T-R PHOTO BY MIKE DONAHEY Historical interpreter Helen Lewis of Council Bluffs is shown in her role as Nobel Peace Prize Winner Jane Addams Tuesday evening at the Binford House in Marshalltown.

Noted humanitarian and Nobel Peace Prize winner Jane Addams died in 1935 at age 74, but she was seemingly reincarnated Tuesday night at Marshalltown’s stately Binford House.

Helen Lewis of Council Bluffs passionately portrayed Addams before a group of attendees as part of the Historical Society of Marshall County’s (HSMC) monthly “History on Second Tuesday” event co-sponsored by Humanities Iowa.

The Binford House was an ideal venue since former occupant and owner Jessie Binford – a Marshalltown native – worked in tandem with Addams for 43-years promoting juvenile justice among other causes.

Lewis, a historical interpreter and educator in English and Humanities at Western Tech Community College in Council Bluffs, spoke in the first person and wore period clothes to accurately capture Addams’ fearless spirit.

“I was inspired to portray Addams because of her ideals, persistence and social conscience,” said Lewis.

She began portraying Addams in 1999. Through numerous examples, the educator accurately conveyed Addams attitude of refusing to take “no” for an answer from businessmen, local elected officials and others on issues ranging from garbage collection to tenement housing conditions to enforcing child labor laws.

From the 1880s through 1910, it was common for young children to be employed doing dangerous or unhealthy jobs in garment factories, manufacturing and in meatpacking plants in Chicago.

Their wages were needed to help supplement their parents’ incomes. It was Addams and Ellen Gates Starr’s successful campaign to end the exploitation of child labor which gave them a reputation as women to be reckoned with.

As a result, the Illinois legislature passed labor laws which protected young children. Later, Addams, Starr and Binford made it their life’s work to help the poor, immigrants and juvenile offenders.

Using her late father’s inheritance coupled with her “can do” attitude – Addams developed the renowned Hull House in Chicago’s Near West Side covering parts of the former Maxwell Street and “Little Italy.”

The Hull House settlement house concept provided housing, education, job training resources and English-as-a-second language classes for immigrants and the poor.

It opened in 1889 and closed in 2012. It is now a museum at 800 S. Halsted on the campus of the University of Illinois at Chicago.

Addams was also a pacifist. She urged then President Woodrow Wilson not to send U.S. troops to Europe during World War I – fearing munitions manufacturers would again use children in factories and elsewhere.

It was a controversial request made against an environment where public sentiment was strong against the “Central Powers” of Germany, Austria-Hungary, the Ottoman Empire and Bulgaria. Allies England, France and Russia had been engaged in bitter fighting against the Central Powers since 1914. Italy and Japan later joined the Allies.

Additionally, in 1915 a German submarine had sunk the British passenger ship Lusitania resulting in the deaths of 1,198 passengers of which 128 were Americans. Germany said the ship was a military target since it was also carrying military ammunition and other munitions. Regardless, there was public outcry for retaliation. Wison later declared war on the Central Powers in 1917 and U.S. troops were soon on their way to France. The Allies eventually prevailed.

Historians believe America’s entry into the war turned the tide in favor of the Allies. Regardless, Addams’ persistent stance against the war resulted in the Hull House losing financial support from advocates whom she had spent years developing.

The Binford House

The Binford House – 110 North Second Ave. – was built in 1873-1874 by Thaddeus and Angelica (nee Beasley) Binford.

They were active in local business and social affairs. Binford Avenue in rural Marshall County is named in their honor.

Jessie was one of several children raised in the home. She would later attend Rockford (Ill.) Seminary College Women – Addams’ alma mater.

Later, Jessie also heard Addams speak at the former Odeon Theater on East Mains Street in Marshalltown and decided to follow a similar career path. In 1930 Binford stipulated in her will language that upon her death the house would revert to the Federation of Marshalltown Women’s Club (MWC).

The club still retains ownership. The property was placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1984. In Binford’s honor the MWC initiated in 2024 the Jessie Binford Advocate for Youth Award.

“We were pleased to co-present Tuesday night’s informative program about Jane Addams, Jessie Binford and Ellen Gates Starr to Central Iowans at the historic Binford House,” said HSMC president Michelle Roseburrough. “We were also excited to have several members of the Binford House’s directors in attendance. And Lewis gave an exemplary presentation on Addams’ life and work.”

The Binford House is available to rent for parties and other events. For more information about The Binford House contact 641-753-5450 or binfordhouse@gmail.com. For more information about HSMC contact 641-752-6664 or contact info@hmcia.org.