Bormans named 2021 Accolade Award recipients

he Red Oak Historic Commission is proud to announce the award of the 2021 Accolade Award to Karl and Susie Borman. The Bormans are relative new comers to Red Oak, but their house, located at 1020 Valley St., in Red Oak, is not.

The 2,460 square foot, brick, two story house was built in 1920 for Thomas C. Murphy and his wife Marian Marquardt Murphy. Thomas was the son of Thomas D. and Ina Murphy and father to Helen Murphy and Thomas (Tommy) Murphy.

Tommy was born in the house on Valley and would grow up to be publisher of The Red Oak Express and secretary for the Thos. D. Murphy Company. He helped found and grow the Murphy Memorial Hospital (now the Montgomery County Memorial Hospital). Helen served as a trustee for the hospital for 38 years and was a charter member of the Hospital Auxiliary. Tommy was responsible for attracting the first surgeon and radiologist to Red Oak.

Helen told a great story of the house and her father, when she was about 7. Her father was working on a series of calendars featuring famous aviators; adventure and especially flying held a special place to him. He was called to a meeting in Omaha to finalize a contract with the representatives of Charles Lindberg. That afternoon they heard a car honking its horn and ran out to see what was the matter. It was their father and he excitedly told them of meeting Lindberg in person.

In 1927, an ad appeared in The Express:

“Will the person, who borrowed my new velocipede please return it, because I miss it in my play.”

In 1930 the house was sold to Ralph Overholser, who leased it to Paul Bancroft in 1947. Bancroft would sell it to Deemer Houghton and later, the Bangston family would reside there. In 2016, the Bormans came to Red Oak and purchased the house two years later. They deserve special recognition for all the efforts and labors in bringing the house back to life.  

The Red Oak Express

2012 Commerce Drive
P.O. Box 377
Red Oak, IA 51566
Phone: 712-623-2566 Fax: 712-623-2568

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