Pamela K. Adams
226 Geneseo
Storm Lake, Iowa 50588

History of Metcalf House

The original owner of the house was Louis J.(L.J.) Metcalf. Metcalf built the house between 1885 and 1909. He bought the lot where the house now stands for $171.00.

L.J. was widowed in 1888.Metcalf's descendants who have visited the house report that he built the home on Geneseo Street some time after he married his second wife in 1890.

Official records do not reveal exactly when the house was built, however, unofficial records of the time indicate that the current house at 226 Geneseo in Storm Lake was built in 1903. An article from History of Buena Vista County ( a publication written during Metcalf's life) reports: "....in 1903 he [Metcalf] built a modern residence on Geneseo Street, it being one of the finest homes in Buena Vista County...".

Metcalf was a local entrepreneur. His business enterprises were likely assisted by his father John E. Metcalf who had "made his fortune" in 1849 in California. Later John bought 4 sections of land in Buena Vista and Pocahontas counties. As part of his business L. J. bought and sold land in Storm Lake; local records reveal that between 1881 and 1903 he bought ten properties and sold seven. In the 1900 census his occupation is recorded as "Stock buyer". In addition, newspaper files reveal that he was a vice president of a local bank and sold hogs and cattle in carload lots. Besides the livestock that he bought on speculation other livestock likely came from animals raised on land holdings he inherited from his father (These farms are still held by family members to this day).

Metcalf died May 1, 1939. For several years between his death and 1945 the house was vacant. Shortly after World War II the house was, by one account, bought for $5,500 and later divided into two apartments - one on the main floor and one on the second floor. Until the Galey's bought the house in 1971, the apartments were rented to a number of families. Reed and Margaret Kelsey rented the second floor apartment from 1962 until 1979. During the time that the house was rented none of the oak woodwork was painted.

There are twenty-five rooms in the house. The house as originally planned was to have a basement and three floors; however Mr. Metcalf, after seeing the house being built, decided to keep the third floor as a finished attic. Every room except the kitchen and third floor has an oak floor and all the oak floors except the maid's room are laid in a log cabin pattern. When the house was built, the floors were solid 3/4' maple. Mrs. Metcalf did not like the oak woodwork with the maple floors so oak floors were laid on top of the maple floors.

The house was carefully constructed. Although not originally insulated the walls are constructed of 2' X 6' studs. Except for in a few remodeled areas, the walls are lath and plaster and the exterior walls are back- plastered to prevent the infiltration of hot and cold air. The house originally had a quarried slate roof but in the 1980's the slate had outlived its useful life and was replaced with a conventional composition roof. The original roof, also, had built-in gutters with downspouts leading to the cisterns; one each on the north and south side of the house. The attic still contains the lead-lined holding tank where water from the cistern was pumped to gravity-flow through solid lead plumbing to be used for washing and other domestic purposes.

The foundation of the large barn, which was situated on the west side of the house, is still outlined in the the lawn during dry seasons. Louis kept many fine horses in the stables and reportedly was frequently fined for speeding in downtown Storm Lake. Later, the barn was used as a garage for Louis' Packard automobile. The barn is gone now but at least part of the lumber used to build the current garage was salvaged when the barn was razed.

The house throughout its history has been the pride of its owners and residents. Mr. Metcalf paid close attention to his yard. His grandson reported that it L.J.'s habit to rise early each morning to water, mow and care for his yard. This assured that when each day began his yard would be ready for neighbors to see. A report from the local paper of the time ( April 27, 1939 - only a few days before Mr. Metcalf's death) states as ".... signs of spring ...Lou Metcalf and Carl Trukken pushing lawn mowers."

Though the owners have taken pride in the home, Metcalf House has been enjoyed as a space for living. Metcalf's grandson reported that he and his cousins would use the windows to enter and exit the second floor balconies. Women of the community recalled fondly the teas that they enjoyed with Mrs. Metcalf in her 2nd floor sitting room. For a time during the late forties the attic was a dormitory for students from Buena Vista College. Our own children recall sliding in stocking feet down the long upstairs hall, playing running games up and down the staircases, and secret places in the attic. We hope that you, too, will enjoy this living space of Metcalf House.

When the Galey's bought the house in 1971, it was in poor condition. Sewer pipes were broken and layers of wallpaper were scotch taped to the walls. Of the original furnishings only the the large mirror in the second floor entryway remained. Refurbishing the house has included removing the paint from the 3 inch pine siding, sanding and refinishing the oak woodwork, tuck pointing basement walls, remodeling the main floor and second story bathrooms and building a bathroom in the basement, replacing the old kitchen, repairing the front porch, rebuilding the second and third floor balconies and carefully restoring a number of the oak floors. The Galey's thought "restoring an old home is a journey and not a destination." They spent 30 years working on the upgrades to the home and successfully converting it into a premier bed and breakfast establishment. .

In December of 2005, Pamela K. Adams purchased the B&B from the Joe And Ruth Galey and continues to make improvements and operate it as one of the area's finest bed and breakfast establishments. 

In a 1982 account in the Buena Vista County History Robert Metcalf Jones, L. J.'s grandson wrote:

"The Metcalf name in Storm Lake is now only a memory and soon will cease even that. But it was an active, well-known and public-spirited family for the major part of a century."

We hope that Metcalf House will keep alive a bit longer the memory of an important Storm Lake pioneer family.