Residents of the city who have lived here for about 50 years will probably recall that this home was popularly known in the mid-1920s as the “electric house.” Built by A. S. Jackman, a Fort Dodge electrical contractor, the home located at 1117 N. 19th St. is presently owned and occupied by Mr. and Mrs. Merlin B. Hays and family.

The home was one of the first built in the Elmhurst Acres area just west of Dodger Stadium. It is located on a lot with a 120-foot frontage on Nineteenth Street and extending 265 feet eastward to the stadium parking lot.

Jackman, who owned the Jackman Electric Company at 924 Central Avenue, built the two-story brick home in 1923 and incorporated the most modern electrical installations at that time. When completed Jackman, in cooperation with the Fort Dodge Gas & Electric Company, arranged to have open house and invited Fort Dodge and area residents to visit it. The newest and latest electrical appliances such as refrigerators, washing machines, toasters and the like were on display along with beautiful electrical fixtures in the various rooms.

The basic arrangement of the home has not changed much through the years but owners did considerable remodeling to fit their needs. The first floor includes spacious living and dining rooms, family or TV room, kitchen and bedroom with half bath. The second floor has three bedrooms and bath. There is also a large floored attic and a full basement. The house originally had a tile roof but this has been replaced with new type roofing. All spouting on the house is of copper. The home is set back a considerable distance from Nineteenth Street and there is a circular driveway leading to the house.

Mr. and Mrs. Hays purchased the home in 1959 from John and Ann Doud who acquired it in 1955. Other earlier owners were Arthur Westerman, Richard Paul and Robert Lentz.

Hays, present owner of the attractive home, is a virologist with the Fort Dodge Laboratories. He and his wife are parents of four children—three boys and a girl.