H O M E
H I S T O R Y
A R E A M A P
H E R I T A G E T O U R
W A L K I N G T O U R
C O N T A C T U S
 Home in 2006, when it was painted pink |
|
604 Seventh Street " J.R. Benson Home " Built: 1905 Square Footage: 3197 This home features Queen Anne architecture and was built in 1906 as the home of early community businessman J.R. Benson. Mr. Benson was Myrtle Point's first bank proprietor and started the Bank of Myrtle Point on May 29, 1901. The home was converted to apartments for many years and the tower, seen in the earlier photograph (below), was reported to have blown down in a storm and was not replaced. The home was converted back to a single family home in abt 1994. Obituary of J.R. Benson John R. Benson was born in Norfolk Co., Canada at Port Rowan, Nov. 21, 1847 and died at Myrtle Point, Aug. 25, 1917, age 69 years 9 months and 4 days. In a family of 8 born to William Benson and Catherine Procunier, he was the next oldest. Attended country schools in Illinois and Iowa where his father lived. Farming occupied him in his youth but in 1873 he became interested in the drug business at Arcadia, IA., where he remained until 1881. During the later year he moved to Manning, IA., where he conducted a general mercantile business.His first business here was management of a sawmill. In May 29, 1901, he opened the Bank of Myrtle Point. Jan 11, 1890 Mr. Benson married at Vinton, IA., Carrie Vaughan, a native of Illinois. They had only one child, Mabel Anita, wife of Louis A. Roberts of Ashland, Ore. and an adopted daughter, Pearl May Benson (now Mrs. W.F. Fredericks), the daughter of a brother, Charles, who died at this place. Burial was in the Myrtle Point Cemetery. Source: Myrtle Point Enterprise, Aug. 23, 1917 |
|
|
|
||||