Part 6/10:
A fascinating aspect of VanderDusen’s mansion is its hidden structural resilience. Remembering a tornado that had previously devastated their former home, VanderDusen and his wife invested in steel reinforcements—steel beams embedded within the brick and stone framework—to ensure durability against future storms. These measures proved prescient, as the house endured numerous weather events and the test of time.
The Personal and Family Legacy
Nancy VanderDusen passed away in 1899 at age 67, just six years after the mansion’s completion. Her husband George continued to reside in the house until his death in 1915 at age 88. His leadership in the grain industry persisted, with VanderDusen-Harlinton remaining influential until it was absorbed into Peavey Company, and later, ConAgra.