Probable History
The house at 1326 East 12th St., Davenport Iowa probably started life as a one room
house in the 1870's (most likely about 1872). At that time the living room/den area would
have been a single room, and the upper area a sleeping loft, as was typical of homes this
size in Davenport at this time. Heat would have been provided by a wood or charcoal
burning stove, perhaps one to a floor or just one on the first floor. At this time, the
bathroom was out back somewhere, and cooling was provided by hand fans and shade
trees!! No mouldings date from this era, and the existing plaster is from a later era,
judging from the absence of horse hair or other animal fibers used as binder at this time.
Around 1900 or so, a major addition to the back was made, where the current kitchen
and the two north bedrooms are today. Plumbing was most likely added at this time, and
the one room upstairs was converted to a bedroom and a bath, and there was a kitchen
addition, with a chimney on the north end (since removed but evidence remains in the
north bedrooms). The foundation was enlarged and provided full access under the entire
house. A "octopus" furnace would have been installed around this time for heating. The
coal room was in the northwest corner of the basement, and plumbing was provided
near the raised areas in the north end of the basement. (all since removed).
It is possible that the addition is from the 1920's, but the second floor closets were so
narrow of depth that they had to be replaced. On doing this, it is clear that the flooring
went around the original walls of the closet, therefore it looks like two major building
events took place on the second story
In the 1920's, perhaps 1924 as a mortgage was taken out, this house received a major
update. The windows on the first floor were installed, the solid, 1" thick oak flooring
dates from this era, as does the millwork (the door and surrounding woodwork, and the
mopboard) in the kitchen and den. The living room casing was made to resemble the old
during the 2007 renovation.
During the 1960's and 70's, the house was used a residence and a chiropractor office. The
current den was used as the treatment room, the living room the waiting room. A large
limestone wall was built along the stair wall so that the kitchen could be entered
privately from someone upstairs. It was removed in the 2007 renovation.
Most of what one sees today is from the 1920's or the 2007 rehab.
Longer term owners:
1872 Ahimaaz R. Irish
1900 A.F. Nelson
1924 A.F. Nelson - mortgage
1945 Joseph Cartwright
1958 Lewis Cartwright - Chiropractor
1990 Mary McClain & BIll Wehner