T-R file PHOTO — Marshalltown’s iconic Binford House.

Nominations are being accepted now through Dec. 23 for the second annual Jessie Binford Advocate for Youth Award. Open to those who serve Marshall County, it honors the legacy of the noted social reformer. To be considered for the award, the individual should make a difference through volunteer efforts or professional life, which could range from social work, education, religious leader, and more.

Dylan Does, who is overseeing the application process, said people can send nominations to: binfordhouse@gmail.com or mailed to: Binford House, PO Box 273, Marshalltown. Provide a few paragraphs of information about why the person deserves to win.

“We just want to make this an annual award, not only to honor Jessie, but really to take those principles and both recognize them here and encourage them for the future,” Does said.

The award is a collaborative effort among the Marshalltown Federation of Women’s Clubs (who owns the Binford House), Marshalltown Area Chamber of Commerce and the Historical Society of Marshall County. The award banquet will take place January 20, and Does pointed out the winner will be notified of the win two weeks in advance.

Heidi Williams, Woodbury Elementary School counselor, was the award’s first recipient. Does may be contacted for additional questions at: ddoes@marshalltown.org or by calling him at the Chamber: 641-753-6645.

The Binford House will offer its Passport dining program again in 2026. Participants can enjoy a five-course meal 10 months a year (February through November), at a cost of $1,000. Half of that can be listed as a tax-deductible gift. There is also a six-month Passport available for $650 (no tax credit). You may also pay and reserve one meal at a time, for $150. The dinners are prepared and curated by Binford caterer Missy Sharer-Pieters.

“This will be the third year for the Passports. We started it two seasons ago because that was when we were celebrating Binford’s 150th anniversary,” Sharer-Pieters said. “It was so popular we brought it back.”

A total of 18 passports were sold in 2024, followed by 28 in 2025.

“Not only did everybody renew from the initial offering, but we added some new members,” she noted. “One thing that we learned over the last couple of years is people are always really curious about the recipes. So as a perk, we are going to put together a Binford Passport cookbook, which will have the recipes that we are serving for this year. Obviously, it won’t be available until basically the end of 2026.”

Passports bought before Jan. 1 will automatically receive the cookbook, with it being available later on for purchase. She said the meals have turned into almost a social club.

“It’s a way for people to meet and make friendships that I know would have never happened had they not been dining together at the Binford House,” she said. “You can do the one-time meal, and sometimes Passport holders want to bring an extra guest.”

The first meal — Feb. 7 — will be Mardi Gras in theme.

“Our menu tries to reflect the season, or maybe what a holiday is, and then try to pick out a regional thing as well, so that you feel like you are experiencing different kinds of foods and cultures,” she explained. “They are my recipes, and my husband’s. We really don’t know the menu month to month, just ideas. So much of how we cook is seasonal and what we can get our hands on locally.”

The dinners are restricted to 38 attendees. Reserve your Passport by calling 641-753-5450. Sharer-Pieters posts the menu in advance. Beer and wine can be brought in. Live music is provided.

Board Co-President Peggy Kelly said 2024 and 2025 saw repairs, renovations, paint jobs and more. The fence was repainted and trim redone; partial repair and painting done on the second floor; walls and ceilings plastered; HVAC replaced on the main floor, with the rest of the work to happen next month; remediation for bat control; remodeled downstairs bathroom; mulch in the yard; in the process of updating its brochure, thanks to funding from donors.

“We’re not sitting on the money that we are raising; we’re putting it back into the house,” Kelly said.

In addition to these efforts, the board is working to attract more clubs to use the house as meeting space. Membership dues are the same as they were back in 1930: $5 per member per year.

“After her mother’s death, Jessie chose to continue her mother’s support of Marshalltown area women’s service by donating the family house to the Federation in 1930,” Kelly said. “When Jessie donated the house, there were 16 member clubs using Binford House as their meeting place, and at one point it had grown to 33,” she said. “Now there’s only one, the Hawthorne Club.”

The Binford House is also available to rent for parties and other gatherings. It may be reached at: 641-753-5450 and binfordhouse@gmail.com.