News : Meet the Grand Old Lady, The Ray House

Written by Melody Snow At the turn of the last century Vinton was booming with expansion. Businesses were growing, money was flowing, the train was carrying people hither and yon, and high society was putting its roots down. Although many of those roots can still be seen throughout Vinton today, a particular one of those "Grand Old Ladies"� of the Victorian Age still remains at the top of the hill on First Avenue. From the top of that hill, this Queen Anne Victorian mansion, known as The Ray House, could cast its watchful eye over the town for which its owner, Frank G. Ray, had fallen in love. To the north the bustling downtown area; to the west the peaks of the roof above the Iowa College for the Blind (as it was known in the early 1900s); to the south the now defunct prestigious Tilford Academy; and to the east, the busy rails coming into town. A fitting location for the man who had his hand in so much of the development of the community. Within this community Mr. Ray proved himself as an endeavourous soul. Before arriving in Vinton he did a short stint teaching school in hishometown in Illinois, but once coming to Vinton in 1874 he began dabbling in other business ventures. After working a brief time in an implement store he quickly worked his way up and became a partner in 1875. His entrepreneurial characteristics also led him to involvement with the State Bank of Vinton, the Iowa Canning Company, Vinton Telephone Company, Virginia Gay Memorial Hospital, Northwestern Portland Cement Company, and even helping develop the Vinton Country Club. Just as successful as Mr. Ray had been with his business life, he wanted his personal life to follow suit. So after finding the perfect plot of land on First Avenue, Mr. Ray broke ground for his Grand Old Lady in 1893...and then waited. And waited. He waited a full year as the basement properly cured before beginning construction. Then in the years that followed, Frank and his wife Emma transformed this elegant house into a home. Many experienced this grand home through social soirees, the planning of business adventures, and probably even through a few well charged political discussions. Oh, the stories those walls could tell! And what walls they are! Walls adorned with rich wood wrapped around them like stoles and windows worn like decorative jewels. Almost every room boasting abeveled, leaded, or stained glass gem. Various woods handcrafted withprecision form elegant details that are tucked in every room. The focal point of several of those grand rooms are the fireplaces. There are six completely different fireplaces located within key rooms of the Queen Anne mansion, each with their own personality and style. Do yourself a favor and come meet this Grand Old Lady of First Avenue and experience the stories she has to tell. There are many more details to be discovered, stories to be told, and stories to be made at the mansion. The Ray House is available for private and public events, along with tours. If you would like more in-depth detail regarding the information in this article, visiting, or planning your next event at The Ray House, or becoming a member of the Benton County Historical Society please email bentoncohistorical@gmail.com or follow us on Facebook. "To know nothing of what happened before you were born, is to forever remain a child."� ~Cicero