Encyclopedia Dubuque
"Encyclopedia Dubuque is the online authority for all things Dubuque, written by the people who know the city best.”
Marshall Cohen—researcher and producer, CNN
Affiliated with the Local History Network of the State Historical Society of Iowa, and the Iowa Museum Association.
KING MANSION
KING HOUSE. This home on modern day Traut Terrace was the original residence of Dubuque pioneer John KING. In 1857 when Judge King built his brick mansion for $2,000 there were no other houses west of Central Avenue and south from Diagonal Street to Twenty-fifth street. At the start, Judge King built only the center section of the house. Later he added the wing to the north and at a still later period the south wing. The house stood at the top of a gradual incline that extended all the way down to the level of Central avenue, then known as the PLANK ROAD.
Included in the homestead was all of the property between Central Avenue and Broadway and from Diagonal Street to Twenty-fifth Street. To protect his property, Judge King had stone retaining walls constructed around his entire property with a 10-foot high wall built along Broadway.
After the death of Judge King, the property which he beautified by the planting of vineyards, fruit trees and berry bushes and flowers of many varieties was made into a subdivision, new streets were laid out through it, and new homes were built on its slopes. The home was then owned by John MEHLHOP, Sr. from about 1881 to 1891. Fridolin HEER, a famed architect, bought the house in 1891 and his family remained there until 1941. Part of the house was used as an office and drawing rooms. In 1955 the home had been converted in the PRICE'S NURSING HOME (1955-1962). It then became the KNAPP CUSTODIAL HOME (1962-1966), KNAPP CONVALESCENT HOME (1968-1972), and the KNAPP BOARDING HOME in 1974. In 2011 it was again a private residence.
The home was featured on the 2012 Old House Tour.
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1. City-of-DBQ\Planning\Historic Preservation Commission\Surveys. Online: http://weblink.cityofdubuque.org/WebLink8/1/doc/18179/Page5.aspx
2. City of Dubuque directories
3. E-mail. Ryan Larson. January 9, 2014
4. "House Tour Showcases Five Restored Homes," Julien's Journal, May 2012, p. 28