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.
Recent Blog Posts
- Red Rock Line October 28, 2018
- KNIA KRLS Radio Coverage of the Waechter House Move October 27, 2018
- Ribbon Cutting Ceremony; KNIA KRLS Radio Broadcast of the Collegiate Historic District Neighborhood October 17, 2018
- Historic home restoration and preservation isn’t just for men! Jill Jansen featured in the Pella Chronicle… October 13, 2018
- Jill Jansen and Rhonda Kermode preview the upcoming block party on Broadway October 9, 2018
- Bob Leonard’s In Depth Radio Program on the Historic District October 9, 2018
- Collegiate Historic District Block Party Rescheduled to October 13, 2018 October 8, 2018
- COLLEGIATE NEIGHBORHOOD HISTORIC DISTRICT NEWSLETTER October 5, 2018
- Historic Wagon Donated to HPT October 4, 2018
- Spring Field Trip to Tuttle Cabin October 4, 2018
In the News and Events
A Tuttle Christmas Open House
Thursday, November 29, Noon – 7. Friday, November 30 10-7 and Saturday, December 1, 10-2
Fund Raising has begun for the Tuttle Learning Walkway! A educational pathway that shares the early history of Pella Iowa. The future path will connect two National Landmarks; Tuttle Cabin and Sunken Garden Park and Windmill.
https://historicpellatrust.org/learning-walkway/
Historic Pella Trust on Facebook
Program starts at 7, Thursday, Nov. 8th. Historic Pella Trust annual meeting and awards; Pella Opera House
kniakrls.com/2018/11/historic-pella-trust-welcomes-state-historian-central-alumnus-thursday/
kniakrls.com
KNIA / KRLS Radio for Knoxville, Pella and all of Marion county. The one to count on.Dave Baker Interview with Andrew Schneider about his presentation coming up on next Thursday, Nov 8. 6:30 pm at the Pella Opera House; Historic Pella Trusts looks forward to your attendance! kniakrls.com/2018/11/lets-talk-pella-historic-pella-trust-annual-meeting/
Let’s Talk Pella – Historic Pella Trust Annual Meeting | KNIA / KRLS | The One to Count on
kniakrls.com
KNIA / KRLS Radio for Knoxville, Pella and all of Marion county. The one to count on.Here's a quest for you: Can you find/place this historic Pella treasure? It's a classic that Pella is very fortunate to still have in existence. Pella was once filled with homes like this; but today they have nearly disappeared. With your help the Historic Pella Trust is fighting to preserve Pella's heritage and its remaining historic homes! Please donate if you feel so moved.
Mary Todd was one of the first residents in Pella. She passed away at her home at 100 Carson Street. Posted is her obituary from a December 1925 Pella Chronicle. I recently saw this same house for sale! Mary Todd's article is so rich in history, I am looking forward to learning more about her. -JVK
This week the 130-ton historic Adolphus Waechter home was moved almost 25 miles from Pella to a farmstead close to Attica in southern Marion County. Many of you watched and wondered over the past year if the house could be saved or if would be torn down.
Pella will miss this beautiful home and its individual character and charm that such historic properties bring to our community, but thankfully the story has a happy ending for the home!
Thankfully there are people willing to save vintage homes instead of filling our landfills with them. Billy Bell, owner of the house moving company, mentioned that he had 600 calls in the weekend after the Trust first posted this home on Facebook; Central College, the home's former owner, also had 100's of phone calls and emails, as did the Trust.
So often I hear from developers that no one wants older homes. But there are many people who would consider moving even average homes as long as they know that they are available and have help in understanding what it takes to move one.
The house is now a transplant - a win for the Trust and the Owner...Let's celebrate!Ta-dah!!! Boardwalk house arrived to its final destination on Thursday, 10/25/2018 at 3:30pm.
Ready for a vintage photo? Here is the Star Auto Co.'s gas station from 1947. At that time gas stations were also known as filling stations or oil stations. Service stations - where they could change your oil, sell you tires or do vehicle repairs, came later. Much later came the convenience store - where you could get gas and groceries - but the service/repair was gone. The Star Oil station was located on the NE corner of Main and Washington, and was later the site of the first Casey's in Pella. (Fun fact: the Dutch front on that first Casey's building was personally designed by then-Pella Corp. president Stu Kuyper! Among many other local preservation activities, Stu rescued and renovated the building that later became the Strawtown restaurant, and also saved and renovated the former Pella High School, now known as the Pella Community Center!) The Star Oil location will soon be the site of a new bank building. -BB
The line crew is hard at it today taking electric lines down and putting them back up for the house move.
The journey of the Central College Boardwalk house to it's new Farmstead!The Boardwalk House is on the move today. Please avoid the route highlighted in red on the map. Today the intent is to travel from Pella south on T17 to a field just north of the RR tracks near the Durham Quarry.
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