of
Muscatine County Iowa
1911
| History of Muscatine County Iowa 1911 | |
Source: History of Muscatine County Iowa, Volume I, 1911, page 300
CLOVER HOUSE. In 1841 the first brick hotel was built by Josiah Parvin. He was short of rooms in his old hotel, the Lawson House, so he built a part of the present Kemble House, standing on the northwest corner of Second and Walnut streets. It was first two stories in height and when Second street was graded it became necessary to put a lower story under it. At the time of the grading, T. M. Isett owned the building and he added to the rear of it. Later A. Smalley added another section on the west side of the structure. This hotel has had a number of names: first, Parvin Hotel, Clover House, Mason's Hotel, Eichelberger House, National Hotel, and eventually and at the present time, the Kemble House. It has had a number of proprietors in its time. In 1854 the building was sold by Colonel Isett to T. W. Clover for $10,000. It was then refurnished and opened by Mr. Clover as landlord. B. A. Mason was the proprietor in 1857 and changed the name of the hostelry to Mason's Hotel. In 1867 John Eichelberger, a former resident, took charge of the place, which at the time was known as the St. Charles Hotel. It became the Kemble House in 1885, and as such is now serving the public, with B. C. Ludlow as proprietor.
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