National Register of Historic Places

Waverly House

Waverly, Bremer County, Iowa
Listed
December 12, 1976
Type
Building
Period
Industrial
Ref No.
76000735

About this property

Waverly House, originally known as Daily House and now known as the Bremer County Historical Society Museum, is an historic building located at 402 W. Bremer Ave, Waverly, Iowa, 50677 United States. Built in October and November 1862, the three-story brick building cost between $7000 - $8000 to build (in 2019, figuring inflation the cost would have been approximately $250,000). It accommodated 100 guests, had a stable to keep 50 horses, a granary and a large yard. A Grand Opening Oyster Supper was held December 14, 1862. For its first ten months it served as a stage coach stop. Barnes line and Starr omnibus stopped here. In 1864 the railroad arrived in Waverly and the building was converted into a hotel. In 1879, there was a brief name change to "City Hotel", but it didn't last more than a few months. After 20 years as a hotel it was converted into a boarding house. On June 5, 1883, Emma Cronin fatally shot John F. Stevens in room 21 on the third floor. Many weddings were held at the Waverly House. On May 6, 1893, the Prohibitionists of Bremer County met at the Waverly House to appoint delegates to attend the State Convention. In 1905, the building was purchased by Dr. F. A. Osincup and became CaPhenin Chemical Company (locally known as "The Pill Factory") to manufacture medication. 1946 brought a two-story and basement addition, 16' x 46'. In April 1953, the Chemical company was bought by investors in Eagle Grove, Iowa but the building was left vacant. On January 4, 1960, Bremer County Historical Society was able to raise funds to purchase the historic structure and on July 11, 1961, opened as a Museum. The building was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1976.

Location

402 W. Bremer Ave.
Waverly, Bremer County, Iowa
42.72592, -92.47595

Categories

COMMERCETRANSPORTATIONARCHITECTURE
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

Waverly Municipal Hydroelectric Powerhouse
Industrial
0.3 mi
Wartburg Teachers' Seminary
Industrial
0.4 mi
Old Fourth Ward Southeast Historic District
Listed
0.4 mi
Bremer County Court House
Industrial
0.5 mi
Third Street Bridge (FHWA No. 012250)
Industrial
0.6 mi

Questions about this property

When was Waverly House listed on the National Register?

Waverly House was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on December 12, 1976.

What type of historic resource is Waverly House?

Waverly House is classified as a building in the National Register of Historic Places.

What is the period of significance for Waverly House?

The period of significance for Waverly House is recorded as the industrial era.

Can I research the history near Waverly House?

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