Marshall County continues to be a leader in properties listed on the National Register of Historic Places (NRHP).

To date, 18 are listed — ranging from barns to a blacksmith shop to a county courthouse.

In February, the Mowry-Irvine Mansion (MIM), originally owned by the late Fred Grumme, earned placement. It is a 150-year-old distinguished two and one-half story former residence in the 500 block of West MainStreet in Marshalltown.

Locally, it joins portions of the Marshalltown Central Business District, the Binford House, the Susie Sower House and Marshall County Courthouse.

Members of the State Center Historic Preservation Committee and others have worked to place the Craig and Mary Pfantz home and barn and the former Home Oil gas and oil delivery station on the NRHP.

“State Center has a three-block district on the NRHP,” said Catherine Noble, a resident active in historic preservation efforts.

Her current residence was placed on the NRHP. It was a former maternity home built in 1909. It is also known as the Emma Wohlert House.

“The center block of the (three-block) district contains a handful of intact city blocks with panel brick along the top of the buildings,” she said. “It is referred to as “Remarkable Row.” Watson’s Grocery Store is on Remarkable Row and is also on the NRHP.”

There is more to come.

“We are working on a nomination for the Methodist church — a pure example of mid-century modern architecture,” Noble said. “We are working on a local district program to recognize neighborhoods with architectural contributions.”

Mary Pfantz, a volunteer board member and treasurer of the Marshall County Historical Society in Marshalltown worked with Paula Mohr of Bentonsport Preservation, LLC, in Keosauqua.

HSMC hired Mohr in 2022 to assist with the application, which was initially reviewed and approved by the State Historical Preservation Office (SHPO) in Des Moines. Mohr has had extensive experience and success with previous applications to SHPO and the National Park Service.

She “is a nationally recognized architectural historian and preservationist based in Iowa, where she founded Bentonsport Preservation, LLC.,” according to the business website.

While at the State Historic Preservation Office, she administered one of the nation’s largest certified local government programs for 14 years and reviewed historic tax credit applications and National Register nominations.

Mohr previously held positions at the National Trust for Historic Preservation, the White House/Old Executive Office Building, and the National Park Service, where she was curator of the White House Storage Facility. From 1994 to 2000, she was curator of the U.S. Treasury in Washington, where she was responsible for the preservation and interpretation of this National Historic Landmark and its collections.

She also contributed several chapters on landscape design for Campus Beautiful: Shaping the Aesthetic Identity of Iowa State University. Mohr visited the MIM on several occasions to verify property details and take photos — all necessary for the application.

After the application was completed it was first reviewed and then approved by the State Historic Preservation Office in Des Moines in October, 2025.

The application was then forwarded to the U.S. National Park Service (NPS) for a final review. However, the stately property is listed on the NPS application as the Fredrick and Mary Grumme house. The Grummes were the original owners.

History of the Grummes and the home

Fred Grumme was a German immigrant who first settled in Galena, Ill. in 1855 to learn the leather trade. He moved to Marshalltown in 1860 –working initially with the late for a number of years.

Later, Grumme opened his own business. prominent Marshalltown businessman Hiram Willard at 19 W. Main St. He later brought his brother into the business.

In 1866, he married Mary Lindstrom, a native of Sweden. In addition to his harness-making business Grumme served as an officer of Marshalltown State Bank at 17 W. Main St.

Following Grumme’s death in 1898, she married George Turner.

The Mansion – its owners and more

The house is an Italianate-architectural style built in 1876. The home is 3,792 square-feet – with five bedrooms and two-and-one-half baths.

“It is well-built – with 13-foot ceilings and a white marble fireplace – the structure has had few alterations over the years,” according to HSMC archives. “Most of the floors are stained hardwood. Most of the interior trim and panel doors are stained and painted hardwoods. Alterations did take place in 1898 – when the front porch, oak staircase and stained-glass windows”(near the main entrance) were added. In 1921 the home was purchased by Harold and Nellie (nee Stewart) Lounsberry – both descendants of Marshall County pioneer families.

Later, the home passed to their daughter Irene and her husband John Mowry (1905-1995).

He earned a law degree from the University of Iowa, served as an FBI agent, and was a well-known attorney and elected state official. The home was left to their only child, Madelyn Mowry Irvine. She and her spouse Stephen donated the property to the HSMC.

About HSMC

It was established in 1908. It is certified Internal Revenue Service 501 © 3 not-for-profit-organization and managed by a board of directors who serve in a volunteer capacity.

Directors reside in Green Mountain, Le Grand, State Center and Marshalltown. In addition to serving a steward for the Marshalltown and Marshall county artifacts — it also sponsors turn-of-the-20th century school reenactments for area elementary children at the Taylor School No. 4. Additionally, it works with trustees of the Susie Sower House and co-manages with the state of Iowa from Memorial Day through Labor Day the Matthew Edel Blacksmith Shop in Haverhill.

Dorie Tammen of Marshalltown is HSMC’s librarian. She is assisted by DeAnna Ward of Ames — a volunteer. For more information, contact the HSMC at 641-752-6664 or info@hsmcia.org.

For more information about Mohr or Bentonsport Preservation, LLC, telephone 515-783-2167 or visit bentonsportpreservation.com.