Community News Stories

A recent improvement has wrought a big change in the appearance of a local historic home in Decorah’s Broadway-Phelps Park Historic District. The portico of the Frederick and Sarah Landers 1860 Greek Revival home has received a much-needed facelift, thanks in part to a $5,265 grant from the Historical Resource Development Program of the Iowa Department of Cultural Affairs. Matched by an equal amount from community residents and local businesses, the combined funds restored the portico and the signature Greek Revival transom and sidelights of the historic home owned by the Winneshiek County Historical Society and housing its offices.

Located on the southeast corner of Broadway and S. Mill Streets, the focal point of the historic home, was suffering from the ills accompanying its 167+ years as well as from unwanted attention from woodpeckers and squirrels. Wadsworth Construction, a local company specializing in historic preservation, began work by removing the transom and sidelight windows, and the fluted Ionic columns, capitals, and portico balustrade. Two braces were used to support the portico roof, and transom and sidelights openings were covered with plywood while restoration was underway at the Wadsworth shop. A Day Spring Questers grant had previously restored the center pane of the transom; that restored pane remained in place for the duration of the restoration as a promise of better days to come for the absent panes. In the shop, the remaining transom and sidelight panes were puttied, a cracked pane was replaced with 1860s era glass, and the sashes were repainted.

Meanwhile, the portico railing, columns, plinths, and capitals received similar careful attention. The posts, rails, and spindles of the portico balustrade were scraped, sanded, and repaired. A bonus emerged—it was discovered after many layers of paint were stripped from the portico roof railing spindles, that the c. 1865 carved spindles were in amazingly good condition despite their age and required only repainting. (As evidenced by an 1860 daguerreotype and a later photograph, the portico was not added until approximately five years after the home’s original construction date of 1860.)

The Ionic capitals received additions of wood epoxy to repair voids, then were scraped, sanded, and painted. Removal of the fluted columns from the portico revealed their interesting construction technique. The columns had been built by a local cooper in 1860 with oak staves in the manner of barrel construction. The beautifully executed fluting on the columns’ exterior was carved after each column was constructed. It was a creative carpenter’s inspired solution (we know his name was E.H. Keyes) to the lack of transportation of ready-made columns from a supplier in far-away Chicago, Madison, or Milwaukee. The railroad did not arrive in Decorah until 1869 and transport of the columns would have required rail transportation from Chicago or other points east to Prairie du Chien, a ferry ride across the Mississippi River to Marquette, and then an arduous 3-day journey by wagon from the Mississippi River overland to Decorah. In the case of the columns, necessity was indeed the mother of invention. When all repair and restoration work was completed, the parts were reassembled at the Landers house and final painting was done.

Thanks to local contributions and the grant provided by the Iowa Department of Cultural Affairs, the Greek Revival home’s portico and door surround have been transformed from “black eye” to their original role as gleaming focal point, and now serve as a visible reminder of Decorah’s early history. Future restoration plans include restoration and installation of the home’s original shutters and repointing of the brick walls with historically accurate mortar to preserve the locally manufactured brick and limestone from pre-Civil War era Decorah. Stay tuned for further developments!

Portico column had been damaged by woodpecker and squirrel incursions. The deteriorated railings and portico floor had mold problems.

David Wadsworth shows the interior of a cooper-built column constructed with local oak staves, a creative 1865 construction solution by E. H. Keyes, local carpenter. Animal and woodpecker incursions to the Ionic capital and column after restoration were restored with wood epoxy, primed, repainted, and reinstalled. Completed portico, transom and sidelights after restoration resume their original role as gleaming focal point of the 1860 Greek Revival Landers home.

Helping Services for Youth & Families is highlighting Teen Dating Violence Awareness during the month of February. According to the CDC, nearly a quarter of adult victims of rape, physical violence and stalking by an intimate partner first experience partner violence between the ages of 11 and 17. In addition, nearly 1 in 11 female and approximately 1 in 14 male high school students report having experienced physical dating violence in the last year. 

Dating violence is not only physical abuse but may also include excessive texting, checking up on, or telling you what to wear or who to hang out with are just a few tactics abusers may use to control their partner. Abusive relationships are all about power and control, and abusive patterns can start at any age.

The Domestic Abuse Resource Center is able to help and all of our services are free and confidential. For information on services or to speak with an advocate, call us on our 24-hour resource line at 800-383-2988 or chat with us at HelpingServices.org/Chat. Everyone deserves to be in a happy and healthy relationship.

ALLAMAKEE COUNTY VETERANS MUSEUM

The Allamakee County Veterans Museum will observe Pearl Harbor Day on December 7th by offering a program to the public in the Program Room of its new museum in the former Vet’s Club building in Waukon.  

On Tuesday, December 7, 2021 at 6:30 p.m. a video documentary will be presented about the Japanese air raid on the U.S. Naval and Air Bases at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii Islands, which marked the entry of the United States into the Second World War.  

The Pearl Harbor documentary will be preceded by a video that museum staff are calling “The last summer of peace in Waukon before the War.”  It includes movie film shot in downtown Waukon in the summers of 1940-41 by the Cote family for entertainment viewing in their newly opened Town Theatre.   Staff encourages you to try to spot and identify relatives and family friends depicted in the film, and enjoy a nostalgic look back at the “good old days.”  Period vehicles, dress, and businesses are featured, with candid closeups of people about town.

The program room currently seats about 45 people.  Due to Covid concerns, masks are encouraged but not required.  There is no admission or membership charge. The facility is handicapped accessible.  Light refreshments will be available. 

The museum remodeling was finished in late summer.  Preparation and installation of exhibits is underway and should be completed by Memorial Day 2022.  Tours will not be offered until the exhibits have been completed.  However, educational programs will continue to be offered periodically.

Northeast Iowa Community Action Early Head Start is accepting applications. The program serves pregnant women and children birth to three years old. The program provides weekly home visits to help parents be their child’s first and most important teacher. Socializations and playgroups are held for families to participate in. If you live in Allamakee, Clayton, Fayette, Howard & Winneshiek counties contact Northeast Iowa Community Action .

Have you thought about becoming a mentor? Tuesday, November 9 from 5:30-7:30 p.m. at T-Bocks Upstairs; Youth Mentoring at Helping Services is hosting a Mentoring Social. 

This is the perfect event to attend to find out more about how YOU can become involved. Mentors will informally share stories about the impact mentoring has on their youth and them as an adult, the dire need for boys to have male role models, and the ways you can get started so that you are comfortable with being a mentor. 

All adults are invited to come and connect with others about mentoring. It is the event for you to attend or bring along a friend that you know who will make a great mentor. Everyone will enjoy socializing and free appetizers. Drinks will be available for purchase.This event is open house style. Come and stay the whole time or come for a portion of the time. 

There are many options available to mentors. Community mentors spend a minimum of four hours per month with their youth doing things that they both enjoy like going to a ball game, enjoying a meal together, or going for a walk. School-based mentors meet their youth for one hour per week in their building. This option is available in the Decorah and Howard-Winneshiek School Districts. Mentors can be individuals, two buddies assigned to one youth, and families. There are also part-time mentors who attend the events that fit their schedule.

Youth Mentoring has a place for you! For more information, attend the Mentoring Social or contact Colinne or Kathy at mentoring@helpingservices.org, 563-387-1720, or visit www.helpingservices.org/mentoring. 

Serving families since 1973, Helping Services for Youth & Families is dedicated to responding to current health and safety needs of youth and families through empowerment, support, and education.

Cross of Christ will host a Meatball Supper on Wed., Oct. 6, from 4-7 pm at Cross of Christ Lutheran Church in Houston, MN. Drive-thru/carryout only.

Meatballs, potatoes and gravy, homegrown squash, two salads, green beans, bun, and brownies. $10.00

Assumption Parish of Little Turkey will be celebrating their annual church dinner on Sunday, August 15th. Mass at 3:00 pm. Meal serving Reicks Fried Chicken with homemade side dishes and baked goods will be served from 4:00 to 8:00 pm. $12 per meal. No advanced tickets. Live Music by Marc Frana & Jim Busta Band. Games, Bingo, Kolache Sales, Raffle, and Facebook Auction. For more information go to the parish facebook page: Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary—Little Turkey, Iowa. Outdoor dining only, carry-out or drive-thru.  Come enjoy a meal with friends and family under the tent.