This house at 910 5th Ave. N. dates back to 1884 when it was built by Dr. Casper D. Koch, an early-day musician in Fort Dodge. Later it was the home for many years of a prominent educator—Prof. John F. Monk—and a widely-known social worker and YWCA executive—Miss Lynn S. Anderson.

The two-story frame house is now owned by Mr. and Mrs. Walter J. Gurnett who acquired it in 1959. There presently are four apartments in the house—two on each floor. One of the downstairs apartments is occupied by the Gurnetts.

Windows in the house are typical of the era when the house was built and are long and narrow. Three windows in the front living room extend from the floor to the ceiling.

Dr. Koch acquired the building lot and erected the home in 1884. Evidence of the years he spent in the house came to light some years ago when sheet music with Dr. Koch’s name was found in the attic of the home.

The house was purchased in 1901 by S. J. Robertson, a Fort Dodge businessman, who resided there until 1910 when he sold the property to Mrs. J.F. (Helen) Monk and her sisters, Lynn S. Anderson and Florence A. Anderson. Prof. and Mrs. Monk and the Anderson sisters occupied the home at various times during later years. Monk was a professor at Tobin College here and owned the college in partnership with C. V. Findlay. The college was located at the northwest corner of First Avenue North and Seventh Street and at one time had between 400 and 500 students in its various departments.

Monk was married in 1892 to Helen M. Anderson and they were parents of four children—Florence, Melville, Dorothy and John. The father was prominent in Fort Dodge affairs—was president of the Chautauqua Assembly, director of the Commercial Club and president of the official board of the First Methodist Church.