A well-known Webster County farmer, who was also an early-day auto
dealer in Fort Dodge, built the home at 1102 5th Ave. N. and occupied it
with his family for many years.
[Illustration: The J. B. Black home
1102 5th Avenue North]
He was J. B. Black who acquired the property at the northeast corner of
Fifth Avenue North and Eleventh Street in 1893 and erected the home the
same year. The home site was purchased from David Fessler, pioneer
merchant and fur trader who resided at 1110 5th Ave. N.
Black owned a farm northeast of the city and lived there until the home
in town was completed. After moving into town he continued to operate
his farm with a hired man.
The large two-story frame house with full basement has been enlarged and
remodeled since the Blacks resided there. It has changed ownership a
number of times and has been owned by Hassan Habhab since 1947. The
house now has two apartments that are rented out.
Black became interested in early-day autos and operated a garage here
with a partner, Will Kirkpatrick, under the name of Black & Kirkpatrick.
The firm began business in 1908 and continued operations until 1918. The
garage originally was at 1104 Central Avenue, but later moved to other
downtown locations. During 10 years in business Black & Kirkpatrick was
dealer for the line of EMF and Everett automobiles—both of which long
ago passed out of the motor car picture.
In addition to his farming and auto operations, Black in his early-days
here was in the butcher shop business with the Wolverton Brothers at
Central Avenue and Eighth Street. Mr. and Mrs. Black were parents of two
sons and three daughters—Ben and Irving, Miss Edna Black, Miss Laura
Black and Mrs. Lucy J. Carpenter.
Black owned farm property at the north end of Dolliver State Park and
part of this land was sold to the state when the park was established in
1922. Irving Black also farmed some of the land near the park for a
number of years. The elder Mr. Black spent the later years of his life
at his farm home near Dolliver Park and died there in 1935 at age 79.