Sometimes I come across a historic house listing online that is just too unique not to share, and this one is definitely one of those.
It’s located in the tiny town of Villisca, Iowa…
…which, unfortunately (after a quick Google search) seems like it’s still (after 105 years) best known for the (eight) mysterious and unsolved axe murders that happened in another house located just a couple of blocks away. :-/
Yikes!
But back to the yellow house…
It’s a 3,642 square-foot, 4 bedroom/2 bath, and has an additional 1,584 square feet of unheated square footage. It was built sometime around 1880 (by architect George F. Barber) and has only had four owners since then. How cool is that? If you break that up evenly, that’s like one family every 34 years. Imagine the memories that were made in that place!
It’s Victorian in style and still boasts its original & intricate woodwork, unique hardwood floors, pocket doors, leaded windows & doors, and two fireplaces. Talk about pride of ownership! I absolutely LOVE that all four owners took such good care of the place!
Pretty incredible, huh? It’s currently listed for $179,900, but I think it’s pretty safe to say that if it were located in a larger city (or near water or a tourist destination), the owners could ask for a lot more.
Some of the wallpaper and wallpaper borders aren’t my style, but that immaculate wood should come with a “you’re not allowed to paint me” clause, don’t you think? So stunning…it’s like no one ever even touched it!
Happy weekend, y’all!
Layla
Gorgeous woodwork. And that porch! But I’m with you on the wallpaper–out it goes.
Beautiful woodwork! The kitchen looks too modern, though. I understand that they had to update it but think it have more vintage details in it.
I completely agree with you about the kitchen. I was really loving it until the kitchen picture. It wouldn’t take too much to redo though (I love a good kitchen reno!)
It is gorgeous. I think it could be used for a beautiful wedding venue, but the wallpaper needs to be updated.
Those floors, woodwork, porch and front door were all amazing. Wouldn’t that house be awesome to decorate for Christmas?
Wow!!! Yea….wallpapers got to go!!! I to LOVE that all the beautiful woodwork has been taken care off so lovely!!!! Those fireplaces=swooooon?
Thanks Layla for sharing! Happy weekend?
Lisa
Yeah, I agree on the wall paper and the kitchen. The floors are amazing. I wonder why the door to the left of the fireplace (picture 8) doesn’t match the opening on the right? I’d change that and , as someone else said, make the kitchen more vintage looking.
I agree. What’s up with that opening left of the fireplace? And also no more wallpaper and redo kitchen. Wonder what the bathrooms are like? And I would give more weight to the entry stairs on the front porch, nix the wrought iron. Awesome price if you want to live in a small town! Not a lot of work to make it awesome!
Good find, Layla!
Omg, this is like my dream house! Minus the walpaper lol i love the intricate woodwork. You dont see stuff like that anymore. And the staircase! The pocket doors! The fireplaces. *swoon* the beautiful windows and trim. The porch is the icing on the cake, really.
I’m a wood painter but I totally agree, can’t paint that wood. It is beautiful.
I’m impressed that all the original woodwork, pocket doors etc are all still in place and like you said, unpainted! It would take serious sweat equity to remove all that wall paper, but what a beauty one would have for less than 180,000! I hope the house finds a new caretaker soon.
I live 4 hours away from Villisca, Iowa. for me the only thing I like in the house is the doors.
Lord have mercy, EIGHT axe murders?! That had to be a quarter of the town population!! This house is a beauty, though. How neat that’s it only had four owners. They’ve definitely taken care of it. The staircase is my favorite part of the house, I think.
Gorgeous home. It’s so well maintained. Gorgeous woodwork. I agree, the 80s pink and blue wallpaper is not my thing but even the wallpaper looks brand new. I hope the home gets a great family to continue caring for it.
Speaking for the state of Iowa…we would love to have you relocate!
$179,900!! There are 300 sq ft condos selling for $400,000 in my city. Yikes, that price seems incredible
So pretty, but you lost me at the eight ax murders….holy “forever locking the doors and looking out the windows” hell! Now maybe if you could jack it up, put it on a trailer and tow it to another far away location….? 🙂 Have a great weekend!
Oh wow!! How surprised I was to see you showcase a house just 20 miles away from me!! Villisca is a sweet little town, just an hour from Omaha. Thanks so much for giving a shout-out to the Midwest… sometimes our hidden small town charm is often overlooked. 😉
PS – the murders happened in 1912… so I think it’s safe to say, whoever did it, is long gone.
The home is beautiful with the gorgeous woodwork down to the magnificent staircase. I would love to see the other rooms (bath, bedrooms). You can tell it was only owned by (4) families by the condition and cleanliness. They definitely took pride and ownership of this wonderful mansion. I wish we could keep more of these type homes alive in America!
All that fretwork (I think that’s the right term) is gorgeous. And the wood looks so lustrous. And that’s a steal of a price although I don’t want to live in Iowa. Thanks for sharing Layla.
What an absolutely beautiful home!! We bought a similar, though on a much smaller scale, home in 1973 in north Missouri, very near the Iowa border. The leaded-glass windows, pocket doors, style of woodwork are exactly like ours! We had transoms over several of the interior doors and all of the exterior ones. We loved the home and were only newly-weds when bought it – paid a whopping $11,500 for it!! We lived there for almost exactly 20 years! When we moved to south Missouri, we had three teenagers, so many memories in that home.
Out with the wallpaper, in with a better kitchen that has marble in it and get rid of the popcorn ceilings. Love the floors!!!!!
Do you have a link to the listing?
Yep! It’s right up there in the post, Marianne. 🙂
Absolutely stunning! I grew up just over the line in Missouri and had never heard of this town. It would be interesting to have the opportunity to upgrade this property. I don’t think the updated kitchen fits in at all but I’m not sure what I’d do given the opportunity. Yes, the wallpaper is dragging it down and I’m with you all the way on not painting that delectable woodwork! Thanks for sharing!
Wow, gorgeous. Living near Toronto Canada where a < 1,000 sq ft house costs $600,000.00, that would be a dream come true.
Ohhh…yes…a great find…love the wood and fretwork (is that what it’s called?)…the kitchen…just ok…and the wallpaper…too 80s for me…but oh, yes that wood(!)
Love the woodwork. Definitely should not ever be painted. It’s a little ornate for my taste (I like craftsman style better), but still a beautiful home.
I’ve seen this “kitchen upgrade” in old houses in our Lumber Baron Days homes around town. I always wonder….what did they tear out that they deemed ugly or disfunctional? Wish I had the rejects.
Wow, what a price! You can’t buy a shed for that in Northern California.
Well, it looks like I need to move to Iowa!
LOVE the amazing fretwork! Beautiful home with lots of potential! I definitely would get rid of the wallpaper and brighten it up!
I would re-do that kitchen in woodwork to match the woodwork in the home and remove the wallpaper. Other than that, it’s perfect.
Love the house, but maybe the ceilings are plaster and not popcorn? Can you imagine having someone try to lay those floors today? They are awesome! Did you say unheated?
Love the house! All that original woodwork is stunning. That kitchen is crying out for a re-do with an inset door style though and some marble (or quartz that looks like marble) countertops!
I’m originally from Iowa so this house really pulls at my heartstrings. Nothing better than growing up in small town Iowa where people are kind, work hard, and most important love Jesus. Thanks for sharing.