History Tuesday – George F. Barber Homes
History Tuesday at Old Houses Under $50K focuses on wonderful homes that were built for less than $50,000 back in the day. They are not for sale, and if they were, they would certainly cost way more than $50K (like the first fixer upper below which is pending for $179,000). Today we are featuring several George F. Barber designed homes that Old Houses Under $50K has showcased in the past.
George F. Barber
George Franklin Barber was born in 1854 in DeKalb, Illinois. After his father died, his mother sent George to live on a Kansas farm with his sister and her husband. George helped with the farm work, had a sporadic education, and later married and worked as a house carpenter in Fort Scott, Kansas. His real goal, however, was to become an architect, and so through studying construction and design books, Barber began designing homes for his brother’s construction company.
For health reasons, Barber and his wife Laura and child moved to Knoxville, Tennessee in 1888.
With his publication of The Cottage Souvenir No. 2, A Repository of Artistic Cottage Architecture and Miscellaneous Designs in 1890, Barber earned nationwide attention. The mail-order catalog contained 59 designs costing $500 to $8,000 to build, along with photos of completed homes.
By the turn of the century Barber and his partner, Thomas A. Kluttz, owned a firm with 30 draftsmen and 20 secretaries.
Pending at $179,000
Take a look at this beautiful fixer upper Victorian home!Design #44 in George F.Barbers Architectural Book that was built in 1890. The current owner purchased to renovate, and almost everything to complete this beauty is inside waiting to be finished! Current owner has done several renovations including new windows, finishing the attic area, reinforcing structure and so much more! New furnace and new AC as well! Great ARV potential! make it a Bed and Breakfast or live in it yourself!All this beautiful home needs is your time and labor to finish. Call to set up a private tour with myself and the owner to walk you thru all the updates. – Per Realtor
- 3bed
- 3bath
- 4,493sqft
- 6,730sqft lot
- Circa 1890
303 N 7th St, Cambridge, OH 43725 $179,000
- Contact Realtor: Lisa Finnell
Brokered by: Carol Goff and Associates – Zanesville
- Google Map
608 Magnolia Dr, Macon, MS 39341 $85,000 Sold
History
REALTOR COMMENTS
Family History
602 S Seminole Ave, Okmulgee, OK 74447 $92,500 Sold for $94,000
First glance, I would not have guessed it was a George F. Barber, but it has been confirmed.
514 W State St, Centerville, IA 52544 $29,500 Sold on August 31, 2021 for $29,500
Someone got a deal. I am so envious!
OHU50K NOTES
This George F. Barber designed home was first featured in 2015 when it was listed at $50K. Photos from that listing are added near the bottom of the page. The Queen Anne design was #65 from the first edition of Barber’s plan book, “New Model Dwellings”.
History
A decade after marrying, this home was built for liveryman George B. Steele and his wife Harriet Geneva Dale Steele, who held the deed. Hattie, as she was known, was the daughter of James M. Dale, a very successful local farmer who owned over 1300 acres. Hattie and George married in 1885 and they raised two daughters, Jessie Opal and Charlotte Dale.
Sometime before 1910, Hattie built a large Roller Skating Rink at the edge of town which her husband ran for a while. By 1920, she and George ran an Automobile Garage. Apparently, business and marriage did not work out, because the couple were subsequently divorced. After her daughters left the nest, Hattie rented out a portion of the house to a bank cashier who paid $30 rent. The house in 1930 was valued at $8000.