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In 1847, James Dyer, the founder of Dyersville, came to this area from Banwell, Sommersetshire, England. He was 27 years old. He secured property here for himself, friends and relatives, many of whom were English merchants.

Although most of the English families eventually moved on to larger cities where they could best use their talents, James Dyer remained here until his death at the early age of 44. He constantly worked, built and planned for his community.

As the English moved on, the German farmer, friends and immigrants filled up the town and it is now a predominately German community.

Dyer farmed for 3 years before he left his log cabin home to build a more prestigious home. He found a spot on a wooded knoll with a stream meandering by. The materials for the new home had to be hauled from Dubuque by wagon.

Soon many of his friends moved close and the site of what is now Dyersville was firmly established. For many years his home was the lone house on a one square block in a park-like setting. The town has now closed in all around it.

With the coming of the railroads in 1856, Dyer saw the necessity of a hotel and started to build a grand one with 80 rooms (eventually destroyed by fire). It was called The Clarendon. Dyer moved into the hotel in 1857 and sold his home on Main street to Abel Botsford of Dubuque. Mr. Botsford was a mill owner and operator in Epworth, Ia. The Botsfords and their descendants lived in the house for 108 years. They married into the Limback and May families.

The house was remodeled twice, moved 20 ft. west and later made into an apartment house.

Source: Dyersville Area Historical Society

Exibits in the Dyer-Botsford House include a 1,000-piece collection of dolls donated in 1988 by Mr. and Mrs. Charles Schemmel of Cascade. At that time, they also donated to the Dyersville Area Historical Society a "collection of 147 3-ring binders containing obituaries from area newspapers in western Dubuque County and Western Delaware County" (Faith and Fortunes: An Encyclopedia of Dubuque County, Randy Lyon). The Historical Society purchased the home in 1988, restoring it to an authentic Victorian time period.

AVAILABLE FOR TOURS Daily Hours: Mid April thru early November Weekdays 10 a.m. - 4 p.m Weekends 1 - 4 p.m.

Dyersville Area Historical Society: 563-875-2504 Doll Museum: 563-875-2414 or call Dyersville Area Chamber of Commerce: 563-875-2311