FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE (timed in order to increase attendance at the August 27 event)

Decorah Historic Preservation Commission

Contact: Mark Z. Muggli, DHPC Chair (historicpreservation@decorahia.org; 612-720-5795)

August 27 Centennial Open House for Historic Weiser Home

Decorah, Iowa (August 14, 2023) — The owners of the 609 W. Broadway Weiser house, Susan and Dale Goodman, and the Decorah Historic Preservation Commission (DHPC) invite the public to an open house on Sunday, August 27, 1-4 pm, in order to celebrate the centennial of the home’s 1923 construction. The architect was Charles Altfillisch, and the builder was A. R. Coffeen.

Refreshments will be provided on the home’s outdoor patio. A newly-printed brochure highlights the home’s features and identifies three other Charles Altfillisch designed homes within the same block of the Broadway-Phelps Park Historic District.

The Goodmans said they were inspired by the enthusiasm they saw at the November 2022 reception at the Altfillisch Mound Street home. Said Dale, “The Weiser home was built on land first owned by George Phelps and then Ben Bear. The house itself has been part of this community for 100 years, and we wanted to share its distinctive, well-preserved interior with the wider public.”

“We appreciate the Goodman’s public-spirited generosity,” said DHPC chair Mark Z. Muggli. “They have done painstaking restoration on the house, and now they are opening the house to the public, are providing most of the refreshments, and are funding this new open-house brochure.”

Charles Altfillisch

A Bellevue, Iowa, native, Altfillisch was the most important architect and engineer in Decorah’s history. He also designed many buildings across the upper Midwest, including numerous schools, the Allamakee County Courthouse, and three buildings at the University of Iowa.

The Dutch Colonial Revival Weiser home, built in 1923 for Charles Weiser and his bride Dorothy Reeves as a wedding gift from his parents, was one of Altfillisch’s early projects. It includes distinctive interior woodwork, built-ins, and generous natural lighting.

Altfillisch designed three other upper Broadway homes that reflect his developing aesthetic and his clients’ changing taste:

• The 1929 English Cottage/New England Farmhouse style William B. and Sophia (Larson) Ingvoldstad home (704 W. Broadway).
• The 1941 International Style Edward F. and Laura Mae (Barthell) Hagen home (302 Upper Broadway).
• The 1960 Midwest Modern style Hjalmar and Helen (Arnold) Carlson home (303 Upper Broadway).

The exteriors of these three homes are described in the new brochure and can be visited on August 27, but the interiors will not be open to the public.

Said Nan St. Clair, a new DHPC member and co-owner of the 1860s West Broadway J. T. Relf house, “The four Altfillisch houses on Broadway near our house provide a striking overview of twentieth-century architectural history and are a reminder that ‘historic’ buildings come in many different flavors.”

The DHPC Altfillisch project, which includes a printed brochure with four tours and extensive on-line materials, was in June awarded a “Preservation At Its Best” award at the annual state-sponsored preservation conference in Sioux City, Iowa. This brochure will also be available at the August 27 event.

DHPC

The Decorah Historic Preservation Commission is a state-certified city board established in 2007 to promote the public’s educational and economic welfare through the recognition of historic sites. Contact: historicpreservation@decorahia.org.

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August 27 Centennial Open House for Historic Weiser Home

Decorah, Iowa (August 14, 2023) — The owners of the 609 W. Broadway Weiser house, Susan and Dale Goodman, and the Decorah Historic Preservation Commission (DHPC) invite the public to an open house on Sunday, August 27, 1-4 pm, in order to celebrate the centennial of the home’s 1923 construction. The architect was Charles Altfillisch, and the builder was A. R. Coffeen.

 

Refreshments will be provided on the home’s outdoor patio. A newly-printed brochure highlights the home’s features and identifies three other Charles Altfillisch designed homes within the same block of the Broadway-Phelps Park Historic District.

 

The Goodmans said they were inspired by the enthusiasm they saw at the November 2022 reception at the Altfillisch Mound Street home. Said Dale, “The Weiser home was built on land first owned by George Phelps and then Ben Bear. The house itself has been part of this community for 100 years, and we wanted to share its distinctive, well-preserved interior with the wider public.”

 

“We appreciate the Goodman’s public-spirited generosity,” said DHPC chair Mark Z. Muggli. “They have done painstaking restoration on the house, and now they are opening the house to the public, are providing most of the refreshments, and are funding this new open-house brochure.”

 

Charles Altfillisch

A Bellevue, Iowa, native, Altfillisch was the most important architect and engineer in Decorah’s history. He also designed many buildings across the upper Midwest, including numerous schools, the Allamakee County Courthouse, and three buildings at the University of Iowa.

 

The Dutch Colonial Revival Weiser home, built in 1923 for Charles Weiser and his bride Dorothy Reeves as a wedding gift from his parents, was one of Altfillisch’s early projects. It includes distinctive interior woodwork, built-ins, and generous natural lighting.

 

Altfillisch designed three other upper Broadway homes that reflect his developing aesthetic and his clients’ changing taste:

• The 1929 English Cottage/New England Farmhouse style William B. and Sophia (Larson) Ingvoldstad home (704 W. Broadway).
• The 1941 International Style Edward F. and Laura Mae (Barthell) Hagen home (302 Upper Broadway).
• The 1960 Midwest Modern style Hjalmar and Helen (Arnold) Carlson home (303 Upper Broadway).

 

The exteriors of these three homes are described in the new brochure and can be visited on August 27, but the interiors will not be open to the public.

 

Said Nan St. Clair, a new DHPC member and co-owner of the 1860s West Broadway J. T. Relf house, “The four Altfillisch houses on Broadway near our house provide a striking overview of twentieth-century architectural history and are a reminder that ‘historic’ buildings come in many different flavors.”

 

The DHPC Altfillisch project, which includes a printed brochure with four tours and extensive on-line materials, was in June awarded a “Preservation At Its Best” award at the annual state-sponsored preservation conference in Sioux City, Iowa. This brochure will also be available at the August 27 event.

 

 

Media Release

Date: Thursday, July 27, 2023

Authority: Chief Tricia Thein

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The Decorah Police Department was notified of an advertising campaign soliciting donations that, based on appearances, supports the Decorah Police Department.  It is important that community members know that the Decorah Police Department is not affiliated with this group, and does not receive any monetary support from this organization.  The organization, “Citizens Behind the Badge” participates in a direct mail “survey”, usually surrounding a hot topic associated with policing, in an attempt to manipulate and take advantage of people’s emotions for money.  This specific organization is based in Virginia and is not listed as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit with the IRS.

This particular “scam” is not new and has been reported in New York, Arkansas, New Jersey, Iowa, and many other states.

The Decorah Police Department does not solicit donations by mail, and we encourage all residents to research organizations prior to making their donations.

We encourage individuals with concerns or questions to reach out to the Decorah Police Department via the non emergency line at 563-382-3667.

Media Release

Date: Monday, July 24, 2023

Authority: Chief Tricia Thein

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Happy Nordic Fest Week!  On behalf of the city of Decorah, we wish all a wonderful Nordic Fest Celebration.  To help ensure this, please be advised that there will be street closures to facilitate different festival events, and set up of booths and food/beverage garden areas.  Opening ceremonies begin Thursday July 27 around 6:45 pm at the courthouse square.  Expect restricted traffic movement in that area during this time.

On Friday and Saturday July 28 and 29, in the downtown area, expect road closures and traffic delays throughout the day. Saturday’s scheduled events include the Elvelopet Run and parade. These two events will consist of many road closures including College Drive and Heivly Street during the run and Montgomery Street for parade activities, as well as cross streets to E. Water Street from Montgomery Street to Mill Street for the duration of the parade.

Preplan your need to navigate the downtown area and expect congestion and time delays as we celebrate Nordic Fest 2023!  We appreciate your patience and understanding.

Her er til en trygg og lykkelig feiring for alle

(Here’s to a Safe and Happy celebration for all)

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Decorah Historic Preservation Commission

Contact: Mark Z. Muggli, DHPC Chair (historicpreservation@decorahia.org; 612-720-5795)

Historic Preservation Commission Announces “Significant Decorah Properties” List

Decorah, IA (July 23, 2023) — The Decorah Historic Preservation Commission has created an inventory of “Significant Decorah Properties” not on the National Register. The list is available as a downloadable PDF from the Commission’s city webpage at https://www.decorahia.org/commission-and-boards/historic-preservation/historic-tours.

There are approximately 125 properties on the list, including cemeteries, parks, businesses, and residences. The properties were designed by a variety of Decorah architects, builders, and property owners over the past 175 years, including William S. Bucknell, H.O. Ball, Lars Seim, A.R. Coffeen, Borger Hanson, Lully Lund, William Sihler, William Lockard, Lowell Erdman, and, most notably, Charles Altfillisch.

According to Commission secretary Judy van der Linden, the list incorporates many properties discussed in other local tours and histories. “But this list should be helpful because it’s considerably more comprehensive than any other one source. And we’ve identified many new significant properties as well.”

Added Commission member Kathy Buzza, “Everyone recognizes that local National Register properties are significant. Our new list applies the National Register standards for significance integrity to properties throughout Decorah–although often at a somewhat lower level.”

Commission chair Mark Z. Muggli noted that next steps will be to develop Iowa Site Inventories for some of the properties, with some properties eventually being nominated for the National Register.

The commission hopes that the public will find the inventory a useful resource and for self-guided touring. They encourage people to send corrections and potential additions to the new list through the Commission’s city email address, “historicpreservation@decorahia.org.”

The Decorah Historic Preservation Commission is a state-certified city board established in 2007 to promote the public’s educational and economic welfare through the recognition of historic sites.

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