The Work Begins

Phase One - repair of the exterior - required about $55,000.

We received $5,000 from Franklin County Community Foundation, $10,000 from the Historical Society - and that gave us enough to complete Phase One. Contracts were signed, and scaffolds were erected.

Terry Cole's team of workers began in September on the North Wall. First they had to remove the old masonry with a hammer and chisel. It was tedious work, and they were amazing to watch work! (The picture was taken after old masonry was taken out, and before new put in)

There were spots that required more limestone pieces. Joe Pitsor, Jeff Burkley and Deb Brown headed to the old pit just North of the stone house, back of the pit and through the brush.

Here's the video of that trip to the limestone quarry.

Getting Some Money

The new committee, OSHA - knew we had to figure out what needed to be done, paint a picture of how the future could look and then find the money to do the work.

We called in Renaissance Restoration to give us an estimate on how to fix the outside first. We knew we needed some tuckpointing, basement floor joists fixed, some masonry work. They had been recommended by the State Historical Society. Terry Cole came on out and gave us his bid. It's important to know that if you are doing historical restoration, and you want grant money, you need to use a recommended provider. The work has to be done by hand (like when they built it) and ideally use local materials.

Keri and Deb wrote a grant requesting $40,574 to the State Historical Society of Iowa, Historical Resource Development Program. I don't think anyone believed they would actually get the grant.

But get it they did! Here's just a few parts of that grant.


1) Specifically identify the historical resource and state its significance:
The Leander Reeve House (also know as The Old Stone House) was built in 1854 by Leander Reeve for his wife who it was said would not move from Ohio until she had a 'proper house'. The stone came from nearby Maynes Creek, the walnut timbers in the cellar came from nearby Maynes Grove. The floor plan has never been altered.

The house is a 2 story structure with seven rooms, complete with full basement, two bedrooms on the second floor and a pantry just off the kitchen. The dimensions are approximately 26' x 32'. The foundation and exterior walls are of rubble limestone. The front gable roof, reshingled in 1962, has a rather shallow pitch, and narrow wooden cornices. A single chimney is centered on the roof ridge. It's location is at the corner of Raven and 105th St, 2 miles West of Geneva.

It was the first permanent structure built in Franklin county and the oldest still in existence. The Leander Reeve House is truly a living history home of the 1850's. It is used by school and youth groups, families for reunions and other adult organizations. Here is where our children have an unique opportunity to visit, work, eat and maybe one day sleep in a real pioneer home.

2) provide an overview Of the activities you will complete
We have received a bid from Renaissance Restoration whose work will meet the U.S. Secretary of Interiors Standards for Rehabilitation. They have over 20 years of masonry restoration experience with both brick and stone. Their masonry craftsmen have been trained by US Heritage in lime putty mortar and masonry repairs. We have attached said bid, as it qualifies for our budget, for your perusal. We have broken down the project into subsections. They are:

Exterior Masonry Restoration
Exterior Mortar Joints all 4 elevations. ..$ 34,534.00
Re-Caulk Exterior Doors and Windows........$ 2,885.00
New Gutters and Downspouts ................$ 5,680.00
Repair Deteriorated Basement
Floor Joist, Door Sills and Thresholds.....$ 2,860.00
Interior Basement Wall Mortar Joints
All 4 Elevations.........................$ 14,150.00

The picture is Joe, Darwin and Terry Cole.

Preserving Our Past

In 1979 the original Committee to restore the Old Stone House took a building whose Southeast wall had fallen away exposing the building and rebuilt it into a building they could be proud of. They made sure it was listed on the Historical Register as well. The years have passed, and much work remains to be done.

First, a little history:
Leander Reeve traveled from Ashtabula County, in the Northeast County of Ohio on Lake Erie to the prairies of Northern Iowa. He met up with his brother James who was living in a sod house and was the first white man to live in the county. They broke ground and began farming.

Leander wanted to bring his wife and family out, but needed to build her a proper house! In 1852 they started to build the Old Stone House and completed it in 1854. Limestone from the area was used and a proper house with 4 bedrooms, a full basement and a bathroom outside was built. He brought his family out that year.

Since then 15 other families have lived in that house, the last living there in 1954. The Old Stone House is believed to be the only one still standing between here and the Mississippi. It holds a place in Iowa history – and we in Franklin County are proud to have it here.

A new committee has been formed. The Old Stone House Association, affiliated with the Franklin County Historical Society. The committee members are Darwin Meyer, Joe Pitsor, Keri Holmes and Deb Brown. Advisors are Jeff Burkley and Paul Wuhlbrandt. (Darwin, Joe and Jeff pictured)