Area less than one acre Designated October 7, 1992 | Governing body Private | |
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Location 1329 College Ave.Davenport, Iowa | ||
Claim House is a property in Davenport, Iowa, United States that was nominated for, but not listed, on the National Register of Historic Places in 1983, with reference number 83004790. The property was covered in a 1982 study of Davenport MRA and/or its 1983 follow-on. Its NRHP listing status is DP, which means DATE RECEIVED/PENDING OWNER OBJECTION. It was listed on the Davenport Register of Historic Properties on October 7, 1992.
History
The house was built in 1832 or 1833 by George L. Davenport, son of Colonel George Davenport, when he was fifteen years old, It was built as a claim on his property, and is thought to be the oldest structure in the city of Davenport. At that time the property was on land that had not yet been open to white settlement. The claim was made when the Sauk and Meskwaki tribes were being forced to surrender their lands following the Black Hawk War and the area became known as the Black Hawk Purchase. Davenport was on friendly terms with the tribes and had their permission to settle on the land, Another early settler Dr. John Emerson took up a claim to the east and built a structure where he housed his slave Dred Scott.
The house was constructed of materials brought from Cincinnati, Ohio by way of the Mississippi River. The original structure stood at 18 feet square, with subsequent additions including a leanto kitchen. When looking at the front of the house there is a batten between the first and second widows from the left. The original house is to the right of the batten. A brick chimney replaces the original which was constructed of stone. The furthest window on the right side of the house was originally a door into the house. In 1867 the house was dismantled and moved from its original location to its present location.