A National Historic Landmark A Station on the Underground Railroad The Hitchcock Banner Newsletter VOL. 26 #12
This edition of the Banner is dedicated to Sandra J. Fairbairn, who passed away on August 6, 2023. Sandy was one of the original founders, workers, and supporters of the Hitchcock House. She was on the Board from the very beginning and until August 6th continued as a faithful and enthusiastic member of the Advisory Board. The Hitchcock House was her love! She served as Treasurer of the Advisory Board and was a constant and vigilant voice for making sure all the restoration and repair done at the House was within the period of the House. Sandy was loved by so many and that is obvious by the many, many donations given in her memory . Thank you to all who gave so generously. She left a huge vacancy on the Advisory Board and in our lives. We will miss her always and forever. "IT IS SO HARD TO FORGET SOMEONE WHO GAVE YOU SO MUCH TO REMEMBER"
SUMMER OF 2023! We kicked off the opening of our season at the Hitchcock House with the Pioneer Day Activities sponsored by the Cass County Conservation Board. We had a great attendance and the weather cooperated and we felt our 2023 season was underway. It was exciting. BUT THEN we began to notice huge changes in the structure of the House – cracks became larger – the front door was tilting in – the stair railings were pulling away from the treads – the wall paper in the parlor was wrinkling in the corners! We realized that the south wall of the basement was deteriorating almost before our eyes. So, the Advisory Board had some serious decisions to make. By July 23 we were closed for the season! And by August we had secured a restoration contractor to begin work on the basement. The contractor, Markuson Construction from Crescent, IA was our choice and as I write this the work is now completed and the wall is once again secure. It was scary at times to see the south side of the House being supported by iron beams and spaces big enough to walk through in the basement wall. We feel the Markuson crew did an excellent job and it is, not only a big relief, but great to feel we had competent workmanship. Thank you to Mark and Justin Markuson and their crew. On the following page are pictures of the project as it progressed through the late summer and fall!
The Advisory Board would like to thank all of you, our Friends of the Hitchcock House, for your generous monetary support. We are also indebted to the Cass Country Conservation Board for their help and support and to the Cass County Board of Supervisors, who continue to see the Hitchcock House as a jewel of Cass County and offer their support and monetary help. We appreciate it!
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WELCOME TO MARSHA BIERBAUM With Sandy’s passing we had a huge hole in the Advisory Board! We needed a treasurer and we are pleased to welcome Marsha Bierbaum. It was much like jumping into a “frying pan” for Marsha, but she persevered and is doing a great job!
ANOTHER NEW BOARD MEMBER – BARB DROGO Barb joined us this summer to take over the care of the flower beds! What a Godsend she has been to us. She has weeded, dug, planted, mulched and fed all the beds and they look so nice. We welcome her to our Board!
*********************************
NEW MAILING OPPORTUNITIES The Advisory Board has made the decision to send as many copies as possible of the Banner via email in the future. Postage and Permits are increasing as of the first of January, 2024 plus the cost of having it printed is increasing. We feel this will be an efficient way to have you receive our newsletter and will save us some money too. If you would be willing to receive this newsletter via your email, please send your address to: sguffeylewis@gmail.com
IF you chose not to receive it, please be assured we will mail it to you as usual!!!
**********************************
BOARD MEMBERS 2023President - Sharon Guffey-Lewis Vice President - Roy Smith Secretary – Kyla Amos Treasurer - Marsha Bierbaum Members: Dana Kunze Todd Weppler Tracey Marshall Mark Clark Steve Lewis Barb Drogo ************************************
A BIT OF HISTORY
( a note from the Editor, Sharon Guffey-LewisAs I sort through Sandy’s many files, I find interesting articles of history. This was written by Floyd Pearce)
THE JIM LANE TRAIL Few Iowans know much about the Jim Lane Trail. It was not a separate trail/road but, rather used existing roads. Jim Lane felt the need for this “trail” because the Kansas Territory was such a hot bed of hostile activity. 1856 was an especially devastating year for the Kansas Territory. Lawrence was raided and sacked. The big debate was over whether the territory would enter the union as a free state or a slave state. The Kansas-Nebraska Act of 1854 stipulated that residents of both territories would vote on being free or slave. In Kansas there were many free-state emigrants. Missouri, the border state, wanted Kansas to be a slave holding state so they would send “border ruffians” across to make raids on the free-state emigrants. They burned homes and stole property as well as, killing some of the free-state emigrants. It was a violent time in the Kansas Territory and is often referred to a “bleeding Kansas”. Jim Lane came up with a plan to establish a line of “communication” with Kansas. Iowa Governor James Grimes promised to support this plan for an overland route to Kansas. James went about the country speaking in Chicago and Iowa City, informing people about the situation in Kansas and encouraging them to support an overland route. His speeches gained many supporters and in1856 Lane and 250 men left Iowa City for Kansas. He had raised $2,000 for this trip and his group was called the “army of the north”. Numerous groups followed suit, with most of them starting at Iowa City. In July of that year a railhead was established at Mount Pleasant and that became a second starting point for the Jim Lane Trail. The trails joined together at Sigourney. Several Iowa Counties entered into the campaign to help Kansas. Even though Jim Lane met with much resistance Kansas did enter the Union in 1861 as a free state!
************************************
2024 PROMISES TO BE A BRIGHT AND BUSY YEAR
The Hitchcock House will open on May 1, 2024. The first Friday and Saturday of May, May 3rd and 4th will be the Pioneer Days. We have some new exciting things happening for that event, which is always a great way to kick off our season. We will once again have 3 activities in the Big Red Barn so watch for those events.
Summer Hours: Thursday – Sunday every week 1:00 – 5:00 p: m. Tours begin at 1:15 Last tour of the day begins at 4:15 p.m. Tour Fee: $5.00 cash or check only
This edition of the Banner is dedicated to Sandra J. Fairbairn, who passed away on August 6, 2023. Sandy was one of the original founders, workers, and supporters of the Hitchcock House. She was on the Board from the very beginning and until August 6th continued as a faithful and enthusiastic member of the Advisory Board. The Hitchcock House was her love! She served as Treasurer of the Advisory Board and was a constant and vigilant voice for making sure all the restoration and repair done at the House was within the period of the House. Sandy was loved by so many and that is obvious by the many, many donations given in her memory . Thank you to all who gave so generously. She left a huge vacancy on the Advisory Board and in our lives. We will miss her always and forever. "IT IS SO HARD TO FORGET SOMEONE WHO GAVE YOU SO MUCH TO REMEMBER"
SUMMER OF 2023! We kicked off the opening of our season at the Hitchcock House with the Pioneer Day Activities sponsored by the Cass County Conservation Board. We had a great attendance and the weather cooperated and we felt our 2023 season was underway. It was exciting. BUT THEN we began to notice huge changes in the structure of the House – cracks became larger – the front door was tilting in – the stair railings were pulling away from the treads – the wall paper in the parlor was wrinkling in the corners! We realized that the south wall of the basement was deteriorating almost before our eyes. So, the Advisory Board had some serious decisions to make. By July 23 we were closed for the season! And by August we had secured a restoration contractor to begin work on the basement. The contractor, Markuson Construction from Crescent, IA was our choice and as I write this the work is now completed and the wall is once again secure. It was scary at times to see the south side of the House being supported by iron beams and spaces big enough to walk through in the basement wall. We feel the Markuson crew did an excellent job and it is, not only a big relief, but great to feel we had competent workmanship. Thank you to Mark and Justin Markuson and their crew. On the following page are pictures of the project as it progressed through the late summer and fall!
The Advisory Board would like to thank all of you, our Friends of the Hitchcock House, for your generous monetary support. We are also indebted to the Cass Country Conservation Board for their help and support and to the Cass County Board of Supervisors, who continue to see the Hitchcock House as a jewel of Cass County and offer their support and monetary help. We appreciate it!
*********************************
WELCOME TO MARSHA BIERBAUM With Sandy’s passing we had a huge hole in the Advisory Board! We needed a treasurer and we are pleased to welcome Marsha Bierbaum. It was much like jumping into a “frying pan” for Marsha, but she persevered and is doing a great job!
ANOTHER NEW BOARD MEMBER – BARB DROGO Barb joined us this summer to take over the care of the flower beds! What a Godsend she has been to us. She has weeded, dug, planted, mulched and fed all the beds and they look so nice. We welcome her to our Board!
*********************************
NEW MAILING OPPORTUNITIES The Advisory Board has made the decision to send as many copies as possible of the Banner via email in the future. Postage and Permits are increasing as of the first of January, 2024 plus the cost of having it printed is increasing. We feel this will be an efficient way to have you receive our newsletter and will save us some money too. If you would be willing to receive this newsletter via your email, please send your address to: sguffeylewis@gmail.com
IF you chose not to receive it, please be assured we will mail it to you as usual!!!
**********************************
BOARD MEMBERS 2023President - Sharon Guffey-Lewis Vice President - Roy Smith Secretary – Kyla Amos Treasurer - Marsha Bierbaum Members: Dana Kunze Todd Weppler Tracey Marshall Mark Clark Steve Lewis Barb Drogo ************************************
A BIT OF HISTORY
( a note from the Editor, Sharon Guffey-LewisAs I sort through Sandy’s many files, I find interesting articles of history. This was written by Floyd Pearce)
THE JIM LANE TRAIL Few Iowans know much about the Jim Lane Trail. It was not a separate trail/road but, rather used existing roads. Jim Lane felt the need for this “trail” because the Kansas Territory was such a hot bed of hostile activity. 1856 was an especially devastating year for the Kansas Territory. Lawrence was raided and sacked. The big debate was over whether the territory would enter the union as a free state or a slave state. The Kansas-Nebraska Act of 1854 stipulated that residents of both territories would vote on being free or slave. In Kansas there were many free-state emigrants. Missouri, the border state, wanted Kansas to be a slave holding state so they would send “border ruffians” across to make raids on the free-state emigrants. They burned homes and stole property as well as, killing some of the free-state emigrants. It was a violent time in the Kansas Territory and is often referred to a “bleeding Kansas”. Jim Lane came up with a plan to establish a line of “communication” with Kansas. Iowa Governor James Grimes promised to support this plan for an overland route to Kansas. James went about the country speaking in Chicago and Iowa City, informing people about the situation in Kansas and encouraging them to support an overland route. His speeches gained many supporters and in1856 Lane and 250 men left Iowa City for Kansas. He had raised $2,000 for this trip and his group was called the “army of the north”. Numerous groups followed suit, with most of them starting at Iowa City. In July of that year a railhead was established at Mount Pleasant and that became a second starting point for the Jim Lane Trail. The trails joined together at Sigourney. Several Iowa Counties entered into the campaign to help Kansas. Even though Jim Lane met with much resistance Kansas did enter the Union in 1861 as a free state!
************************************
2024 PROMISES TO BE A BRIGHT AND BUSY YEAR
The Hitchcock House will open on May 1, 2024. The first Friday and Saturday of May, May 3rd and 4th will be the Pioneer Days. We have some new exciting things happening for that event, which is always a great way to kick off our season. We will once again have 3 activities in the Big Red Barn so watch for those events.
Summer Hours: Thursday – Sunday every week 1:00 – 5:00 p: m. Tours begin at 1:15 Last tour of the day begins at 4:15 p.m. Tour Fee: $5.00 cash or check only