Creston Thelander House – 1721 Jackson St.
Built in 1913 this house was home to successful druggist, Creston C. Thelander. He started his business in 1883 at 925 4th St. In 1908 he moved to 921 4th St. and in 1910 he sold his business to his brother Fred who operated it until 1954. Other owners kept the Thelander name and ran the business until it closed in 1964. He and his wife Julia occupied this home until his death in 1941 and her death in 1945. This is one of Sioux City’s few concrete block residences. The home is best described as a Prarie Foursquare in style and features exposed rafters, unique dormers and a pediment with applied carving above the front entrance.
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Pruisner-Friedman House – 1722 Jackson St.
Built in 1912, this Colonial Revival styled home was constructed for Benjamin E. Pruisner, Credit and Officer Manager for the Davidson Brothers Company. Pruisner resided here until 1920 when he sold his home to A. B. and Rebecca Friedman who lived here until their deaths (Rebecca 1945 and Abe 1948). Jewish immigrants from Russia, they came to the United States in 1908 first settling in Omaha, then Sioux City in 1910. Abe owned a grocery store at 211 Leonard and also had a real estate business and the Iowa Theater. The Friedmans were the parents of four daughters, Helen, Dorothy and twins Esther and Abigal Van Buren (Dear Abby), the nationally known advice columnists. The twins, after graduating from Sioux City’s Central High School, continued their studies as journalism majors at Morningside College writing for the Collegiate Reporter. Nicknamed Po-Po and Eppie, they were married in a double ceremony in 1939. In the 1950’s Pauline (Ann Landers) and Esther (Abigal Van Buren) began writing their advice column for the Chicago Sun Times and the San Francisco Chronicle, respectively.
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Edward Kayser House – 1808 Jackson St.
Built in 1919, this Prairie styled house was home of Edward Kayser, Secretary of the Dakota Grain Company. It retains its two story form with wide overhanging eaves, full façade front porch, columns and decorative capitals.
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William Ellemund House – 1821 Jackson St.
Built in 1892, this Richardsonian Romanesque styled house was the residence of William Ellemund owner of a plumbing and gas steam heating company. Of special note is the fact that this home was constructed of sandstone and has a spectacular stained glass window on the north side. There is no house at 1821 Jackson St. There is a house that appears to be made of sandstone at 1825 Jackson St which could be the Ellemund House. I did not take a photo of it in case it is not.
James F. Toy House – 1902 Jackson St.
Built in 1892 this was the home of local banker James F. toy who was born in Wilmington, Delaware and came to Iowa in 1867. By 1873, toy had settled in Storm Lake, Iowa, worked in the lumber business, entered banking and formed the Farmer’s Loan and Trust Company which eventually became the Toy National Bank. During his career he became the one of the most powerful financiers in the Midwest controlling 23 banks in the 1920’s. Toy financed the construction of this prominent Queen Anne styled home. Of particular note is the large two story carriage house, one of the few remaining examples in Sioux City.
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Carlton B. Toy House – 1914 Jackson St.
Built in 1919 this Prairie styled home was buolt for Calrton B. Toy, son of James toy. He was Vice President his father’s Farmers Loan and Trust, which later becamse Toy National Bank. This home bears a striking resemblance to the house to the north as well as a home at 2808 Jackson Street.
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James F. Toy House – 1920 Jackson St.
Built in 1917 James Toy financed the construction of this large Craftsman Styled residence. There is no information as to why he moved from his Queen Anne home at 1900 Jackson Street, but perhaps it was due to a change in the fortune or simply to live in a newer styled residence. This home features rafter tails and knee braces, characteristics typical of the Craftsman style.
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Thank you for including the Toy family homes in your bicycle tour. James Toy was my great grandfather. I visited him once or twice at his home in Hollywood, which was bulldozed to make room for a strip mall. Glad to see the beautiful homes still standing in Iowa.
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