Foster-Bell House

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Photo courtesy of Molly Naumann

This Tudor Revival house is located in the Fifth Street Bluff Historic District in Ottumwa, Iowa. It was individually listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1983. The original dwelling on this lot was built in 1862 for Judge H.B. Hendershott. In the early 1890's he sold the lots to T.D. Foster who tore down the Hendershott house and had a large frame and stone residence constructed in 1893. In 1923 Foster's daughter, Ellen Foster Bell, hired Kraetsch and Kraetsch of Des Moines to redesign the exterior into its present Tudor Revival configuration. It features a first floor of Sioux Falls red granite with half-timbering above. The roof is of multi-colored slate. In 1929 Tinsley, McBroom & Higgins made significant changes to the interior as well.

205 E 5th St - Ottumwa, IA

• Historic Significance: Architecture/Engineering
• Architect, builder, or engineer: Foster,Thomas, Koch,Ernest
• Architectural Style: Tudor Revival, Other, Classical Revival
• Area of Significance: Architecture
• Period of Significance: 1875-1899, 1925-1949, 1950-1974
• Owner: Private
• Historic Function: Domestic, Education
• Historic Sub-function: School, Single Dwelling
• Current Function: Domestic
• Current Sub-function: Multiple Dwelling

It is on the National Register of Historic Places.