It was described by local residents as the “fiercest storm ever.” The tornado that swept through Rockford on the afternoon of March 23, 1913 left little of the city unscathed and did a quarter of a million dollars in damages (that’s $6.3 million in 2017 dollars). The storm toppled ten large trees on the Green’s property and delayed, by a year or more, the beginning of the building of their home at what is now 3 Jacoby Place. That delay, however, allowed time for Harry Horner, with the state of Minnesota’s architects office, to come and add his expert consultation to the design of the Green’s home. Walter and Alice Green were finally able to move into their new, elegant, nearly 4,000 sq. ft., home in April of 1915.

Walter was a large, burly man who left Northwestern University to become a lumberjack in Washington. He returned three years later, married the Wellesley educated Alice Brown, and began a successful lumber business with his brother Harry. Walter’s language was often laced with a flow of profanities. His wife referred to it as his “interesting” language. Walter was fiercely independent, possibly to the point of being reckless, who, along with his wife, occasionally feuded with both of their neighbors (the Bourlands to the south, and the Hicks’ to the north). At the same time, those families would set aside their differences and gather to enjoy Christmas festivities together.

Walter built a large well and pump house on their property (the workings and tanks were underground to prevent freezing). This not only supplied water to his own home, but to several of his neighbors as well.

Mrs. Green walked their three daughters to the neighborhood’s new Keith school, located several doors to the south of their home. Alice Green lived in their home after her husband’s death and until her own death in 1963.

In May of 1964 the home was purchased by Richard (Marilyn) Brown (no relation to Alice). The Browns lived in the home for only three years. Richard worked for a local manufacturer, Woodward Governor, but was soon transferred to England.

Ed (Lois) Calhoun purchased the home in 1967 and Lois resided there for the next twenty years. Edward was a veterinarian and member of the Rockford School Board, who died at age 49. Lois remarried (Thomas Smith) and together, they lived in the home until 1987.

Murrie (Christine) Grove owned the home from 1987 – 2009. They were a quiet, reserved couple who kept mostly to themselves. Mr. Grove was the treasurer for a local discount retailer, Union Hall. Mrs. Grove, a woman of direct Swedish decent, was an artist.

In 2009 the home was purchased by a local realtor with Dickerson Nieman, Frank (Jennifer) Wehrstein. Before moving into the house, the Wehrsteins spent more than a year remodeling, building additions and re-landscaping the 1.6 acres on which the home now sits.

In 2019 Eric and Jane Taylor bought the home and reside there at the time of this writing.