National Register of Historic Places

Forney, James M., House

Burlington, Des Moines County, Iowa
Listed
September 21, 1986
Type
Building
Period
Industrial
Ref No.
86002689

About this property

The James M. Forney House is a historic building located in Burlington, Iowa, United States. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1986. Forney was a cabinet maker in Pennsylvania who came to Burlington in 1850 and opened a saw mill. By 1857 he sold his business to his competitors and entered into a partnership with his brother-in-law, Samuel Mellinger, in a tin and coopersmith firm. By 1866 he put his wealth into real estate. In 1875 Forney started another commercial venture with M. C. Buffington, the inventor and patent holder for the Improved Sarven Wheel, also known as the Buffington Wheel. They formed a partnership and opened Buffington, Forney & Company, a carriage wheel manufacturer. They patented and manufactured the Universal Wheelwright Machine, which was considered the finest wheel making machine in the world. The 2½ story, brick house is located on property that encompasses a half block at the top of a bluff. It features Italianate influences found in the main block, the roof line, and ornamental details. They are combined with the Gothic Revival influences found in the central cross gable, the pointed arch windows in the gables, and the tracery between the columns of the front porch.

Location

401 Cedar
Burlington, Des Moines County, Iowa
40.80072, -91.10384

Categories

ARCHITECTURE
National Register nomination ›
Sources

Property data from the National Register of Historic Places, National Park Service (public domain).

Description adapted from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.

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Nearby Historic Sites

Chicago, Burlington and Quincy Station
Industrial
0.4 mi
Burlington and Missouri River Railroad Passenger Station
Early Republic
0.4 mi
Starker-Leopold Historic District
Listed
0.5 mi
Darwin, Mary, House
Industrial
0.5 mi
Church of St. John the Baptist
Industrial
0.6 mi

Questions about this property

When was Forney, James M., House listed on the National Register?

Forney, James M., House was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on September 21, 1986.

What type of historic resource is Forney, James M., House?

Forney, James M., House is classified as a building in the National Register of Historic Places.

What is the period of significance for Forney, James M., House?

The period of significance for Forney, James M., House is recorded as the industrial era.

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