathan Kendall and his wife, Belle, bought this house. Four years later, in 1920, Kendall was elected the 23rd Governor of Iowa. He served two terms as governor. Even though he faced health issues during his second term, he continued to serve.
After his time as governor, the Kendalls moved to Des Moines. They later gave their house in Albia to the Albia Woman's Club. From that time on, the house became known as "Kendall Place." It has been used as a club house and a place for community meetings ever since. Nathan Kendall passed away in 1936. His ashes were buried on the lawn of Kendall Place.
A Historic Landmark in Iowa
The Noble-Kendall House is recognized for its important history. It was officially listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1983. This listing helps protect and preserve the house for future generations. It reminds us of its unique construction and the important people who lived there.
