The Russell-Lamson Hotel

by

Jacqueline Fisher

    Lillian Russell was born in Waterloo, on 30 June 1869, the daughter of Rensselaer and Caroline Russell, one of the pioneer couples in the community. In 1886, she was the valedictorian of her West Waterloo High School graduating class. She then studied at Helmeth College, in London, Canada, after which she continued her study of music with Silas G. Pratt in Chicago. Devoted to her father, Russell postponed marriage until after his death.

    Clyde Lamson was born to James and Cornelia Lamson in Waverly, Iowa, on 5 February 1873. His father James had served in the Ninth Iowa Volunteer Infantry during the Civil War. When Clyde was a small boy, he and his family moved to Anamosa. He graduated from Anamosa High School and then attended the University of Iowa, where he graduated in 1894 with a degree from the department of pharmaceutical. After graduation he moved to Waterloo to work as a prescription clerk for Henderson  Company. He moved to Hampton and then back to Anamosa to establish his own drugstore. Lillian Russell married Clyde O. Lamson on 28 April 1897. In 1899, they moved back to Waterloo where Clyde entered real estate.

    Lillian decided to go back to school and, in 1911, she graduated from Gates Waterloo Business College. The couple had two children, a son, Russell, and a daughter, Maxine. During Clyde and Lillian’s life together, Clyde was very active in the community. He was president of the Chamber of Commerce during a time of dynamic growth for the city. The population more than doubled from 12,580 people in 1900 to 26,698 in 1910. As Waterloo grew, Lamson contributed much to the changing image of the community.