![scholte house[1] (2)](https://historicpellatrust.org/historicpellatrust/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/scholte-house1-2.jpg)
The Historic Pella Trust, established in 1994, is a non-profit preservation group who helps to preserve Pella’s architectural resources so that future generations will continue to be enriched by the historic legacy of Pella’s Dutch heritage and culture. We serve in a counseling and advisory capacity regarding historically correct architecture and disseminate information regarding restoration and reconstruction of facilities.
Our Mission Statement is:
To Protect and Promote Buildings, Landscapes, and Sites
Important to the Heritage of Pella, Iowa.
Protect & Promote our Heritage
Our office is located in the oldest building in Pella, Iowa, The Thomas Tuttle Cabin Build in 1843. We do provide tours of this historic landmark.
The Trust interacts to rescue historically significant property in danger of demolition. Restoration of these properties and protection covenants are arranged by our organization. We take an active approach towards historic preservation advocacy working with local, state and national government agencies to document and preserve.
Members receive our newsletter “Preserve Pella”. Our annual meeting is in November, by tradition we honor several Pella homeowners with a Historic Landmark plaque and award during this meeting.
Contact Information
Historic Pella Trust, Inc.
Phone :641-628-2935
Email: office@historicpellatrust.org
Tuttle Log House address: 608 Lincoln Street
Mailing address: PO Box 1, Pella, Iowa 50219
Planning a visit? Please Email Historic Pella Trust
Recent Blog Posts
- Historic Pella Trust receives $15,000 Grant from Pella Corp. to help fund Tuttle Learning Walk January 22, 2020
- 1915 Pella Chronicle Advertisement and 1869 Pella Map Poster Fundraiser November 17, 2019
- Building a Strong Foundation; South Pella Yesterday and Today November 17, 2019
- Historic Pella Trust’s Twenty-Fifth Anniversary Celebration with Dave Baker November 14, 2019
- Herman Rietveld’s Dog Statues October 23, 2019
- Preserve Pella 2019; Volume 27 August 19, 2019
- Preserve Iowa Summit 2019 July 19, 2019
- Christian Opportunity Center Friends Visit Tuttle Cabin July 12, 2019
- Pella’s Webster Schools; Consigned to History June 11, 2019
- Historic Pella Trust Tulip Time 2019 May 6, 2019
New: Donate Online!
In the News and Events
Tuttle Learning Walk
Please Contribute towards the Learning Walk Project scheduled to begin by March 2020
Your financial Support is needed to build the Tuttle Learning Walkway!
We are excited to introduce the Tuttle Learning Walkway in partnership with the City of Pella!
Visitors will learn about the 1843 homestead of Thomas and Nancy Tuttle and the role Rev. Moses J. Post had in helping the Dutch to acquire local the homesteads in 1847. They will gain insight on what motivated the Dutch to leave the Netherlands under the leadership of H. P. Scholte and why that still has an impact on our present-day culture. As the walkway nears Sunken Garden Park, the signage will share about the cooling pond for Pella’s first electric plant and the location for the first tulip festival. The signs will include QR codes to scan for more history and photos. The City of Pella parks department will maintain the walk that will feature a variety of heritage perennials wildflowers, native grasses and bushes along with several limestone outcroppings representing the literal foundations of our town.
Historic Pella Trust has agreed to provide 100% of the cost of Tuttle Learning Walk through local fundraising. We are close to our last quarter of the goal of raising $195,000. We need your help to achieve this vision.
Historic Pella Trust has committed to raise 100% of the funds needed for the project so that no tax dollars will be involved.
https://historicpellatrust.org/learning-walkway/
Our Facebook news feed is available to our viewers even if you are not a member of Facebook; you can view the post below by clicking on the white lettering or white photo word and it will open on your browser. Please enjoy looking at our social media posts...
Historic Pella Trust on Facebook
It's Friday night and the HPT is asking for your help in identifying this 1902 photograph. This "View on the Des Moines River" photo originally appeared in the "Souvenir History and Biography of Pella". Our question is: is this the Horns Ferry bridge or the Harvey bridge? It appears to us to be the Horns Ferry bridge, but if so, what is the partially-collapsed structure circled in the second photo? There are still pilings in the river at the Horns Ferry Bridge. Any help you can provide will greatly help us document Pella and Marion County history! Thanks in advance! -BB
Pella Christian High School Winterim Home Realty Class visited our historic home at 222 Oskaloosa Street and Tuttle Cabin to learn more about the value and characteristics of historic homes. They were a fun group to work with; so much enthusiasm! Thank you for including the importance of preservation in this program. They left me with some fun memories and stories to tell, hopefully I left them with some insight and the desire to preserve our architectural resources.
Old houses are just the coolest thing! There was a time about 100-120 years ago when even modest homes would have stained glass windows, like this one. This window is one of two from a working-class home built in Pella in the early 1900s. -BB
Happy New Year to all of the Historic Pella Trust followers and history enthusiasts! We never know from where the inspiration for our next post will arise; accordingly, today's post comes from a request sent out by the Pella Public Library asking for information on a vintage photograph. Fortunately we were able to supply some background details.
In 1867, at three years of age, Nick De Boef, accompanied by his parents, immigrated to Pella from the Netherlands. Nick worked at the post office for a number of years (then located on the SW corner of Main and Franklin), but went into business for himself in 1890, at age 24, when he purchased this property at 510 Franklin Street from Dr. George Allen. In 1894 he married Jennie and they soon had a son, named Henry for Nick's father.
For 13 years Nick operated his business from the building on the left, while his residence was on the right. Nick had a greenhouse and sold home-grown nursery plants (including cabbage, potatoes and tomatoes); he also sold groceries and post-hole diggers; repaired and sold sewing machines; and performed repairs on umbrellas and bicycles.
In 1903 Nick sold his property to John den Hartog, and moved to Oskaloosa where he went on to be a prominent farmer and nursery operator. Nick passed away in 1949 and is buried in Oskaloosa's Forest Cemetery.
And now you know "the rest of the story". -BB
Last week we looked at four (of eight) rarely seen sketches of Pella buildings drawn around 1865 - less than 20 years after Pella's founding. This week we look at the other four, of which one building still remains. We're grateful for this rare glimpse into early Pella architecture. Descriptions are in the photo captions. -BB
We are at 60% towards our fundraising goal to start building the Tuttle Learning Walk. Please consider helping us reach this goal before spring so the building may begin. It is going to be a beautiful addition to Tuttle Cabin and the Park. historicpellatrust.org/learning-walkway/Winter starts in two days, but we are already thinking of spring! These beautiful flowers will line Historic Pella Trust's educational walkway in Pella, IA, between Tuttle Cabin and Sunken Garden Park.
City of Pella, Iowa - Government
Here are four (of eight) rarely seen sketches of Pella buildings drawn around 1865 - less than 20 years after Pella's founding. There are no local photographs dating back this far, so these drawings offer a rare glimpse into the architecture of Pella's past. These sketches are all that remains of these buildings. Descriptions of each one is provided in the photo captions.
There is some debate as to the artist: it was either Dr. Joost Roelofsz - one of Pella's early doctors; or Pieter Roelofsz, who served in the civil war and was possibly a nephew of Joost. -BB
Learning Opportunity! Pella History and vintage handcrafts! Stop by Tuttle Cabin 10-7 today, Friday December 6th, or 10-2 on Saturday. Now is your chance to ask how-to questions and visit about the good old days.
Please consider HPT during your year-end giving decisions. You can help bring our current projects to reality. We appreciate and need your financial support for Historic Pella Trust projects. Your contribution will help to build The Tuttle Learning Walk in the Spring of 2020; It will help to maintain historic properties under our care; it will go towards sharing our history to visitors and during school field trips and it will also help to replace the roof on our house project on Oskaloosa Street.
Your memberships and contributions have helped HPT to make a difference over the past 25 years.
Below is the video from the Historic Pella Trust Annual meeting and presentation by Dave Baker; "The Other Side of the Tracks" in case you missed it in our recent blog. It will serve as an introduction to some of our goals and achievements.
Each of you who enjoy our Facebook postings or appreciate seeing historic buildings protected by HPT can make a difference by showing your support with a donation towards our non-profit 501 C-3 organization. Even small contributions add up. Our address is Box 1, Pella, Iowa, 50219. You can also donate on our website: historicpellatrust.org, or through Facebook. 100% of your donations will be used towards our projects.
Thanks! Jennifer
www.youtube.com/watch?v=8xjnECoW1PI&feature=youtu.be&fbclid=IwAR1KK30RW0eTPsZjTLVRzmtlXJYHBtWsTTY...
2019 Historic Pella Trust meeting with Dave Baker
Annual meeting featuring Dave Baker's presentation "The Other Side of The Tracks"