Harlan-Lincoln House will continue as own entity

MT. PLEASANT — Wednesday morning Elizabeth Garrels excitedly announced a transfer of ownership of Harlan-Lincoln House it’s very own new 501[c] (3) charitable organization.

“In collaboration with our lenders, Iowa Wesleyan University has transferred ownership of the Harlan-Lincoln House to its very own Iowa nonprofit corporation Harlan-Lincoln House Incorporated,” Secretary of the Iowa Wesleyan board of trustees and Chair of Harlan-Lincoln House Incorporated board of directors Elizabeth Garrels said. “The Harlan-Lincoln House is now an IRS 501[C] (3) designated charity.”

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“The Harlan-Lincoln House Heritage Museum will continue,” Garrels announced from the porch of the house.

According to IW board of trustees Chair Robert Miller, getting a 501[C]3 usually takes six-nine months, but Garrels was able to obtain this designation in only 30 days.

“This steadfastness is a tangible reminder of its intertwined history with Iowa Wesleyan University,” Garrels continued. “Standing for nearly 150 years on the north edge of the former campus, the house and its artifacts are resources to tell the story of four generations of two famous families that of James and Eliza Harlan, and Robert and Mary Harlan Lincoln.”

According to Garrels, James Harlan served as president of IW and later a longtime trustee and chancellor for the university before his very notable public service and friendship with President Abraham Lincoln.

“This generational house heard the laughter and sorrows and felt the footfalls of the Harlan-Lincoln grandchildren as these families participated in the fabric of the life of Mt. Pleasant,” Garrels said. “Mary Harlan donated her family residence to the university in 1907.”

Miller shared sentiments of gratitude for the house which he said, “has stood proud through many historic events,” and Wednesday morning marked another historic day for Harlan-Lincoln House.

“The HLH Board members have for years been attending to this house, its contents and provided much needed care upkeep and preservation of its irreplaceable contents,” Miller shared. “The leadership provided by these dedicated individuals assured that this legacy of Southeast Iowa continues for many decades.”

“The Iowa Wesleyan Board is pleased to have had a role in the initial funding and assisting with the transfer of ownership and operations to the newly formed board of directors,” Miller said. “Congratulations.”

The new board for Harlan-Lincoln House, Inc. includes Garrels, Tricia File, Pat White, Lea Bradley, Lynn Ellsworth and Paul Juhl.

Juhl shared that the mission of the new charitable organization is to, “ … preserve and promote the house and it’s contents, to share with the public this heritage site for its relevance to the James Harlan and Abraham Lincoln families, and to explain the significant impact of these prominent American families who offered vital leadership for the life of Iowa Wesleyan University, community of Mount Pleasant, state of Iowa, and our nation.”

With the new season for the Harlan-Lincoln House ahead, the organization will hold a public reopening event Oct. 21, 1-4 p.m.

“We do look forward to open hours for tours in the near future,” Garrels also shared.

Board Member Lynn Ellsworth expressed her gratitude for the outpouring of support from volunteers already volunteering to help lead these tours and assist in other ways moving forward.

“We've all heard that saying it takes the village,” Ellsworth said. “Well, I think it is going to take a village to save this great historic part of Mt. Pleasant.”

“We’re all sad about the college closing, but this is one way that we can continue the story of the University and of our heritage here,” she said. “And fortunately, so far, we are having a great response in terms of our volunteers. Now we need to translate that into some money.”

According to Miller, before the university’s closure, many of the financial aspects of upkeep for the home were taken care of by the university including maintenance, utilities, publications, and mailings.

“All that is gone now,” Ellsworth said. “We are on our own, but we’re bound and determined. We’re all passionate about this place, and we all want to see it succeed.”

In the meantime, additional information about the happenings with the Harlan-Lincoln House can be found at their Facebook page or on their new website halran23.wixsite.com/hlhm

This news comes after months of uncertainty concerning the future of all the campus following the news of the closure last year.

While Miller says the board is “really excited and pleased about the cooperation from everyone to make this happen,” they are still working to ensure the best outcomes for the remaining parts of campus.

“The board continues to be very concerned about what happens to the remaining buildings and assets, and they have tried to do everything we can to make sure it’s in the best interest for Southeast Iowa as to what we bring here,” IW board of trustees Chair Robert Miller said.

According to Miller, the rest of the properties have “offers pending” including a purchase agreement for the dormitories and the Mt. Pleasant Community School District currently executing due diligence to potentially buy the main campus buildings.

“They are currently in a 60-day due diligence period and most likely they’ll extend that by 30 days,” Miller said. “There’s a lot of square footage.”

Comments: AnnaMarie.Ward@southeastiowaunion.com