July 9, 1901.

Mae Driscoll – Iowa City’s Compassionate Landlady.
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July 9, 1901 – Mae Estella Hamaker Driscoll is born to James Owen and Estella Smith Hamaker in Melbourne (Marshall County), Iowa.

With the hope of finding medical treatment for her daughter who was suffering from leukemia, Mae Driscoll came to Iowa City with her three children in the mid-1940’s. To make ends meet, Mae worked in the SUI dietary department, finally retiring, at age 69, after the death of her husband, John, in 1970. At that point, Mae took up the work of becoming a compassionate landlady – a role she played over the next 22 years (1970-1992) – offering refuge to three mentally-impaired individuals. One of those dear souls who called Mae’s house their home was Bill Sackter – Iowa City’s famed coffee-maker from 1975-1983.

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  1. Pingback: July 8, 1869. | Our Iowa Heritage

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