Built 1855 Designated NHL February 17, 2006 Phone +1 712-769-2323 Added to NRHP 9 November 1977 | NRHP Reference # 77000500 Opened 1855 Architectural style Federal architecture Architect George B. Hitchcock | |
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Nearest city 63788 567th Lane in Cass County, near Lewis, Iowa Address 63788 567th Ln, Lewis, IA 51544, USA Similar Todd House, Cass County Courthouse, Grenville M Dodge House, Jordan House, Danish Windmill | ||
The Reverend George B. Hitchcock House is a historic house museum at 63788 567th Lane in Cass County, Iowa, a short way west of the city of Lewis. Built in 1856 by the Congregationalist minister George B. Hitchcock, it has features indicative of its use a "station" on the Underground Railway, corroborated by documentary evidence of Hitchcock's involvement in the shelter and transport of escaped slaves. It was declared a National Historic Landmark in 2006. It now houses a museum.
Description and history
The Hitchcock House is located west of the city limits of Lewis, on a hill overlooking the western bank of the East Nishnabotna River. It is a two story structure, built out of locally sourced random ashlar sandstone, and resting on a rubblestone foundation. Its walls are 21 inches (53 cm) thick, and its interior framing is heavy hand-hewn timbers. Stylistically it is a vernacular interpretation of Federal period architecture. Unusual features of its interior include an apparently purpose-built basement chamber, whose access was probably concealed by a false cabinet. The other basement room is fitted with a cooking fireplace, and was accessible via an exterior entrance and by stairs from above. It is surmised that these rooms were used for the shelter and support of fugitive slaves.
The minister George B. Hitchcock (1812-1872) built the house around 1855 and lived in it from 1856 to 1865. At the time of its construction, it overlooked two major east-west trails, leading to ferry crossings on the river. Hitchcock was involved in the American abolitionism movement known as the Underground Railroad, giving sanctuary to escaped slaves. The property was used as a farm until 1966, when it was sold to the state. It underwent a major restoration in the 1980s, and is now managed by the county as a historic house museum, interpreting the history of the Hitchcock family and the Underground Railroad.