Marshall Public Library (Marshall, IL)

Those boots are smashing! What a great resource for researchers.

The rooming house in this photo, located at 613 Locust, was run by Clay Montgomery and his wife, Josephine. Notices in the newspapers as early as the 1920s advertise rooms for rent at the couple's home. The 1950 census, taken 6 years before this fire, recorded Clay and Josephine at the home along with 6 lodgers - Robert Schofield, Clara Crow, Mary Sanders, Sam Norton, Jack Corn and Eva Jesson.

Notes from Brian Murphy:
The house was originally built by Nineveh Shaw. The farm was later purchased by James C Bryan, my Great Great Grandfather. He was the first hardware store owner in Marshall. Dad and Uncle George Kile had the house torn down, they found it had walnut floor joists and poplar flooring. I have the original order for the lumber that came from Walnut Prairie. It was purchased from William B Archer. That farm had a loom shed on it where farmers brought flax to make linen material. I have a throw that was made there. The farm is now the Westwood Subdivision.