TRUSS AND BUTTRESS SOCIETY

Photo courtesy: Telegraph Herald

TRUSS AND BUTTRESS SOCIETY. The Truss and Buttress Society was a group of seventeen Dubuque residents who, in the early 1980s, owned some of the historically significant homes in the city. Members included: Darryl and Terry Mozena, Fran and Ellen Henkels, Paul and Pam Peckosh, John and Terri Viner, Ted and Marilyn Blanchard, Rob and Judy McCoy, Dennis and Gail Naughton, Ed and Diane Bervin, and Jim Bainbridge. (1) A bus trip to the City House Home Improvement Fair at Chicago's McCormick Place West was announced by the Society for March 28, 1981.

The Society was especially busy in 1983. In April a tea held at the home of Paul and Pam Peckosh was used to publicize the group's upcoming tour of homes. In conjunction with DubuqueFest, the Society offered the tour on May 21-22 of seven Victorian homes whose residents dressed in Victorian costumes and demonstrated early customs. (2) The same year, the group donated $500 toward the estimated cost of applying new gold leaf to the dome of the DUBUQUE COUNTY COURTHOUSE. (3)

The Society sponsored tours of the REDSTONE (THE) in 1984 and were representatives at the re-dedication of the Dubuque County Courthouse.

Encouraged by the response in 1983 and 1984, the Society sponsored a tour of four Dubuque mansions in the LANGWORTHY HISTORIC DISTRICT, the first such district in Iowa, as part of the 1985 DubuqueFest. Advanced publicity was provided by Artscape on Group W. Cable Channel 28. (4) Homes included on the tour included those at 1015 W. Third, 1045 W. Third built by Edward LANGWORTHY in 1896, 1072 W. Third built for James Currie COLLIER, and 690 Fenelon Place. In addition to the tour of homes, a Victorian tea was open to the public on the tour in the garden of Dr. Darryl and Terry Mozena. (5)

The Society in 1986 combined the popular A Christmas Carol with of tour of their homes. The challenge was incorporating scenes from the Dickens story into the visit of four Dubuque mansions and researching authentic Victorian costumes. Beginning at the home of Dr. Darryl and Terry Mozena, visitors were treated to a Victorian child's Christmas with one of their children and a friend stringing cranberries and playing with antique toys. Dr. Mozena, portraying "Scrooge," yelled at the guests to 'shut the door' because of the cold and then returned to his ledgers. (6)

Walking between the homes, visitors were entertained by Christmas carolers dressed as Victorians, a bell-ringing town crier announcing the hour, and a horse-drawn carriage offering short rides.

At the home of Fran and Ellen Henkels, participants were introduced to "Marley" shackled in chains wearing the pallor of death created by Halloween makeup. Played to the hilt by Fran Henkels, "Marley" guided the guests into the living room for a look at Victorian musical instruments and a ten-foot tree adorned in sheets of music from the past.

The third stop, a Georgian Revival home built for the Joseph Garland family, found the "Cratchit family" portrayed by Paul and Pam Peckosh and their children, sitting down to their Christmas turkey dinner. The fourth home, the home of Dr. Michael and Nan Nelson, provided candy cane deer with pipe cleaner antlers and a pianist playing Christmas songs.

The evening raised $4,000 from the estimated 800 guests. All proceeds were given to charity. (7)

Nearly the entire Society entertained five Midwestern governors during the Midwestern Governor's Conference held in Galena in 1987. The Mississippi Belle II owned and operated by Robert KEHL was decorated in a Victorian theme. Society members mingled with the guests while explaining the local history. (8)

A repeat Victorian Christmas home tour was sponsored on December 5 and 6. Each home decorated for Christmas featured a live scene from Charles Dickens "A Christmas Carol." Homes on the tour included Dr. Darryl and Terry Mozena, 900 West Third; Paul and Pam Peckosh, 1090 Langworthy; Fran and Ellen Henkels, 890 West Third; and Paul and Mary Fitzgerald, 1072 West Third. (9)

---

Source:

1. Dr. Darryl Mozena, e-mail, November 23, 2019

2. Drouin-Smith, Marcia, "DubuqueFest Offers Something for Everyone," Telegraph Herald, May 18, 1983, p. 16

3. Johnson, Patt, "Addition Could Save $800 a Day for Sunnycrest," Telegraph Herald, November 29, 1983, p. 2

4. "Potpourri," Telegraph Herald, March 7, 1985, p. 6

5. "Taking a Peek at the Past," Telegraph Herald, May 17, 1895, p. 4

6. Shanley, Mary Kay, "A Delightful Dickens Christmas in Dubuque," The Iowan, Winter Issue 1987, p. 10-17

7. Ibid.

8. Johnson, Patt, "Governors to be Floated Renaissance Style," Telegraph Herald, September 13, 1987, p. 3

9. "Victorian Home Tour," Telegraph Herald, December 4, 1987, p. 24