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If you stand on the southwest corner
of Second and Washington streets facing the white brick house that
spans the whole northeast corner lot, and squint your eyes to block
out all surrounding buildings, you can almost imagine yourself on the
French Riviera, or the Greek Isles gazing at a Mediterranean villa.
Never for once would you believe that you were in Iowa.
This imposing, two-story home at 107 West Washington was built by the Elliott family in 1871. Originally a large, square porch wrapped around the front of the house, extending from the entrance, around the house, to the bay windows on the west. The first remodeling was done in 1929 for R.B. Louden, then occupant and President of Louden Machinery Company. Plans to replace the porch show gracefully curving brick steps leading to a tiled terrace on the east side of the house. A new glassed-in vestibule area framed the front entrance. A solarium with a built-in fireplace was placed on the southwest corner of the house, mirroring nicely the architecture of the vestibule. It was these simple changes that transformed the home from one of a four-square, apple-pie type, into one that belies its Midwest location.
Robert B. Louden, known always as R.B., bought the home in the 1890s. Brother to William, the inventor and driving force behind the Louden Machine Company, R.B. assumed the sales and financial side of the business. He later became president of the company when the company incorporated. R.B. married Lizzie Carson of Livingston, Iowa, and they had one child, Roberta Biddle Louden. Roberta Louden was born in the home's master bedroom on February 13, 1901.
Roberta Biddle Louden McCoid, now 96 years old, lives in Mt. Pleasant. Frail in body but indomitable in spirit, she has a memory like a steel trap. In 1992 she made an impromptu visit to her family home with her granddaughter, Laura McCoid, who, with foresight, audiotaped the visit and kindly gave a copy to the current owners, John and Pritpal Griffith.
The Griffiths were surprised when Mrs. McCoid and her granddaughter appeared at their door and announced themselves one day. "There was a knock at the door, and when I went to see who it was, I was overjoyed," says Pritpal Griffith. "Together we walked through the house and she brought to life the memories of almost 100 years. I was truly honored to have her here. I was especially thrilled to find out that she was actually born in my bedroom in 1901, and married in front of the bay window in the library in 1937."
Owners since 1991, John and Pritpal Griffith can attest to the fact that many Europeans feel at home when entering their house. "They feel that they are in a different country when they come inside," Pritpal explains. John and Pritpal both understand that feeling. John Griffith is from County Limerick, Ireland, and this house immediately reminded him of his Irish roots. "It was as if I had come home," he says. "And when we moved in, there was no adjustment period. We moved in with just a card table and chairs, as all our furniture was still in Ireland. I felt as if I had been living here all my life."
Pritpal and John have a favorite region in Ireland called The Burren, where one can find remains of saints, holy wells, and medieval churches. The area is known for its healing capabilities. This particular region of Ireland is also a bedrock of limestone. Back in Fairfield, when John went down to the basement and saw that the house was built on a solid base of limestone, it more than clinched the deal.
One enters the home through an east-facing door into a glassed vestibule. Multi-paned windows bring in an abundance of light. Ceramic tiled floors and cushioned window seats hint of the elegant luxury within. Coming through the main door into the foyer, you are greeted by a graceful and stately set of steps leading to the second floor. The banister ends at the bottom in a large, beautifully carved newel post. "It was a great stopper!" Mrs. McCoid exclaims. "My cousin Burt from Montana thought of himself as a cowboy. He used to don his hat and spurs and slide down this same railing over and over. Mother used to get so mad at him. He would pretend he was on a horse and kick and kick." The child within me gazed longingly, and I had a sudden urge to sprint up the stairs and give it a try. There is nothing to stop the downward motion, no curves or corners, just a straight shot from the second floor. I didn't look closely for spur marks.
Nestled underneath the stairway stands a paneled closet that at one time held a door. "I was put in there when I was very naughty," Mrs. McCoid remembers, "until I decided whether I would do it again." With a mischievous smile, she adds, "they often wondered why I could stay so long in there, but, you see, I could see through the cracks in the door out into the hall. I could watch all that was going on." Today it is an open space, with hanging coats the only occupants.
Like many historic Fairfield homes,
the foyer connects by pocket doors to a parlor and a living room.
Both rooms have carved oak framed windows that stretch almost floor
to ceiling, approximately 16 inches deep. By looking closely, you get
a good idea of just how thick the walls really are. With such
substantial brick walls, it comes as no surprise to find that the
house remains cool in the summer and holds warmth in the winter.
John, an expert refurbisher of old homes, says, "I was amazed at the
intricate pattern that both bricks and wood were used to build this
house. Not just one length of bricks were put together, but
overlapping lengths and widths with wood in between. The end result
is solid and formidable. You don't see this type of craftsmanship in
building anymore."
Through the parlor you walk out into a wonderful solarium. An unusual design for the Midwest, it turned out to be very functional for an extended family. Completely glassed in, with a mosaic tile floor and gas fireplace, this room is cool in the summer, and cozy and warm in the winter. The ornate firescreen and beautiful mantle are particularly lovely. Roberta Louden McCoid told Pritpal that she was overjoyed when they pulled down the large wooden porch to build the solarium. "I had to go out and scrub the darn thing," she says. "I didn't care for that!" The family was very excited over the possibility of a gas fireplace. "We never had a fireplace, and we wanted one so badly, so that we put one out there. And it was gas and that was nice."
The dining room is complete with beamed ceiling, leaded prism glass windows, and a built-in china closet. Mrs. McCoid remembers many large family dinners. "We had many, many Loudens living in the area. You see, Uncle Tom, Uncle Jim, Uncle John, and Uncle Will all lived here in Fairfield, with their families. We always celebrated Christmas dinner here and New Year's down at Uncle Will's."
R.B. Louden, Roberta's father, was a trustee at the bank. One of Mrs. McCoid's favorite memories was of her father bringing home uncut sheets of money. He would lay them out on the table, and commence to cut them out. "I really wanted to help, but father would have none of it," she remembers. "Mother and Father and Millie and Effie were all cutting away, and I was just grinding my teeth, wanting to help."
Climbing the back steps to the second floor brings you to a long hall with the four bedrooms. "This was my bedroom here," Mrs. McCoid says, showing her granddaughter the bedroom on the northeast corner. "I used to step out over the window sill into the sleeping porch when it was too hot to sleep in the room. We finally cut a door, but until then we used to step out the window."
Sleeping porches were the early 1900s answer to air conditioning. Both north bedrooms have cool sleeping porches that catch the cross breezes on those hot, summer evenings. In the other bedrooms, Mrs. McCoid remembers, a cot was often placed half-way out the window in lieu of a sleeping porch.
Over the years, a new kitchen and family room have been added, and a remodeled bathroom blends nicely with the feel of the home. But the house itself has gone through surprisingly few changes over the years. John Griffith, a member of the Georgian Society, a group committed to restoring and appreciating fine, old homes, continues to lovingly and meticulously refinish the house to its original splendor.
When presented with an album of pictures of the home on Washington Street from John and Pritpal Griffith, Mrs. McCoid exclaimed, "Such wonderful memories, this home holds such lovely memories." And so it does.
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