Otto Wasem, one of the seven brothers who figured prominently in the
gypsum industry in Fort Dodge and Webster County through operations of
the Wasem Plaster Company, erected this brick residence in 1921. The
two-story house with red tile room is located at 827 8th Ave. N.
The home was owned and occupied by the Wasem family until 1955 when it
was sold to Mr. and Mrs. Robert D. Hesley. In 1965 it was acquired by
Mr. and Mrs. Raymond Fournier who presently reside there with their
family. Their children are Debra; Denise (Mrs. Bart Mundie); Doreen,
Deanne and Michael. Fournier is a Geo. A. Hormel & Co. plant worker.
[Illustration: The Wasem home
827 8th Avenue North]
Interior arrangement of the Fournier home includes living room, dining
room, den, kitchen and half bath on the first floor; four bedrooms and
bath on the second floor. There is also a large enclosed front porch.
Otto Wasem purchased the lot at 827 8th Ave. N. in 1921 and that same
year built the comfortable and attractive home which the family occupied
for 34 years. Wasem and his wife, Hannah, were parents of three
daughters—Mrs. Daniel E. (Mary Louise) Noble; Mrs. A. T. (Rachel) La
Prade; and Mrs. James B. (Evelyn) Phillips. All reside in Phoenix, Ariz.
Wasem was treasurer and general manager of the Wasem Plaster Company
which was organized here in 1909. It was a Wasem family venture—13
brothers and sisters comprising the owners of the company. The Wasem
plant was located southeast of the city on a 160-acre tract of land
undermined by gypsum rock. Operations began in 1910 and continued in the
original mill until it was destroyed by fire in 1918. A new fireproof
plant was then built and put into operation in 1920. The company
manufactured and sold hollow gypsum tile and marketed gypsum board from
other plants under the Wasem brand.
Otto Wasem was the first general manager of the company and continued in
that capacity from 1909 until the early 1930s. Henry Wasem, first
secretary of the company, was president of the firm in the 1930s. In
1950 the Wasem Plaster Company was sold to the Celotex Corporation which
built the large new modern plant along the Coalville blacktop in 1956.
The Wasem plant was then closed and dismantled, but the structure still
stands.
Mr. and Mrs. Wasem moved to Phoenix, Ariz., where they resided for a
number of years. Both are now deceased.