The Property

Devonian Limestone Bedrock

From the Bedrock Geology of the Mason City 7.5' Quadrangle, Cerro Gordo County, Iowa,

• Dlgc formation - Dolomite, Limestone, and Shale (Lithograph City Formation) Middle to Upper Devonian. "This map unit occurs along the Winnebago River and Willow Creek, and in a bedrock valley through the quad. The maximum thickness of this unit is about 34m (110ft) in the mapping area. It consists of dolomite and dolomitic limestone, usually characterized by interbeds of laminated lithographic and sublithographic limestone and dolomitic limestone, in part argillaceous or with minor shale. “Birdseye,” vugs and calcite vug-fills are common. Some intervals are fossiliferous and stromatoporoid-rich."

Soil

UC Davis Soils Map shows type 177 up the upper ground and type 936 for the lower ground.

177 - Saude loam, 0 to 2 percent slopes (177)

• 90% - Saude, Geomorphic Position: stream terraces
  • Order: Mollisols, Suborder: Udolls (Udolls are the more or less freely drained Mollisols of humid climates. They are in the eastern part of the Great Plains and east of the Great Plains. They are most extensive in Minnesota, Illinois, Iowa, and North Dakota. The vegetation at the time of settlement was dominantly tall grass prairie. Where slopes are not too steep, nearly all of these soils are used as cropland. Some are used as pasture or rangeland.), Greatgroup: Hapludolls, Subgroup: Typic Hapludolls
  • Family: Coarse-loamy over sandy or sandy-skeletal, mixed, superactive, mesic Typic Hapludolls
• 5% - Waukee, Geomorphic Position: stream terraces
• 5% - Lawler, Geomorphic Position: stream terraces
• Farmland Class: All areas are prime farmland
• Available Water Storage (0-100cm): 14.86 cm
• Drainage Class (Dominant Condition): Well drained

936 - Coland-Hanlon complex, 0 to 2 percent slopes (936)

• 50% - Coland, Geomorphic Position: flood plains / Toeslope
  • Order: Mollisols, Suborder: Aquolls (Aquolls are the wet Mollisols. They are most extensive in glaciated areas of the Midwestern States, mainly Iowa, Minnesota, North Dakota, and Indiana. Most have supported vegetation of grasses, sedges, and forbs, but some supported forest vegetation. Most have been artificially drained, and are used as cropland.), Greatgroup: Endoaquolls, Subgroup: Cumulic Endoaquolls
  • Family: Fine-loamy, mixed, superactive, mesic Cumulic Endoaquolls
• 20% - Hanlon, Geomorphic Position: flood plains / Toeslope
  • Order: Mollisols, Suborder: Udolls (Udolls are the more or less freely drained Mollisols of humid climates. They are in the eastern part of the Great Plains and east of the Great Plains. They are most extensive in Minnesota, Illinois, Iowa, and North Dakota. The vegetation at the time of settlement was dominantly tall grass prairie. Where slopes are not too steep, nearly all of these soils are used as cropland. Some are used as pasture or rangeland.), Greatgroup: Hapludolls, Subgroup: Cumulic Hapludolls
  • Family: Coarse-loamy, mixed, superactive, mesic Cumulic Hapludolls
• 15% - Tilfer, Geomorphic Position: stream terraces / Toeslope
• 15% - Aquolls, Geomorphic Position: depressions
• Farmland Class: Prime farmland if drained
• Available Water Storage (0-100cm): 19.49 cm
• Flood Frequency (Dominant Condition): Occasional
• Ponding Frequency: 15
• Drainage Class (Dominant Condition): Poorly drained

1881 Mason City map

Shows George Vermilya owning a big parcel including the neighboring “big house” and the future site of the Longnecker House, and a lot of other property in the neighborhood, too.  Mostly to the south.