As far as I can tell, there will be no "Now" picture of this home. The 400 block of North Spring Street is now the location of the middle school athletic field and the post office.
My only hope is that - as often happened at the time - this home was moved from this location to some other final resting place. So, keep your eyes open for this home, or maybe you have first-hand knowledge of its fate. Did you witness its demise? Let us know.
As for the "Then" house; what a beautiful residence. . Whoever E.C. McFetridge (the surname is Scottish or Irish) was, it is apparent that he and his family loved trees. The owner planted more trees on his property than I've seen on any other. The picture was dated - 1880. I believe that date is questionable, and here's why. One thing that you can not see in this photo, but that I did using a magnifying glass, is a lady standing in the doorway. She is wearing a hoop style dress which would place the date pre 1870. You might have noticed the large wood-pile to the left of the porch. Coal became the preferred fuel in cities, replacing wood by about 1850.
I apparently should have known who E.C. McFetridge was - he was fairly prominent. He arrived in Beaver Dam in 1858. He was trained as a lawyer and practiced for around 6 years before starting the Beaver Dam Woolen Mill with his brother A.J. E.C. was also the school superintendent, mayor, country treasurer, assemblyman and state senator. He most likely did not live at this address as he also owned 113 Mackie, 106 Division, the post office, several offices on Front and Spring Streets
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