The white Colonial-type home with green shutters at 919 Northwood Ave.,
was built by Dr. A. E. Acher, a Fort Dodge physician and surgeon who
practiced here for nearly 60 years. The attractive Snell Place home was
erected in 1926.
[Illustration: The Acher home
919 Northwood Avenue]
The house was occupied by members of the Acher family until 1968 when it
was sold to the present owners—Mr. and Mrs. Kenneth J. McQueen. The
McQueens have two sons, Scott and Todd. McQueen is a vice president,
processing, with Land O’Lakes-Felco.
When the house was built it had the following room arrangement—living
room with fireplace, dining room, sitting room, kitchen, pantry, family
room and half bath on the first floor; four bedrooms, two bathrooms and
sewing room on the second floor. The McQueens have done some remodeling,
making the pantry into part of an enlarged kitchen and converting the
sewing room on the second floor into a combination laundry and sewing
room.
Dr. Acher was born in 1878 in Napoleon, Ohio, where he completed his
early education and then taught school for three years. Enrolling at the
University of Indiana he graduated from medical school in 1905. After
interning in Indianapolis for two years he came to Fort Dodge in 1907
and began his medical practice.
For many years Dr. Acher had his office in the former First National
Bank Building (now the Beh Building) at Central Avenue and Seventh
Street. Later he officed in the Crawford Building at Central and Sixth.
He was active in local and state medical societies. His hobby was
bowling and he was prominently identified with local leagues. He also
planned and built the Acher Apartment building on north Eleventh Street.
Dr. Acher was married to Miss Marcia Pierson of Indianapolis and they
were parents of three sons—Chandler, Chester and Carlton. Following his
first wife’s death he was married to Clara Collingsworth of Fort Dodge.
Dr. Acher died in Fort Dodge in 1964 at age 86.