Burnin Down Da House

[ddurbin]

from THE MOLINE REPUBLICAN  Dec. 10, 1897
The residence belonging to Ed. Durbin, two miles north of town, was burned last Saturday.  Mr. D. was in town.  Mrs. D. started a fire in the stove in the cook room preparatory to baking bread.  She was absent from the room half an hour and when she returned to it found it in flames.  The fire swept over the building so rapidly that those who reached the house were not able to save anything except the organ and sewing machine.  There was no insurance on the house or contents and the loss is total to Mr. D.

same paper  Dec. 17, 1897
Ed. Durbin is fixing up a nice little dwelling on the farm in place of the one destroyed by fire.

same paper  April 1, 1898
Earnest Sheern started to build Wednesday the new $500 residence for E. M. Durbin to replace the one lost by fire.  The people generally recognize that if they want a fine house for the cost of a poorly built one they should employ Earnest Sheern to do the carpenter work.  Gorton furnished the lumber.

same paper May 13, 1898
The Ed Durbin house is about completed.

same paper  June 3, 1898
Earnest Sheern has just put the finishing touches on the new house of E. M. Durbin and requests that anybody contemplating building look at this property if occasion presents itself.  If not Mr. Sheern especially desires that people inquire of Mr. Durbin about the satisfaction he has been given by employing a mechanic who figures to the best interest of the people who build.