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Hill House, Old Time Mansion, Built in 1874Was One of Outstanding Homes in North Iowa in Seventies,-At ilio north edge of Mason City, facing: the abandoned quarry of the Northwestern cement plant, stands a dingy but still stately house which 60 years ago was considered an exceptionally fine farm home.It was built in 1874 by Leonard Hill, who - came to Iowa from New York state 'Sn 18SS and from Linn county to Cerro Gordo county in i860. He was a mason by trade which may account for his building a brick house. However, it was discovered, a few years back that the brick walla are hut the veneer of a wooden house, but at that it is sub stantlally built, and in 1874 It must have been regarded as a mansion with its 10 large 'rooms and five additional ones In the basement.It Waa Style.'The cupola or observatory, onj top was a style in much favor in the* 60s and 70s and no doubt Mr. Hill, brought his Idea of a home from New York state where they may yet be seen In small towns and country neighborhoods.When' the house was built there were no furnace heated homes in Mason City and there are numerous chimneys in the 10 rooms which converge into two main ones which join just below the cupola. One can imagine the number of separate stoves it would require to heat the house, If indeed it was heated, in a cold winter and with wood for fuel* Built First Creamery,Mr* Hill died in 1882 but in 1880 ho is mentioned in a biographical sketch, in a History of Cerro Gordo county, as operating the Glen wood creamery, the first one In this section of the county, gathering cream from Lime Creek, Lincoln and Mason townships and making 30,000 pounds of butter the first year and increasing one-third the second year. The manufacturing was done in the basement of the house which still has indications o£ Buch use.• Notwithstanding its present dingy appearance, on account of dust from the.cement plant, it waa a sightly place in the 70’a and one of the few fine farm homes in the county.Self Binder Appears.The north edge of Mason City at that time was a fringe of small houses .on Fourth' street north. It may be of interest to state that just across Federal avenue from the Hill house, there was- a field of barley In the year 1877 or *78 and in it was staged, a harvesting contest by about six of the newly invented self-binders, using soft wire to tie up the bundles.An Interested crowd of farmers watched the work of the most labor saving machine that had come into farm life since the invention of the reaper.• •• --ws'.e. -the far me: sealed Sn look so consider t sibie for placed in loss from fire, etc.” FAIR. DEUNCLELEONARD HILL HOUSE.PULSE OF THEFARMJust now the com-hog problem is the most absorbing topic among farmers. Every effort is being made to make the scheme plain and understandable.A reader of the farm page has banded in this criticism of the plan which appeared in the Drover's Journal apparently with its approval. The writer signs hmself Iowa Farmer’* but wants his name withheld, a suspicious circumstance.ANOTHER VIEW PRESENTEDThe Journal says:*■' Towa. Farmer* is one of the sound and successful livestock producers of hla state. He has asked that his name be withheld. The figures and comments to which he refers follow:In Nov. a 200-lb hog ia taxed*? 1,00In Dec. a 250-lb hog la taxed 2.50In Jan. a 300-lb hog is taxed. 4.50In Feb. a 300-Ib hog Is taxed. 7,00Editor’s of the 1lt; greedy at If I boi sum of ir a certain at 45 cen not stand theft, fire If I a£ not to p fourths o and I ac then I c: should I If I regovernmeIng 40 alt; ures only big sloug should ISecreta declarer will pay believe tlFour hogff, total tax. .... .815.00 One bog, average tax ..... 3.75“Next year you get $5 a head bounty on three-fourths of your number, which is three hogs out of the above four, and three times five is 515. It is an even break at this advancing tax rate, if the farmer falls abort of his 75 per cent by reason of disease or any other cause it is hi a loss and the government’s gain. The extension department will handle the clerical part. They don’t usually work for nothing. The farmer is to administer the townships for nothing as he did in the war-time loan drives. The hog tax from February on is an Unknown nnpnHtr thrviip-h sutnniinP.ftrlWHO F.4 THE TAA YCCi agricultu: tion indie wheat, clt; the tax*The ru'Farm i hogs or « to the p other prc ufacturec cured po Who ende irtg tax b tl. prodi their own hold, but change it chandise, tion, to 510,00 Q more tba Section ] Justment plicabte tenue law“Perao processln the effe: of what, modities, also are means tcesses taown rais Is requirWaysOne w surplus i turn ail fields, bi no profit Gordo Ci er Claud Pfow lt;in a herd
Newspaper Details
Mason City Globe Gazette
Mason City, Iowa, US
Wed, Nov 29, 1933
Page 1
Full Page
Clipped by
Moore M.
TX, USA 21 May 2021
Other Publications Near Mason City, Iowa
Mason City Weekly Globe Gazette
Atlas of Cerro Gordo County Iowa
Mason City Globe Gazette
