The
home built by Frank and Olivia Nicoulin is located at 114 East North Street in
Algona. I have to admit that it is a
house I have never really taken notice of before. The structure has a unique design and roof
line which makes it quite distinctive, especially compared to the houses which
surround it. My only excuse for not
noticing it before is that my attention is usually drawn to Bryant School just
across the street. MEET THE NICOULINS
Frank
Nicoulin was born in Massachusetts and moved as a very young child to Mayville,
Wisconsin. He was a member of the 3rd
Wisconsin Volunteers during the Civil War, enlisting in 1861 and serving for
the duration of the war. He came to
Algona in 1866 and opened a blacksmith and wagon shop. On July 1, 1867, he married Olivia Pinkerton
here in Algona.
Olivia
had been born in Aledo, Illinois on June 21, 1845. She was the daughter of William and Nancy
Pinkerton and the cousin of Allen Pinkerton who founded the famous detective
agency. Her mother died when she was
just six years old and her father placed her with the Cowden family. When the war broke out, her father and all
three of her brothers enlisted and her father enrolled her in a school in Rock
Island. When the war ended she traveled
by covered wagon with her father and two of her brothers to Algona. She kept house for them until her marriage to
Frank.
A
talented blacksmith, Frank’s skills were very useful to the young community. The wagon shop was also a good addition to
the town. Nicoulin was a good
businessman and the wagon shop gradually developed into a dray manufacturing
enterprise. A dray is a sturdy wagon
without sides used for hauling heavy loads.
At the height of its production the company produced 200 plus units per
year.
THE HOUSE
By
1892, the couple had been married for 25 years.
Although several of their six children were already grown, they desired
a larger space for their family and for entertaining. It was decided that a new home was in
order. The Nicoulin Wagon Works was
already located in the northwest corner of the intersection of Call and Moore
Streets with his current house located directly west of the shop. Frank Nicoulin owned that whole block with
the exception of the southwest corner, so it seemed wise to utilize the north
side of the block for the location of the new residence.
 |
| The Nicoulin Wagon Works - Frank Nicoulin far right |
Ground
was broken in May of that year.
According to an article published in the May 4th edition of
the Upper Des Moines, “The building will
be in all 60 feet long by 41 wide, being built in late style with angles and
numerous projections, and will be a handsome addition to Algona’s fine
residences.” The frame of the house
was up in August with the roof going on in September of that year. Many different woods were used in the
house—the parlor in birch, the back parlor and hall in oak, and the dining room
in birdseye maple, all with hardwood floors.
A beautiful home for a successful businessman. This lovely home was pictured in “Picturesque
Algona” when it was published in 1900.
FIRE!
Around
9:30 on the morning of Monday, February 13, 1905, fire was discovered in the
attic of the south wing of the Nicoulin house.
First smoke was sighted coming through the shingles, but soon flames shot
forth. The fire spread to the back
stairs of the attic, shutting off access.
The roof was soon in flames and began to give away.
The
fire company responded very quickly and despite it being the coldest day of the
year with the thermometer at -20 degrees, bravely fought to contain the fire to
the second floor. High school students
from Bryant came across the street and began helping to remove household goods
from the rooms on the first floor. Their
courageous actions averted the destruction of many of the Nicoulin family’s
most precious possessions.
It
took several attempts by the firemen to successfully extinguish the blaze and
by the time they finished, much damage had been done. The Algona Advance reported: “The
roof and attics are practically destroyed and the plastering all over the house
is almost ruined on account of the water that flooded the upper floors and that
ran through the ceilings below. Much of
the fine oak casings is ruined. Doors
were wrenched from their places and mantels demolished and many portions of the
lower rooms needlessly ruined in the bewildering excitement.” In addition, most of the household goods
which were not removed were ruined beyond repair.
The
Nicoulins moved back into their old home on Call Street to decide what their
next action should be. Underinsured,
they received a total of $1,000 in insurance proceeds for the damages. It had
been a costly day, but no one had been injured. Thankful for all the help he had received,
Frank treated all of the firemen and their wives to a fine dinner at the Dutton
& Waterhouse restaurant the day after the fire.
THE HOUSE REBORN
The
Nicoulins soon decided to repair and restore the home they loved. They hired local builder A.M. Coan and by
early March he began the work of rebuilding the roof. The entire upstairs of the structure had to
be replastered and all hardwood flooring replaced. Several months later, the family returned
home.
The
house was filled with activity again.
They continued to entertain both family and friends and often hosted various
groups. At a Christmas gathering of her
“500” club in December of 1906, Olivia had the house beautifully decorated,
complete with a miniature Christmas tree adorning the dining table filled with
gifts for each of the ladies present. A
bountiful buffet was enjoyed by all.
Frank
Nicoulin continued to travel a lot for business purposes. Buying supplies and attending implement shows
to promote his drays kept him busy. For
relaxation he loved to hunt—especially for ducks and he was a crack shot. His good friend John G. Smith recalled one of
their hunting trips. “I recollect once when we were at Elbow
Lake, south of Ruthven, on the great duck pass.
There was a light rain and the canvas backs and red-head ducks were
flying thick and fast, when Frank got a shell stuck in the chamber of his
gun. It would not open or shut. I can see the look on his face as the great
flocks of ducks were passing. He had to
leave the pass and go up town to extract the shell. Frank kept good natured and
laughed over his trouble. Most men would
have been so provoked that they would have broken the gun.”
THE PASSING OF AN ERA
Frank
took an active part in the Call Opera House.
He often lined up entertainment to appear there. In fact, he was at home getting ready to go
to a production at the theatre on April 4, 1911 when he suddenly became
violently ill. Shortly thereafter he
passed away from cardiac arrest. He had
been taking treatments for a stomach ailment for several years and was to leave
the next day for Eureka Springs, Arkansas, for additional therapies. His
funeral was held at the house with many mourners in attendance.
 |
| The house in 2016 |
Olivia
survived Frank by almost eight years, passing from this life on Thursday, February
6, 1919. She, too, suffered from heart
disease which had weakened her during the last several years of her life. Many floral tributes were delivered to the
house in her honor. The fragrance from
the bouquets must have filled the space during her funeral which was held there
the following Saturday. She was buried
in Riverview cemetery next to her husband.
Despite
a massive fire in its early days, this house remains as a lasting reminder of
an early pioneer family.
Until
next time,
Jean
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