Thomas J. Conover House

Last updated
Thomas J. Conover House
The Conover House.jpeg
USA Iowa location map.svg
Red pog.svg
Usa edcp location map.svg
Red pog.svg
Location1010 N. Market St.
Oskaloosa, Iowa
Coordinates 41°18′14″N92°38′42″W / 41.30389°N 92.64500°W / 41.30389; -92.64500 Coordinates: 41°18′14″N92°38′42″W / 41.30389°N 92.64500°W / 41.30389; -92.64500
Arealess than one acre
Built1910
Architectural style Colonial Revival
MPS Quaker Testimony in Oskaloosa MPS
NRHP reference No. 96000342 [1]
Added to NRHPMarch 28, 1996

The Thomas J. Conover House is a historic residence located in Oskaloosa, Iowa, United States. Thomas J. Conover was a farmer who retired to town as a widower about 1910. He and his daughter Casa Mae Conover, lived here together while she worked at William Penn College. Between 1925 and 1951 she was a teacher of religious education, assistant registrar, secretary to the president, and the registrar. Single women who worked for the college rarely owned their own home. This suggests the difference in pay between men and women at the institution, even as it espoused gender equality. [2] Casa had to live with her father and care for him in his old-age. Their Colonial Revival house was built about 1910. It is a two-story, frame, single-family dwelling that features a gable-end facade roof with hip-on-gable roof embellishment, fishscale shingles on the gable end, and a full-length front porch. It is the Casa Mae Conover's association with the school in the context of the Quaker testimony in Oskaloosa that makes this house historic. [2] It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1996.

Related Research Articles

Jack Lamberson House United States historic place

The Jack Lamberson House, also known as the Maunu house, is a historic residence located in Oskaloosa, Iowa, United States. It is one of seven Frank Lloyd Wright-designed Usonian houses located in Iowa, and one of two that were constructed in Oskaloosa. Both were completed in 1951. The Lamberson house is unique from the other Iowa Usonians for its extensive use of 60º and 120º angles. It features a low, sweeping pitched roof that makes the house look deceptively large, yet it is the second smallest of Iowa's Usonians. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1988.

William Claussen House United States historic place

The William Claussen House was a historic building located in the West End of Davenport, Iowa, United States. The Greek Revival style house was built in 1855 and it was listed on the National Register of Historic Places since 1983. It has subsequently been torn down and replaced by a single-story house.

Louis C. and Amelia L. Schmidt House United States historic place

The Louis C. and Amelia L. Schmidt House is a historic building located in a residential neighborhood on the east side of Davenport, Iowa, United States. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2007.

Max Petersen House United States historic place

The Max Petersen House, also known as the Petersen Mansion, is a historic building located on the west side of Davenport, Iowa, United States. It has been individually listed on the National Register of Historic Places since 1979. In 2004 it was included as a contributing property in the Marycrest College Historic District.

Middlesex Plat Historic District United States historic place

The Middlesex Plat Historic District is located in Des Moines, Iowa, United States. It was an upper-middle-class neighborhood of two-story square houses and bungalows that were built from 1910 to 1923. The district has been listed on the National Register of Historic Places since 2000. It is part of The Bungalow and Square House--Des Moines Residential Growth and Development MPS.

Squire Cheyney Farm United States historic place

Squire Cheyney Farm is a historic farm and national historic district located in Thornbury Township, Chester County, Pennsylvania. The district encompasses two contributing buildings, three contributing sites, one contributing structure, and contributing object. They are the farmhouse, barn, ruins of a granary, remains of an ice house, a spring house (1799), stone retaining wall, and family cemetery. The house was built in four periods, with the oldest dated to about 1797. The oldest section is a 2 1/s-story, three bay, stuccoed stone structure with a gable roof. The additions were built about 1815, about 1830, and about 1850, making it a seven-bay-wide dwelling. It is "L"-shaped and has a slate gable roof. During the American Revolution, Thomas "Squire" Cheyney [II] informed General George Washington during the Battle of Brandywine that the British were flanking him to the north. He was later appointed to the Pennsylvania Ratifying Convention to ratify the United States Constitution. The site is now a township park known as Squire Cheyney Farm Park.

Spring Creek Meeting House-H Street Mission United States historic place

The Spring Creek Meeting House-H Street Mission was an historic building in Oskaloosa, Iowa, United States. The frame building was built sometime after an 1878 fire destroyed the original meeting house. It was relocated from its original rural location to this site in 1895. The Spring Creek Meeting was organized in 1844 outside of town. It calls attention to the movement of the Quakers from a rural setting to a central location in town. After its relocation it became a mission of the Oskaloosa Monthly Meeting. This illustrates the evangelical nature of the Iowa Yearly Meeting after the Schism of 1877, and their willingness to proselytize in order to rectify the decline in membership on the frontier. Such a move was an anomaly among Eastern Quakers. The architecture itself shows a shift in Quaker meeting houses in Iowa from structures that were long and low to this one with its high-pitched gable roof. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1996. The building has subsequently been torn down.

Dr. William E. and Ethel Rosenberger Berry House United States historic place

The Dr. William E. and Ethel Rosenberger Berry House is a historic residence located in Oskaloosa, Iowa, United States. The Berry's were Quakers and members of the faculty of William Penn College. He taught classical languages and served as Dean, while she taught French. They were among the first to settle in the Penn College Addition. The college platted and sold these lots, which in turn helped the institution financially survive. The Berry's bought several lots, and built their house on one of them. Their Colonial Revival house was built in 1924 by P.W. Sparks, a local contractor. It is a two-story, frame, single-family dwelling that features a side-gable roof, an enclosed front porch, and a solarium. It is the Berry's association with the school in the context of the Quaker testimony in Oskaloosa that makes this house historic. The house was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1996.

William A. and Ida C. Johnson House United States historic place

The William A. and Ida C. Johnson House is a historic residence located in Oskaloosa, Iowa, United States. The Johnsons, who were farmers, moved to town so that their children could attend Quaker schools there. This was typical of many Quaker families of that era. Other family members also boarded with them so they too could attend the schools. William Johnson also served on the William Penn College Board of Trustees, and served as its president from 1915 through 1922. It was during his tenure that the Main Building was destroyed by fire and the college moved to its present location. This Queen Anne style house is a 2½-story, frame, single-family dwelling. It features a wrap-around full-width porch with a gable-end entryway, and a bay window on the main facade. The house is capped with a complex roof of intersecting steeply-pitched gables. It is the Johnsons' association with the school in the context of the Quaker testimony in Oskaloosa that makes this house historic. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1996.

Dr. William H. and Mae R. Klose House United States historic place

The Dr. William H. and Mae R. Klose House is a historic residence located in Oskaloosa, Iowa, United States. Dr. Klose taught German at nearby William Penn College, and was one of the longer serving faculty members. His dedication to the school helped it survive through its years of turmoil. They were also among the first to settle in the Penn College Addition. The college platted and sold these lots, which in turn helped the institution financially survive. This Colonial Revival style house is a 1½-story, frame, single-family dwelling. It features a side-gable roof, a facade gambrel dormer, and a bay window to the right to the main entry. It is the Klose's association with the school in the context of the Quaker testimony in Oskaloosa that makes this house historic. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1996.

Dr. Ella Stokes House United States historic place

The Dr. Ella Stokes House is a historic residence located in Oskaloosa, Iowa, United States. Dr. Stokes taught at William Penn College for four decades, and was one of the longest serving faculty members. She taught history, education, and philosophy during her career. Stokes lived in this modest house for more than half of the time she served on the faculty. She was one of the few female employees of the school who could afford to buy her own home, but she had to sell produce on the side and take in boarders in order to accomplish it. It is Stokes' association with the school in the context of the Quaker testimony in Oskaloosa that makes this house historic. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1996.

Prof. Edgar H. and Irene D. Stranahan House United States historic place

The Prof. Edgar H. and Irene D. Stranahan House is a historic residence located in Oskaloosa, Iowa, United States. Both Stranahans taught religious education at William Penn College, and he was one of the longer serving faculty members. Their daughter Esther taught religion at the college, which calls attention to family members from more than one generation who worked at the college. Edgar also served as master of ceremonies for the Oskaloosa Chautauqua in the 1920s. The Stranahans were among the first to settle in the Penn College Addition. The college platted and sold these lots, which in turn helped the institution financially survive. This two-story, single-family, frame dwelling is covered with stucco. It features vertical boards that define pilasters on the main facade, Moorish-type arch worked into the stucco, a front entry with pilasters that support a pedimented gable roof, and a solarium. It is the Stranahans' association with the college in the context of the Quaker testimony in Oskaloosa that makes this house historic. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1996.

Pierson–Betts House United States historic place

The Pierson–Betts House is a historic residence located in Oskaloosa, Iowa, United States. The house was built by Lewis B. Pierson, the long-time Superintendent of Buildings and Grounds for William Penn College. He built this modest, single-story, brick house in the 1930s as a place that he and his wife Lilly could retire. Instead of moving in, they sold the house to Laura Betts who was the librarian at Penn from 1937 to 1942. She was one of the few single females employed by the college at that time who could afford to buy a house of her own. It is believed she could do so only with financial help from her elderly mother who moved in with her. After Betts moved out, other Penn faculty lived here. It is Pierson's and Betts' association with the college in the context of the Quaker testimony in Oskaloosa that makes this house historic. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1996.

Spurgin Residence United States historic place

The Spurgin Residence, also known as the Rice House, is a historic residence located in Oskaloosa, Iowa, United States. The 1½-story, frame, single-family house was built in 1895. From 1916 to about 1936 the structure was used as a "practice house" for domestic science instruction and student housing at nearby William Penn College. It is its association with the college in the context of the Quaker testimony in Oskaloosa that makes this house historic. The name "Spurgin Residence" was used by the college during its period of significance. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1996.

Jesse Andrew House United States historic place

The Jesse Andrew House is a historic building in West Lafayette, Indiana protected by the National Register of Historic Places because of its historic value in the time of the founding of the city. Its humble beginnings started as it was home of Jesse Andrew, a vibrant member of the early West Lafayette community. Mr. Andrews is considered to be one of the cities founders as he took a major part in the establishment of the government. The house was originally built in 1859 making it the oldest home and one of the oldest structures in the city. It went through major renovations in the 1930s, turning it into a duplex, before being sold out of the Andrew's family to a local rental company in the 1980s.

Oskaloosa Monthly Meeting of Friends Parsonage United States historic place

The Oskaloosa Monthly Meeting of Friends Parsonage is a historic building located in Oskaloosa, Iowa, United States. Its historic significance is found in its association with nearby William Penn University in the context of the Quaker testimony in Oskaloosa. The country's entry into World War I created problems for the Quaker's Peace Testimony. The Oskaloosa Monthly Meeting counseled students from the college about military conscription and pacifism. Because of this the parsonage was vandalized in 1917 with yellow crosses painted on the house. The congregation's pastor, Clarence Pickett, was tied to a spring wagon and led through town. Some vandalism also occurred during World War II, including yellow paint smeared on the parsonage.

Presidents Cottage United States historic place

The President's Cottage is a historic residence located in Oskaloosa, Iowa, United States. From 1892, when it was built, to 1918 this structure housed the president of William Penn College. It highlights the school's improved finances at the time of its construction, the importance it placed on its leadership, and its association with the Quaker testimony in Oskaloosa, which makes this house historic. The placement of the house on a corner lot at the end of College Avenue gave the campus a linear feel in the "Yale Row" concept of college design. Absalom Rosenberger and David M. Edwards and their families lived here during their presidencies. H. Edwin McGrew did not live in the house, and it is not certain whether some of the presidents lived here either because they already had homes in Oskaloosa. The college subsequently sold the house and it now serves as a private residence. The 2½-story frame structure features Queen Anne influences, a wrap-around front porch, and a gable-end roof with intersecting gables. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1996.

John H. Shoemake House United States historic place

The John H. Shoemake House, also known as the Shoemake-Muhl House, is a historic residence located in Oskaloosa, Iowa, United States. A native of Tennessee, Shoemake was a local businessman and local politician who settled in Mahaska County from Illinois in 1848. He had this two-story brick residence built in 1852 at a time when most houses in the area were built of wood. It follows the I-house plan, and it features Federal style elements that are found in the stepped gables, the massing of chimneys in pairs, and its overall symmetry. It was built with a flat roof, which was not unusual in Oskaloosa at the time. The gable roof was added sometime after 1869. The house was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1984.

Thomas Earl House (Ann Arbor, Michigan) United States historic place

The Thomas Earl House was built as a single-family home located at 415 North Main Street in Ann Arbor, Michigan. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1992. The house has been renovated to office space.

References

  1. "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places . National Park Service. July 9, 2010.
  2. 1 2 William C. Page, Joanne R. Walroth. "Thomas J. Conover House". National Park Service . Retrieved 2016-05-03.