A Fort Dodge architect—E. O. Damon Jr.—who began his career as a naval architect—designed and built this Colonial-type Snell Place home in 1916. He and his family resided in the home for many years while he was busy designing many houses and buildings.

Damon died in 1948 at age 72 and in 1949 the home was sold to Paul E. McCarville, Fort Dodge attorney, and his wife, Helen, who have since resided there.

Located at 710 Northwood Ave., the three-story brick residence faces the east. At the rear of the house and attached to the garage is a large screened-in summer porch the McCarvilles built some years ago. It has been a popular place for the McCarvilles and their family that included two daughters—Mrs. Mary Alice Coleman, Fort Dodge; and Mrs. Carl A. Nelson, Wayzata, Minn.

The house has traditional colonial styling with white shutters on the first floor windows and green shutters on the second floor windows. Third floor windows are set into dormers. A large hall extends east to west through the house from the front door entrance and there is a staircase with mahogany railing and white spindles from the first to the third floor.

The first floor has large living room with fireplace, dining room, sunroom, butler’s pantry, second pantry and half bath. The second floor includes a master bedroom, two other large bedrooms, sunporch, study, children’s room and two full baths. A sitting room, bedroom, bath and attic storage space are on the third floor. All woodwork in the house is white but doors are dark mahogany.

A large pastel landscape hangs over the fireplace in the living room. The original painting depicts an attractive country scene and was the work of Robert Reaser, a widely-known artist who resided in Fort Dodge for a time.

Damon, a native of Northhampton, Mass., took his naval architectural training in Scotland, returned to the U.S. and practiced for a time in the south before coming to Fort Dodge in 1912. He was married to Georgia Mason and after Snell Place was platted they built their Northwood Ave. home. Damon was well known for his architectural work that included the addition to Mercy Hospital (now Trinity East), the City Hall and Wahkonsa School.

The Damons were parents of two sons, Mason Damon, Buffalo, N.Y.; and Kent Damon, Rochester, N.Y. Following the death of his first wife, Damon was married to Edna Wheeler Dougherty.