The former E. I. Leighton home at 1120 3rd Ave. N. was built by the
founder of the Leighton Supply Company of Fort Dodge. It is now owned
and occupied by Mr. and Mrs. Donald E. Struve.
The Struves acquired the house in 1969 and have completely modernized
the interior and made many exterior changes such as adding old-fashioned
posts, trim and railing to the large front porch.
Leighton built the home in 1901 following plans drawn by architect J. H.
Albright. The Leighton family retained ownership of the house until 1946
when it was sold to Mrs. Marie Friday, who in turn, sold it to the
Struves.
Originally the house had a reception room, parlor, dining room, kitchen
and pantry on the first floor; five bedrooms and bath on the second
floor and three bedrooms and storage room on the third floor. The
arrangement now includes reception room, living room, dining room,
kitchen, pantry and utility room on the first floor; four bedrooms and
bath on the second floor and an apartment on the third floor with living
room, three bedrooms and bath.
The entire house now has a pleasing antique motif with suitable
furnishings to complement this style. All woodwork now has a natural
finish—a project of the Struves. Red carpeting covers the floors in the
living room, hallway and the open stairway to the second floor. The
reception room has a homemade wool-braided rug. Antique furniture is
used in the downstairs rooms and in the second floor bedrooms. Exterior
of the house has been painted red and all trim is white.
[Illustration: The Leighton home
1120 3rd Avenue North]
E. I. Leighton was born in Vermont in 1867 and came to Fort Dodge in
1885 where he learned the tin and hardware trade. From 1889 to 1893 he
was a partner in the retail hardware firm of Arthur & Leighton and then
for seven years was with Leighton Brothers retail plumbing shop. In 1900
Leighton went into the wholesale plumbing and heating business and in
1909 organized the Leighton Supply Company. He was secretary-treasurer
and general manager of the firm for many years.
The present five story Leighton building at First Avenue South and
Thirteenth Street was erected in 1911 and has been headquarters since
then for the firm. The company operates in northwest and north central
Iowa and is a wholesaler of plumbing, heating and industrial supplies.
Leighton was prominent in state plumbing association circles and active
in civic groups here including the Chamber of Commerce, Rotary Club,
YMCA, Boy Scouts and the First Methodist Church. He and Mrs. Leighton
were parents of a daughter, Gertrude, and a son, Lucius.