One of Iowa’s Most-Endangered Historic Houses Could Be On It’s Way Out

It's always a sad day when a historic structure is marked as "endangered." Especially a place as beautiful as this Iowa home. It risks demolition soon.

The George House is a spacious home built in 1892 by a farmer and banker Jacob George. It's one of the "most at-risk buildings in the state", according to Preservation Iowa.

Located at 10 Jaro Way in North Liberty, Iowa, this Queen Anne-style beauty is one of the few homes from the 1800s that still has many of its original features intact.

A Bit of Background on Jacob George

Jacob George was a man of many talents, owning over 450 acres of farmland near North Liberty and operating a saw, feed, and sorghum mill, not to mention serving as Vice President of the North Liberty Savings Bank. It's no surprise then that his home was as grand as it was practical, with a wraparound porch and turret on the outside and elegant touches like wood flooring, a staircase, pocket doors, and millwork on the inside.

The Future of the George House

Unfortunately, the George House is facing an uncertain future. The owner of the property, Matt Lepic with Matnic LLC, plans to build two 12-unit residential buildings on the site, which has already been rezoned by the city.

Lepic has said that he's tried to maintain the property and even offered it for free to anyone who could move it to another location. He's been in contact with Cedar Rapids preservation group CR Heritage to try and save the house or at least preserve its heritage, but so far, no luck.

Why the George House Matters

This historic home may not be on the National Register of Historic Places and North Liberty may not have a historic preservation commission like Iowa City, but that doesn't make the George House any less valuable.

And isn't it worth preserving a little piece of our state's history for future generations to enjoy? We found photos from the home's listing from 2014. It's sad this isn't on the historic registry. Let's take a look inside.