Walter A. Sheaffer House

The Walter A. Sheaffer House is a residential building in Fort Madison situated on a 200-foot (61-meter) bluff, featuring textured brick walls with stone-parapeted gables and half-timbered elements. The property includes a separate garage cottage with living quarters and an exposed basement accessible through multiple entrances.

The house was completed in 1930 by the Chicago architectural firm Mayo and Mayo, blending design elements from different historical periods. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2006, establishing its significance as a documented example of residential architecture.

The residence reflects the prosperity of the founder of the Sheaffer Pen Company, whose invention of the lever-filled fountain pen made him a successful industrialist. The rooms showcase how wealthy business leaders lived during this era and designed their homes as symbols of their achievement.

The property sits on elevated ground in Fort Madison, which gives it a distinctive position overlooking the surroundings. Visitors should note that the site has multiple levels and an exposed basement, so exploring the exterior takes some awareness of the varying terrain.

The architecture visibly blends Tudor Revival and Renaissance Revival styles into a cohesive Jacobean design, featuring patterned brick coursing and varying bond techniques in its masonry. This mix of different historical influences makes the home's exterior a visually engaging example of early 20th-century architectural eclecticism.