Under $75K Thursday – c.1900 Five Bedroom Iowa Handyman Special Colonial Revival $65K

$65,000

Built in 1920, this Iowa handyman special is a five-bedroom, two-bath Colonial Revival. The 2,582-sf home has a front porch, metal roof, unpainted woodwork, mostly hardwood floors, clawfoot tub, fireplace, and detached three-car garage.

Realtor Comments

Potential abounds with this large two story home with a metal roof and oversized 3 car detached garage. The covered front porch and nice woodwork are especially nice features. Property is being sold As-Is. Inspections are for buyers knowledge only. Buyer will be responsible for all abstracting costs. Seller is The Secretary of Veterans Affairs. This property was built prior to 1978 and lead based paint potentially exists. This property may qualify for seller financing (Vendee). This is a must see!

• 5bed
• 2bath
• 2,582sqft
• 8,712sqft lot
• Circa 1920

Family History

 

This was the home of John Matthew Schaefer (1866-1934) and his wife Caroline. The couple married in 1890 an had the house built soon after per US Census records. John owned his own barber shop. The Schaefers lived in the home with their children, Neva, Walter and Claude. Sadly, Walter died in action during WWI. It really is a heart-wrenching story.

Per Find-A-Grave

“Walter B. Schafer (Walt/Wally) was born October 1, 1892 in Leon, Decatur County, Iowa and died on April 22, 1918 in a German hospital from injuries suffered as a soldier in World War I. His father was John M. Shafer, born March 1866 in Germany, died Jan 1934. His mother was Caroline (Carrie) M. Egan, born August 1867 in Ohio.
Schafer graduated from Ottumwa High School and was an honor roll student, an outstanding athlete (he was on the football and basketball teams all four years and track his junior and senior years), a member of the debate club for three years and a member of the yearbook staff for four years.
After graduating, Walter went on to the University of Chicago. He also took courses at the Art Institute of Chicago in preparation for his goal of becoming a cartoonist.
Walter enlisted in the Army at the beginning of World War I. He became a 2nd Lieutenant in Co. G, 168th infantry, 42nd Rainbow Division, where he was immediately sent to the front, becoming Chief Battalion Scout Officer.
On April 21, 1918, while leading a scouting party in “No Man’s Land” in France, his squadron was fired upon with machine guns. The entire squadron was killed leaving only Walter, and it was reported that though his stomach was riddled with bullets, he put up a terrific fight against capture. He died the next day in a German prisoner of war hospital and was originally buried in France, but was re-interred in the Ottumwa Cemetery, August 7, 1921.
For his heroism on the battlefield, the Ottumwa chapter of the Veterans of Foreign Wars named their local post Walter B. Schaefer Post 775. In 1921 Ottumwa High School renamed their athletic field Walter B. Schaefer Field in his honor. The picture is from the 1913 Argus, the Ottumwa High School yearbook.”

 

Location of This Iowa Handyman Special