Lester and Norma Dent House

The Lester and Norma Dent House is a one-and-a-half-story residential building made of brick and asbestos siding with a gable roof in Modern Movement style. The structure maintains its original form and key features as built.

The house was built between 1941 and 1942 for an American author who wrote roughly 180 novels featuring a famous fictional character. Its construction occurred during the height of the writer's career.

The house reflects a connection between architecture and literature, as it was designed by someone who wrote pulp fiction stories that influenced superhero characters. The writer's link to popular culture remains visible in this building today.

The house sits on a residential street in La Plata, Missouri, and remains privately owned. The exterior can be viewed from the street, but interior access is not available to the public.

The building earned the nickname House of Gadgets because of its owner's fascination with technical inventions and devices featured in his stories. It was the only home this prolific writer ever owned.

Location: Missouri

GPS coordinates: 40.02528,-92.49472

Latest update: December 14, 2025 18:04