ROUSE, DEAN AND COMPANY

1873 advertisement in city directory.

ROUSE, DEAN AND COMPANY. Rouse and Dean, one of the major participants in Dubuque's BOAT BUILDING industry was an iron foundry and machine shop established in March 1852 on the corner of Ninth and Washington STREETS.

Among the company's lines of business was the manufacture of excursion boats for Iowa lakes. In 1873 the "Island Queen" was delivered to its new owners in Clear Lake, Iowa. In a trial run, the boat was able to go sixteen miles per hour. (1)

On April 15, 1880 the firm of Rouse and Dean was dissolved with the retirement of Hammond ROUSE. C.B. Dean, William HOPKINS, and J. McMurchy carried on business as Dean, Hopkins, & McMurchy. Hopkins had been with the company for ten years, McMurchy, the new partner, learned the trade in Buffalo, New York. He moved on to become a manager of a large Chicago industrial business, superintendent of machinery for the N. W. C. Packet Company, and then United States government inspector for this district for two years. (2) This company eventually became part of KLAUER MANUFACTURING COMPANY.

In 1906 the bell from the Rouse and Dean foundry in 1852 that was used to call the men to work was presented to the city fire department by Klauer Manufacturing. It was to be placed on the Central Engine House at Iowa and 9th STREETS. (3)

The Rouse and Dean foundry had about 5,000 square feet. As part of the MILLWORK DISTRICT REVITALIZATION it was likely to become commercial property.

Rouse and Alfred TREDWAY began the IOWA IRON WORKS in 1881.

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Source:

1. "Fast Boat," Dubuque Herald, July 8, 1873, p. 4. Online: https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=uh8FjILnQOkC&dat=18730708&printsec=frontpage&hl=en

2. "Firm Change," Dubuque Herald, April 21, 1880, p. 4. Online: https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=uh8FjILnQOkC&dat=18800421&printsec=frontpage&hl=en

3. "Klauer Company Makes Gift," Telegraph Herald, August 26, 1906