A Fort Dodge mayor—C. V. Findlay—who served as the city’s chief
executive for 10 years, owned and occupied this house for many years.
The two-story frame house at 1707 8th Ave. S., was built in 1895 by
Charles Hayler and sold in 1901 to James Findlay.
The home remained in possession of members of the Findlay family until
sold to Mr. and Mrs. Donald Pieper in 1953. In 1973 it was purchased by
Mr. and Mrs. Gary D. Reel who presently reside there with their two
children. Reel is a sheet metal worker with Northwest Furnace Company.
The house has undergone some remodeling but has substantially the same
room arrangement now as in past years. The first floor has living room,
dining room, family room, kitchen and bath. The second floor has four
bedrooms, (one used as a children’s playroom) and bath.
C. V. Findlay acquired the home in 1910 and lived there with his wife
and family for many years. Born in Illinois in 1866, he came to Iowa and
Clay County with his parents in 1871. Six years later the Findlays moved
to Webster County and settled in Otho Township. He attended schools in
the area and then graduated from Highland Park College in Des Moines.
Returning to Fort Dodge Findlay was elected Webster County
superintendent of schools and served in that capacity for a number of
years.
[Illustration: The Findlay home
1707 8th Avenue South]
Findlay then purchased Tobin College in partnership with J. F. Monk and
the two operated this widely-known educational institution for many
years. The three-story frame college building was located at the
northwest corner of First Avenue North and Seventh Street. It burned
down in 1929.
In 1899 Findlay was married and the couple were parents of two
sons—James Franklin Findlay and Maurice Findlay. Mrs. Findlay was an
early secretary of the YWCA.
Findlay was elected to the city council while the city was operating
under the ward system of government and served during 1910 and 1911.
Still interested in civic affairs Findlay later was elected mayor of
Fort Dodge in 1923 under the commission form of government established
in 1911. He was reelected to four additional terms, serving a total of
10 years in the mayor’s office. His tenure of office was the longest of
any of the city’s mayors until Albert Habhab was elected mayor in 1959
and served continuously through 1973—a total of 14 years.