Depicted as the home of J.C. Murray of Maquoketa, our young lawyer has just hung out his shingle. A lawyer, farmer and land speculator, Murray is credited as one of the founders of the Red Polled Cattle Association. Built in the 1800's, this house was originally located on 2nd Street and 9th Avenue SW in Cedar Rapids.

Immediately as you walk up onto the front porch of J.C. Murray's house, you will notice that this house is different from others in the Village. The front porch is much bigger than the others are. A big front porch provides shade. In July when it is 100 degrees inside your house because there is no air conditioning, you will spend most of your time on this porch. Here there is shade and some chance of the air moving. You may even sleep out here. Plus the porch provides shade so that the inside of the house doesn't get as hot.

Inside, the room with the glass doors is the formal parlor. That's where guests are received when they come to visit the family. Other than that, no one is allowed in that room. That is where all the family's best furniture and decorations are; so they want to keep it clean and nice. As you look in the dining room and kitchen, you will notice other things that the Murray family has that make their lives easier. Mrs. Murray has a vacuum cleaner. How does it work without electricity? She also has a very nice washing machine. Even with all their money and nice things, though, they still have to go to the well to get water and still have an outhouse out back.