FINAL Survey and Evaluation of Selected Historic Archaeological and Architectural Properties in Subsections J, N, and O, Linn County, Iowa Certified Local Government Grant Prepared for State Historical Society of Iowa and the Linn County Historic Preservation Commission Prepared by Leah D. Rogers, Principal Investigator Tallgrass Historians L.C. Iowa City, Iowa 2003 This project has been funded with the assistance of a matching grant-in-aid from the State Historical Society of Iowa, Community Programs Bureau, through the Department of the Interior, National Park Service, under provisions of the National Historic Preservation Act of 1966; the opinions expressed herein are not necessarily those of the Department of the Interior. All phases of the project were conducted under the direction of Leah D. Rogers, Principal Investigator with the assistance of the Linn Historic Preservation Commission, Local Volunteers, Property Owners, and Project Assistant, G. Clark Rogers midNPS Form 10-900-b OMB No. 1024-0018 (Revised March 1992) United States Department of the Interior National Park Service National Register of Historic Places Multiple Property Documentation Form This form is used for documenting multiple property groups relating to one or several historic contexts. See instructions in How to Complete the Multiple Property Documentation Form (National Register Bulletin 16B). Complete each item by entering the requested information. For additional space, use continuation sheets (Form 10-900-a). Use a typewriter, word processor, or computer to complete all items. X New Submission ____ Amended Submission A. Name of Multiple Property Listing Early Settlement Era and Ethnic Historic Settlement of Linn County B. Associated Historic Contexts (Name each associated historic context, identifying theme, geographical area, and chronological period for each.) Early Settlement of Linn County, Iowa: late 1830s-1870 Early Settlement in Subsections J, N, and O (Fairfax Township, and parts of Clinton, College and Fayette Townships) Bohemian Immigrant Rural Settlement of Linn County, Iowa: 1850s-1930 C. Form Prepared by name/title Leah D. Rogers/Project Director organization Tallgrass Historians L.C. date July 31, 2003 street & number 2460 S. Riverside Drive telephone 319-354-6722 city or town Iowa City state Iowa zip code 52246 D. Certification As the designated authority under the National Historic Preservation Act of 1966, as amended, I hereby certify that this documentation form meets the National Register documentation standards and sets forth requirements for the listing of related properties consistent with the National Register criteria. This submission meets the procedural and professional requirements set forth in 36 CFR Part 60 and the Secretary of the Interior's Standards and Guidelines for Archeology and Historic Preservation. (___ See continuation sheet for additional comments.) Signature and title of certifying official Date State or Federal agency and bureau I hereby certify that this multiple property documentation form has been approved by the National Register as a basis for evaluating related properties for listing in the National Register. Signature of the Keeper Date of Action USDI/NPS NRHP Multiple Property Documentation Form Early Settlement Era and Ethnic Historic Settlement of Linn County, Iowa Iowa Name of Multiple Property Listing State Table of Contents for Written Narrative Provide the following information on continuation sheets. Cite the letter and the title before each section of the narrative. Assign page numbers according to the instructions for continuation sheets in How to Complete the Multiple Property Documentation Form (National Register Bulletin 16B). Fill in page numbers for each section in the space below. Page Numbers E. Statement of Historic Contexts 1 (If more than one historic context is documented, present them in sequential order.) Early Settlement of Linn County, Iowa: late 1830s-1870 2 Early Settlement in Subsections J, N, and O (Fairfax Township, and parts of Clinton, College and Fayette Townships) 6 Bohemian Immigrant Rural Settlement of Linn County, Iowa: 1850s-1930 10 F. Associated Property Types 17 (Provide description, significance, and registration requirements.) Buildings, Structures, and Sites Associated with the Early Settlement of Linn County, Iowa 17 Buildings, Structures, and Sites Associated with the Bohemian Immigrant Rural Settlement of Linn County 19 G. Geographical Data 20 H. Summary of Identification and Evaluation Methods 20 (Discuss the methods used in developing the multiple property listing.) Research Design 20 Methods 21 Evaluation 22 Archaeological and Architectural Property Evaluations from Current Study 24 Recommendations 44 I. Major Bibliographical References 46 (List major written works and primary location of additional documentation: State Historic Preservation Office, other State agency, Federal agency, local government, university, or other, specifying repository.) Primary location of additional data: X State Historic Preservation Office Other State agency Federal agency Local government University Other Name of repository: Paperwork Reduction Act Statement: This information is being collected for applications to the National Register of Historic Places to nominate properties for listing or determine eligibility for listing, to list properties, and to amend existing listings. Response to this request is required to obtain a benefit in accordance with the National Historic Preservation Act, as amended (16 U.S.C. 470 et seq.). Estimated Burden Statement: Public reporting burden for this form is estimated to average 120 hours per response including the time for reviewing instructions, gathering and maintaining data, and completing and reviewing the form. Direct comments regarding this burden estimate or any aspect of this form to the Chief, Administrative Services Division, National Park Service, P.0. Box 37127, Washington, DC 20013-7127; and the Office of Management and Budget, Paperwork Reductions Project (1024-0018), Washington, DC 20503. Survey and Evaluation of Selected Historic Archaeological and Architectural Properties in Subsections J, N, and O, Linn County, Iowa E. Statements of Historic Contexts The following historic contexts are based on contexts developed in a first-phase comprehensive planning document (Rogers 1992); in four comprehensive survey projects for Linn County, Iowa, that followed (Rogers and Page 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996); a Phase II-level investigation of selected properties identified in previous survey projects (Rogers 1998); and two National Register nomination projects based on the results of the previous investigations (Rogers 2000; Page 2002a, 2002b). The first-phase project involved a compilation of contexts applicable to the county’s historical development as a whole, while the subsequent phases added detailed contexts applicable to the individual subsections of the county being surveyed. In general, the county’s historical development can be subdivided into four eras of development: Native American Contact, Early Settlement, Expansion, and Consolidation (Rogers 1992). Within each era, a number of subcontexts were also identified and consisted of the development of communities, commercial districts, transportation, agriculture, industry, religion, education, social culture, and architecture in the county as well as identifying some of the notable persons associated with these developments. The comprehensive survey projects expanded upon these contexts and identified some new ones, including town building, local contractor/builders, rural architecture, family-oriented rural settlement patterns, ethnic settlement patterns, and transportation corridors. As noted above, the initial surveys were followed by National Register nominations of districts and sites identified in the previous survey projects (Figure 1). The National Register properties listed to date as a result of the comprehensive survey projects include: One early historic period habitation site: Dewitt/Harman Archeological Site (13LN454) located in Bertram Township Three farmstead districts and two houses: Podhajsky/Jansa Farmstead District located in College Township Janko, Jan and Antonie, Farmstead District located in College Township Minor, Josias L. and Elizabeth A., Farmstead District located in College Township Moorhead, Joseph and Clara A., House located in Putnam Township Horecky, Henek and Mary, Log Cabin, located in Franklin Township Two commercial districts: Central City Commercial Historic District Dows Street Historic District, Ely The current project consists of a continuation of the comprehensive survey and evaluation project; this time focusing on the Early Settlement Era resources of Subsections J, N, and O, which includes all of Fairfax Township and parts of Fayette, Clinton, and College Townships (see Figure 1). The following contexts are pertinent to the Early Settlement of these subsections all located in southwestern Linn County and build upon the previous contexts developed in Rogers 1992, 1998, 2000; Page 2002a, 2002b; and Rogers and Page 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996: 1 Early Settlement of Linn County, Iowa: late 1830s-1870 Prior to the settlement of the project area by Euroamericans, Native American groups such as the Meskwaki and Winnebago called Linn County home for at least a portion of the year. The principal camp grounds of the Meskwaki were reportedly along Indian Creek and the Cedar Valley in White Oak Grove between Usher’s Ferry and the present