Stephen Harris Taft House facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Stephen Harris Taft House
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 Location in Iowa
Location in the United States
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| Location | 809 1st Ave., N. Humboldt, Iowa |
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| Area | less than one acre |
| Built | 1864 |
| Architectural style | Late Victorian |
| NRHP reference No. | 02001601 |
| Added to NRHP | December 27, 2002 |
The Stephen Harris Taft House is a special old house in Humboldt, Iowa. It has a cool history and was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2002. This house was once the home of Stephen Taft, who helped start the town of Humboldt.
Meet Stephen Taft, Founder of Humboldt
Stephen Taft was born in New York. He moved to Iowa in 1862. He had a big idea to create a new settlement. He first called it Springvale, but it was later renamed Humboldt.
- Stephen Taft was very important to the early days of Humboldt.
- He also helped create Humboldt College, which was a school that no longer exists today.
The Story of the Taft House
Stephen Taft had this house built in 1864. It was his home for many years. He lived there until 1897.
- The house is a two-and-a-half story building.
- It is shaped like a rectangle, about 38 feet (11.5 meters) wide and 40 feet (12 meters) long.
- Most of the house is made from local limestone. This stone is not perfectly smooth.
- The front of the house is different. It is covered with cedar wood planks called clapboard.
- There is a part on the north side of the house that was once a "summer kitchen." This means it was a separate kitchen used in warmer months. It is still used as the kitchen today.
- Stephen Taft and his wife moved to California in 1897. They moved because his wife needed a warmer climate for her health.
A Special Historic Place
The Stephen Harris Taft House is on the National Register of Historic Places. This is a list of buildings, sites, and objects that are important in American history. Being on this list helps protect the house and recognize its value.
