CONTRIBUTED PHOTO — Pictured is the Mary and Craig Pfantz home in State Center. It is one of six historic homes available for touring during the Oct. 6 Historical Society of Marshall County historic home tour event.

Editor’s Note: This is the sixth — and final article appearing in the Times-Republican featuring historical homes in Marshall County. They are part of the Historical Society of Marshall County’s (HSMC) Oct. 6 Home Tour — a fundraising effort. The article below features the Mary and Craig Pfantz home in State Center.

STATE CENTER — A Queen Anne Victorian-style home on State Center’s east side caught the eye of a location manager for the 1999 PBS Masterpiece film “Cora Unashamed.”

Perhaps it was the home’s distinctive two-story wrap-around porch and sky-touching turret.

Regardless, the home made its movie debut then.

The home and nearby barns are owned by Mary and Craig Pfantz of State Center. The property was also the subject of a P. Buckley Moss print entitled “Our Family Heritage.”

In 2022, the home and two barns were placed on the prestigious National Register of Historic Places (NRHP).

“Receiving NRHP designation is a detailed, three-year application process requiring state of Iowa and U.S. government approval among numerous other requirements,” Mary said.

The home is included in the HSMCs Marshall County Home Tour event noon to 5 p.m. Oct. 6.

The HSMC is a 116-year-old organization charged with preserving the county’s unique artifacts and educating the public about the importance of history.

The organization’s board of seven directors are urging residents to purchase tickets to visit the six historic and distinctive homes.

Tickets are $15 in advance and can be purchased at HSMCs Mowry-Irvine Mansion, 503 W. Main St., Hellberg Jewelers and Lillie Mae Chocolates in Marshalltown and Central State Bank in State Center.

Tickets purchased at the door — at any one of the six homes — are $20. One admission purchase regardless of advance or at-the-door sale is good for touring all six homes. Children under 10 are free, accompanied by an adult.

Guides will be available at all homes. HSMC board members will be at all homes to welcome visitors and answer questions about the organization.

The event will be held ‘rain or shine,’ according to Julie Lang, home tour coordinator and HSMC board member. The Pfantz home was built in 1904 by August and Josephine Riemenschneider, according to family archives.

“They were Craig’s great-grandparents on his mother’s side of the family,” Mary said.

Over a period of years, the house was owned by five different individuals — including Craig’s mother — and once divided into two apartments.

In 1994, the Pfantz’s purchased the home and extensive restorations began. They re-created the two-story wrap-around porches, replaced the decorative shingles on the tower and installed new cedar shingles.

The homes’ interior has primarily retained its original features, such as seven pocket doors, parquet flooring resembling a Greek key pattern, a built-in china cabinet and more. Most of the light fixtures are original.

In 1992, the Victorian horse barn was selected by the Des Moines Register newspaper as “The most beautiful barn” in Iowa. Mary is a retiree, having worked for UnityPoint Health-Marshalltown. She serves as HSMC’s treasurer.

Craig is a farmer and currently serves as State Center’s mayor.

A second Queen Anne Victorian-style home in State Center also on the tour is 202 Third Ave. NW. It is owned by Jennifer and Beau Hanson.

Marshalltown homes on the tour are Cheri and Gerry Coleman’s, 301 S 9th St., Julie and Kevin Hitchins, 308 N. Fourth St., Kristyn and Barry Kell’s, 404 N. Fifth St., and Jennifer and Jason Matteson’s, 608 W. Main St.

Event sponsors are Home Federal Savings Bank and MinuteMan of Marshalltown and ProFinish Iowa of Grinnell. McFarland Clinic of Marshalltown and UnityPoint Health-Marshalltown donated supplies.

“We are thrilled to offer the historic home tour again after a several year hiatus,” said HSMC president Dan Brandt of Marshalltown. “We hope central Iowans will support this effort. Profits from the tour will help maintain our collection and properties such as Mowry-Irvine Mansion and Taylor School No. 4.”

Established in 1908, HSMC is an IRS-certified 501(c)(3) organization. It does not receive state, city or county funding. It depends on donations; research services, membership support a small endowment and fund-raising initiatives.

For more information about the home tour contact Lang at 641-750-4532.