of
Muscatine County Iowa
1911
| History of Muscatine County Iowa 1911 | |
Source: History of Muscatine County Iowa, Volume I, 1911, page 299
LAWSON HOUSE, OR OLD VANATTA HOTEL. The second frame building erected in Muscatine and for many years the best of its kind, was built in the spring of 1837 for John Vahatta, by William Gordon, who was assisted by Henry, John and James Reece, Jonathan Pettibone, L. C. Hine and James Craig. All these men boarded at the Iowa House, Kinney's famous hostelry. Vanatta opened a tavern in the building as soon as it was completed and he was succeeded by John Coleman. This tavern stood on the southwest corner of Iowa avenue and Second street. In 1839 Josiah Parvin was the smiling boniface and remained there until about 1840, when he removed to a new hotel he had built and named the Kemble. In the spring of 1869 this historic old building, which had stood for thirty-two years, was removed to a lot on Third street. This hotel was for a number of years the best in Bloomington.
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