Preserve Iowa Summit Meet and Greet held

Mount Pleasant was the site of the 2024 Preserve Iowa Summit. East Grove Farms LLC hosted a preconference Meet and Greet on Wednesday, June 5, 6-8 p.m. The Meet and Greet was definitely part of the Summit one should not miss.

The family farm was settled in 1837 by Joel C. Garretson and is thought to be the oldest continuously settled farm in Iowa. The Garrettson’s, Joel, Harvey, John, and Mary (Duval) Henderson were active abolitionists in the Quaker communities of Salem and East Grove. Joel’s youngest son, O.A. Garrettson is a well-known writer and contributor to the Palimpsest. This popular historical journal was published from 1920 — 1995. Palimpsest was renamed Iowa Heritage Illustrated in 1996. O.A and his wife Emma began building a Queen Ann style country home in 1899. The house was saved from decay and has undergone major restoration since 2009.

Tractor and wagon tour rides went around the farm. East Grove Farm has evolved over the years. It now produces alternative crops such as aronia berry, elderberry, plums, peaches, and grapes. Beekeeping also produces honey which is used in the production of farm to market items. The specialties of the farm include mead and berry flavored mead. The tour blended the historic and the modern aspects of the farm. Back at the homestead, the Garrettson’s continuing interest in historic preservation is demonstrated by Pilot Grove No. 6, a one-room schoolhouse moved to the grounds. The red barn is open for tours and retains the working structure of caring properly for horses and other work animals.

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The Summit is financed in part with federal funds from the National Park Service, U.S. Department of the Interior. The federal financial assistance follows the guidelines of the Age Discrimination Act of 1975 which prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, national origin, disability, or age. The Meet and Greet demonstrated that government regulations need not be overwhelming. The coordinated efforts of the Iowa Economic Development Authority’s State Historic Preservation Office, the City of Mount Pleasant, and the Mount Pleasant Historic Preservation Commission established the fact that Iowa’s hospitality has not diminished over the years.

Visitors planned their own tour and set their own pace. Tasting of mead and wine was provided during the event as well as country music. The atmosphere of farm, homestead and history combined with restoration and rehabilitation provided a proper introduction to the ideas and materials to be presented at the conference over the next 2.5 days.