Ezekial & Edna Dumke Home

Constructed in 1917, the house was designed by prominent Ogden architect Eber Piers. It was built for Dr. Ezekiel and Mrs. Edna Dumke, as part of the Wattis Compound. Edna Dumke was the daughter of Martha Ann and Edmund Orson Wattis, who resided behind this home on 2540 Eccles Avenue. Another Wattis home, similar in type and style as this home, was constructed next door at 2541 Van Buren Avenue for Edna’s sister Ruth, which completed the “compound.” Dr. Dumke was a notable Ogden surgeon. He helped organize the Ogden Surgical Society. He was a great supporter of sports and entertained many famous sports figures, including Babe Ruth and Lou Gehrig. The Dumkes were founders of the Wattis-Dumke Foundation, which has supported many cultural ventures throughout Utah.

2527 Van Buren Avenue in Eccles Avenue Historic District and in the Ogden’s Central Bench Historic District in Ogden, Utah

Designed by Eber Piers, this house was built in 1917 for Dr. and Mrs. Ezekiel R. Dumke as part of the Wattis Compound. Of those three houses included in the Wattis Compound, the main Wattis house fronts onto Eccles, centered on Eccles Park. The daughters homes were built on Van Buren behind the main house on Eccles. The daughters houses were the design of the main house divided into two parts. Edna Wattis Dumke was the youngest daughter of E.O. Wattis. Dr. Dumke was a prominent Ogden surgeon. He helped organize the Ogden Surgical Society. He was a great supporter of sporting activities. The Dumkes loved to entertain many of the famous figures in sports, such as Babe Ruth and Lou Gehrig. The Dumkes were founders of the Wattis-Dumke Foundation which has supported many of the cultural organizations in the State.*

Ruth Wattis Gwilliam/Marriner Eccles Home

Built in 1917 and designed by Eber Piers, this home is one of two matching houses which were designed on adjoining properties on Van Buren and, along with the Edmond Orson Wattis house behind them on Eccles Avenue, formed the Wattis Compound. This house was given to the Wattis’ daughter, Ruth Wattis Gwilliam. Mrs. Gwilliam divorced her husband and moved to Paris to become a sculptress.

In 1923, the home was sold to Marriner Eccles. Mr. Eccles began his career in finance at a small bank in Hyrum, Utah and along with Marriner Browning organized the First Security Corporation. Mr. Eccles and his wife, May Campbell Young, added a garage and a servant’s wing onto the house.

Mr. Eccles talents and insights caught the attention of the Roosevelt Administration and he was appointed the chairman of the Federal Reserve Bank in 1934. His vision greatly influenced the massive public works projects of the FDR Administration. He also was instrumental in the creation of the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, the Federal Housing Administration and the World Bank. Mr. Eccles died in 1977.

2541 Van Buren Avenue in Eccles Avenue Historic District and in the Ogden’s Central Bench Historic District in Ogden, Utah

Built in 1917 and designed by Eber Piers. this home is one of two matching houses which were designed on adjoining properties on Van Buren and, along with the Edmond Orson Watt is house behind them on Eccles Avenue, formed the Watt is compound. This house was given to the Wattis’ daughter. Ruth Wattis Gwilliam. Mrs. Gwilliam divorced her husband and moved to Paris to become a sculptress. In 1923, The home was sold to Marriner Eccles. Mr. Eccles began his career in finance at a small bank in Hyrum, Utah and along with Marriner Drowning organized the First Security Corporation. Mr. Eccles and his wife May Campbell Young added a garage and a servant’s wing onto the house. Mr. Eccles talents and insights caught the attention of the Roosevelt Administration and he was appointed the chairman of the Federal Reserve Bank in 1934. His vision greatly influenced the massive public works projects of the FDH Administration. He also was instrumental in the creation of the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, the Federal Housing Administration and the World Bank. Mr. Eccles died in 1977.*

336 South 1200 East in the University Neighborhood Historic District in Salt Lake City, Utah

Patrick & Mary Healy Home

Built in 1920 and designed by Howard Hewitt of California, this home was built for Patrick Healy, Jr. Mr. Healy was born in Ogden, the President of Commercial National Bank (Commercial Security Bank) and also as Vice President of Murphy Wholesale Grocery Co. He retired in 1928 and died in 1947. He married Mary Sodwick in Geinell, Iowa in 1903. Mrs. Healy continued to live in the house until she sold the house to H.Q. Holley in 1960. The design of this home is Old English (cottage style) architecture. The house has a high pitched roof punctuated by a series of dormer windows successfully contrasted with a stucco base to form an attitude of restful domesticity. The rounded arches, the tapered brick chimney, and a canopied entrance are remindful of an era of English Art Nouveau.*

2580 Eccles Avenue in Eccles Avenue Historic District and in the Ogden’s Central Bench Historic District in Ogden, Utah

Green/Shearman Home

Built in 1914, this home was built for Virginia Houtz Green by her parents who lived in the house to the north on Eccles Avenue. The home was occupied by the Greens for one year. They divorced and then rented the house. William Shearman married Wilhelmine Keisel Shearman in 1915 and they began renting the home in 1918. Mr. Shearman died in 1941 and Mrs. Sherman continued to live in the house until her death in 1955. Mrs. Shearman bought the home from Mrs. Green in 1949 after living there for 30 years. The Shearmans made generous contributions to the Boy Scouts of America, donating the site for Camp Kiesel on the Ogden River and to other Boy Scout programs. Mrs. Shearman was the daughter of Fred Kiesel, one of the early settlers to Utah and a Mayor. The house was distinguished by being the only private residence with a private elevator in Ogden at that time.*

2532 Eccles Avenue in Eccles Avenue Historic District and in the Ogden’s Central Bench Historic District in Ogden, Utah

John & Louisa Houtz Home

This home was built in 1910 and designed by Leslie Hodgson for John Shannon Houtz. Mr. Houtz was the vice-president of Commercial National Bank. Born in Schmoken, Pa., in 1833, he came to Utah in 1848. His business ventures included sheep, freight, livery, and as subcontractors on the transcontinental railroad. His wife, Louisa Curtis Houtz was born in Cottonwood, Utah in 1853. The Houtz’ had 5 children. The home with its centrally placed hip dormer reveals an American Four-Square style of architecture, but the exterior is dominated by a wide variety of Prairie School and Arts and Crafts architectural features.*

2522 Eccles Avenue in Eccles Avenue Historic District and in the Ogden’s Central Bench Historic District in Ogden, Utah

Marriner & Dorthea Browning Home

Built in 1914, this traditional Prairie Style home is a premier example of the work of Ogden architect Eber Piers. Marriner Adams Browning was born in 1890 and died in 1966. l le was the son of Matthew S. Browning (brother of John Moses Browning, the gun inventor). His uncle invented the guns and his fathter, Matt, handled the finances. He worked with these two men for 10 years in all business ventures and so it was natural for him to continue the business after their deaths. In 1928, Mr. Browning along with Marriner Eccles (David Eccles’ son) pooled the Eccles and Browning bank interests to form the First Security Bank Corporation. Mr. Browning married Dorothea Bigelow in 1912 and they had two sons. Mrs. Browning was a daughter of Archie P. Bigelow, former President of the Ogden State Bank and builder of the Bigelow/Ben Lomond Hotel. Mrs. Browning was the first of two women drivers in Ogden and was extremely interested in mechanics, which brought her together with her husband whom she used to watch making guns when she was just 12 years old.*

2565 Eccles Avenue in Eccles Avenue Historic District and in the Ogden’s Central Bench Historic District in Ogden, Utah

Dr. Hugh & Vern Rowe Home

This home is one of three houses built by David Eccles for three of his children as a wedding gift for marrying in the LDS Temple. Built in 1911-12 and designed by Leslie Hodgson, this house was intended for Mr. Eccles’ daughter, Veda Savage. She apparently lived there briefly before moving to Salt Lake City. The deed was transferred to Dr. Hugh Rowe in 1912. Dr. Rowe was born in Canada in 1868. He graduated in veterinary surgery and medicine, and first practiced in Iowa and Nebraska. He came to Ogden in 1900 as a quarantine inspector for the U.S. Department of Agriculture and soon launched a career as a civic and business organizer. He organized the Western Federal Livestock Co. and he was first President of the Ogden Chamber of Commerce, which he helped to organize. In 1917, he married Vern Tavey of Ogden. They were prominent in social, financial, and civic activities in Ogden and lived at this location for about 30 years. The ghost of Grace Spargo, who died in childbirth while living in the house briefly. is said to haunt the house.*

2555 Eccles Avenue in Eccles Avenue Historic District and in the Ogden’s Central Bench Historic District in Ogden, Utah

Larkin/Eccles Home

In 1911, LeRoy Eccles built the large white Greek Revival Style home designed by Leslie Hodgson. The three homes (Howe, Larkin, and Morrell) were originally built for three of the children of David Eccles. LeRoy Eccles was General Manager of the Amalgamated Sugar Company and was a major financial speculator. Mr. Eccles wanted to build a larger house so he sold this residence to a close family friend, Fred G. Taylor. The home was then sold to Elijah A. and Rosella V. Larkin 1925. Elijah A. “Lige” Larkin was born in Ogden in 1876. He attended Weber Academy in 1889 (the first year of the Institution) and the U.S. School of Embalming at Denver. He was manager and reporter for Deseret News in Ogden. Lige Larkin was President of the Utah Funeral Directors, President of the Sons of the Utah Pioneers, and an active member of the Ogden Kiwanis Club for 35 years. He died in 1962. He married Rosella Ferrin, who was born in Eden. She served in the Daughters of Utah Pioneers and was active in numerous other civic positions for many years until her death in 1967.*

2545 Eccles Avenue in Eccles Avenue Historic District and in the Ogden’s Central Bench Historic District in Ogden, Utah

Wright/Morrell Home

In 1911, this home was built for Mr. & Mrs. William Wright. The three homes (the Rowe, Larkin. and Morrell Homes) were originally built for three of the children of David Eccles. In 1918, the house and property was purchased by Dr. and Mrs. Joseph R. Morrell. (It is interesting to note that brother and sister (David and Bertha Eccles) married brother and sister (Julia Wright Eccles and William Wright) Dr. Morrell was a physician and surgeon in Ogden. He was head of the medical dispensary at the Defense Depot Ogden and served as surgeon for both the Union and Pacific Railroads. He was a member of the Utah Board of Health and the Utah Board of Medical Examiners, and was President of the Utah State Medical Society.*

2533 Eccles Avenue in Eccles Avenue Historic District and in the Ogden’s Central Bench Historic District in Ogden, Utah