Preston and Emma Woodall

The Preston Woodall House Bed and Breakfast, c.1910. This distinquished Queen Ann Residence, one of five large-scale homes in a similar stylistic mode built by Benson's prosperous merchants between 1900 and 1920, was constructed for Preston Woodall (1874-1945). Woodall operated a large department store in Benson, which he organized in 1899, as well as twenty farms and five saw mills in the Benson vicinity. In addition, he served as vice-president of the Farmers Commercial Bank for five years, as president of the Citizens Bank and Trust Company for six years, and as alderman of Benson for ten years. He was also secretary to the Board of Elders of the Presbyterian Church and was active in community affairs.

-- period newspaper article

-- holiday postcard sent by Preston Woodall upon completion of his new home