Nich and Rebecca Lohman didnt plan to buy a home on the National Register of Historic Places. They just needed a large house and fast.
The couple moved to Iola in 2007 and needed a house with plenty of bedrooms for five children. They planned to buy a different house near Iola High School, but were surprised to discover it was sold to someone else one month before they moved. Their options were limited but they reached a deal to purchase the imposing two-and-a-half story Northrup House, with its distinctive elliptical tower, pyramidal roof with three gables, second-story sleeping porch, stained glass windows and nine-tone color scheme, at the corner of East and Cottonwood streets.
The day the Lohmans moved in, Iola experienced one of its worst floods in history. Much to the familys surprise, displaced residents had to be turned away as they sought shelter at the Northrup House, which had operated as a bed and breakfast under its previous owner. A month later, a couple showed up with luggage, ready for vacation; they didnt know about the ownership change, either.
THE HOUSE was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1997, 10 years before the Lohmans entered the picture. Its story, of course, dates back much further, to Iolas earliest history.
Levi Northrup came to Iola in 1861 and established several businesses that his sons later operated: the Northrup National Bank, the Northrup Lumber Company and Northrup Brothers, a dry goods store. Levi Northrup bought the land where the Northrup House stands for $18.66 through a tax sale in 1882. He deeded the land to his son, Lewis, in 1894, the same year Lewis married Lettie A. Bruner. Construction began on the house in 1895; other family members constructed neighboring houses.
The house began as a one-and-a-half story spindlework Queen Anne style cottage, typical for the time period. Additions until 1912 led to the free classic Queen Anne style that remains today, an example of the transition from the rambling, asymmetrical Queen Anne period and the more disciplined Colonial Revival style. Lewis Northrup enlarged the house, extended the front porch and added a glass greenhouse, sleeping porch and elliptical front tower entry.
The Northrup family sold the property in 1927. In 1965, Elizabeth Fretz bought it at a tax sale. In 1994, it was purchased by Earl and Jody Great and Chris and Susan Galemore who restored the house and opened it as a bed and breakfast. Trent Stark bought it in 1996 as a bed and breakfast, and the Lohmans in 2007 for use as a private residence.
THERE ARE pros and cons to owning a house on the National Register of Historic Places, Nich Lohman said. The listing increases the propertys value and gives the owners access to tax deductions and grants, which is especially important because of the high cost of repairs. A previous owner repaired the roof and front porch using grant money; Lohman plans to write a grant to help him replace seven curved, compound storm windows, estimated to cost about $14,000.
On the other hand, the Lohmans have been dropped by seven insurance companies in 11 years. The few companies that are willing to insure the property will do so only by factoring the cost of repairs using modern methods, which would diminish the homes historic value.
My plan is to keep it on (the National Register) as long as possible, Lohman said. But if we cant insure it, thats too much of a risk.
Theres also no way to insulate the house, thanks to construction methods that installed fire breaks in the plaster walls, and 10-foot high ceilings make it expensive to heat. Because the Lohmans are committed to maintaining the historic integrity, every project costs much more than most area homeowners face.
You really have to be committed to preserving it. You cant modernize things and that really limits what you can do, Lohman said.
And though Lohman recognizes it will be difficult to sell the house if the familys needs change, he wants to honor the history of the town and the property.
I dont necessarily own it. Im just caretaking it and eventually well pass it to someone else who will care for it. Hopefully it will continue to be unique and a source of interest for the community for years to come.
