June 4, 1988 – Irving Weber writes about Iowa City’s Hutchinson House – 119 Park Road – Iowa City’s oldest extant residence.

Robert R. Hutchinson was born on September 16, 1814 in Hillsborough County, New Hampshire, and was trained as a skilled carpenter and joiner. Now, in the early to mid-1800’s, it was one thing to be good carpenter, but it was another level of workmanship when a man was also trained as a quality joiner – meaning he could craft wood and “join” pieces together to form cabinets, doors, window frames, and furniture. So, it was with these two trades that 24-year-old Robert Hutchinson arrived in Iowa City on July 17, 1839 – just 13 days after the cornerstone for the new capitol building had been dedicated.

Over the next 48 years, Hutchinson literally had his hands in nearly every important event in our city’s first fifty years. From helping build the first log cabin to providing foundational stone for many of the early buildings – from helping build the first Presbyterian church to serving as town marshal, Hutchinson was there, serving Iowa Citians like few others.

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