[Illustration: The Mueller home
615 3rd Avenue South]
The “Mueller home” at 615 3rd Ave. S. stands on an historic site that
dates back to the early days of Fort Dodge. It was at this location the
congregation of St. Paul’s Evangelical Lutheran Church erected its first
house of worship—a small building constructed of gypsum rock and
familiarly known for many years as “the old stone church.”
The congregation was organized in 1863 and the following year built the
stone church on Third Avenue South property purchased from Fort Dodge’s
founder Major William Williams. Although the present St. Paul’s edifice
was erected in 1885-1886 the congregation continued ownership of the
stone building until 1895 when it was sold to J. M. Mulroney.
The present house at 615 3rd Ave. S. was built in 1896 on the church
site. When the old stone church was torn down some of the gypsum rock
was used in the foundation of the house. Records show that J. R.
Mulroney acquired the property in 1911 and resided there until 1913 when
the house was sold to William F. Mueller, Fort Dodge hardware dealer.
The home has been owned and occupied by members of the Mueller family
since 1913 and is presently owned by a daughter, Miss Ruth Mueller. The
house has been remodeled in past years and now has four apartments—two
on the first floor and two on the second floor. Miss Mueller resides in
one of the downstairs apartments.
William F. Mueller was born in Fort Dodge in 1877 and began his hardware
career in a store owned by Harry Vincent. Later Vincent formed a
partnership in the hardware business with Mueller, Franz and Bruno
Thiede and the firm began operations in 1911 as the Thiede-Mueller
Hardware Company at 516 Central Avenue. After some years the store moved
to the Thiede Building at 815 Central Avenue and later returned to the
original site at 516 Central. The Ferguson True Value Hardware store is
now located in the building where the Thiede-Mueller firm had its
beginning more than 60 years ago.
In 1951 Mueller retired and sold his interest in the firm. He died in
1955 at age 77. He was prominent in hardware circles and served as
president of the Iowa Retail Hardware Association and was a director of
the Iowa Hardware Mutual Insurance Association for more than 30 years.
During his business career Mueller was a member here of the Kiwanis and
Rotary Clubs, the Chamber of Commerce and the United Commercial
Travelers.
He and Mrs. Mueller (the former Emma Thiede) were parents of seven
children: Ruth, Mrs. Ray (Helen) Adamson, Mrs. Robert (Wilma) Ackerson,
William J. Mueller, Mrs. Frank (Dorothy) Barry; and Mrs. Carl (Gertrude)
Tunwall and Frank Mueller, both deceased.