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Washington Evening Journal
111 North Marion Avenue
Washington, IA 52353
319-653-2191
Former owner of James A. Beck house, Joan Sloca, returns for visit
Everyone in Fairfield is familiar with the famous Victorian home at the corner of East Burlington and D Street known as the James A. Beck house, named after its builder and first resident J. A. Beck in 1896.
But there's an ongoing hot-button issue that rages online to its name as many residents refer to it today as the “Sloca House,” referring to Charles and Joan Sloca, who owned the house from 1964-2000. But older residents in town still claim the name “Ball Mansion,” as it was known from 1913-1964.
But for one day in early February, it was the Sloca House once again as the new owners welcomed a very special guest, Mrs. Joan Sloca, along with four of her daughters - Amelia, Angela, Anna, and Martha - who all grew up in the house.
Currently visiting friends and family in the Midwest, it was her first time back in almost 25 years since selling the house and moving back to her childhood home in Fort Louden, Pennsylvania.
Most Fairfield residents would fondly remember their piano lessons from Mrs. Sloca and their recitals from over the years at the house, so the new owners Richard and Kendra Lint were sure to get a photo of Joan in front of the 1896 pump organ.
“It was such a delightful treat to hear stories about the house from all of them,” Richard said. “Joan, now at 91, remembered just about everything about the house from when they first bought it, and had no problem exploring and getting around all three stories of the house.”
