For more than 150 years, the Binford House has Tstood in all its grandeur at 110 N. Second Ave in Marshalltown. But like any home, it requires functional heating, ventilation and cooling systems, which don’t come cheap.

“Once we discovered the age of all the units, we decided that it would be a good project for us to focus on, and then started investigating what the possibilities were,” Binford Board Member Pat Hauser said.

Lennox Feel The Love™ is gifting the Binford House two new Lennox furnaces and two Lennox air conditioners. Hardon’s in Tama is installing the equipment for free, plus Hardon’s donated a team’s labor, as well as materials to get the system running.

“Marty Hardon is a Lennox Premier Dealer and active participant in the Feel The Love program. This is the first year Feel The Love is accepting 501(c)(3) non-profits into the program, provided they can utilize residential heating and cooling equipment. We recognize the aid nonprofits bring to their communities and wanted to expand Feel The Love’s impact,” LII Lennox Foundation said in a statement. “The central air conditioning systems are failing and, thanks to the 2018 tornado, are in desperate need of replacement (at Binford House).”

Marty Hardon, president, said he’s proud to support this historic residence.

“Our team is passionate about giving back to the communities we serve,” he said.

He noted this is Hardon’s eighth Feel The Love installation. He added that he has a desire to continue this partnership noting, “We are committed to serving people in need and helping preserve local landmarks like the Binford House for future generations.”

Hardon said the work proved to be more labor-intensive than what would go into installing HAVCs in the typical dwelling.

Hauser pointed out this donation and installation allows the second floor of Binford House to have air conditioning for the first time. Currently, that level is not open to the public and is used for storage.

The new units will make the house more energy efficient and less complicated to fix when issues arise.

“It had a hot water system, and they’re very difficult to get serviced. There are very few HVAC people that service hot water systems, and so they are replacing it with a more efficient forced air service, which will, in the long term, be far more convenient and serviceable to the Binford,” Hauser added. “Because the house isn’t used continually is probably the only reason why those units have lasted this long.”

Angelica and Thaddeus Binford moved into what is now called the Binford House in 1874, and it was the childhood home of their daughter, social reformer Jessie Binford. Today it’s used as a gathering spot — a place to meet for parties, dinners, teas and other special occasions, owned and operated by the Marshalltown Federation of Women’s Clubs. The house is on the National Register of Historic Places.

Both Hardon and Hauser said Lennox supporting Binford House is a full-circle moment. The board is in possession of a letter from Jessie Binford to Mrs. David Lennox Jr., then-president of the Marshalltown Federation of Women’s Clubs, dated Sept. 23, 1930. The correspondence outlined Jessie’s desire for the federation to use her home “as a social, civic and cultural center for club work in Marshalltown, and I hope Marshall County.”

While the Federation used the residence throughout the ensuing decades, the deed was not turned over to the group until 1965.

Hauser said that almost 100 years later, Mrs. Lennox couldn’t have known the impact her family would continue to have on the Binford House.

“We can’t express enough appreciation to Lennox and Hardon’s. And we’ve had a few other people contribute: some sheet metal came from Morgan Hauser Steel,” she said.

Hardon’s, Inc. is a Lennox Premier Dealer located in Tama that serves Marshalltown, Grinnell and surrounding areas. In its 65th year of business, Hardon’s, Inc. offers heating and cooling, plumbing, electrical, and well pump services, among others. The family of brands also includes Hardon’s Outdoor and HardonsOutdoor.com, a kitchen goods and grill store located in Tama.

To learn more about the Lennox program, visit: www.feelthelove.com.

Binford House is available to rent for a variety of special occasions by calling 641-753-5450.