Norris Miller Stovewood House, Decorah, IA (2)
**Miller, Norris, House** - National Register of Historic Places Ref # 76000814, date listed 6/8/1976
118 N. Mill St.
Decorah, IA (Winneshiek County)
Vesterheim Heritage Park on Vesterheim’s campus includes 12 historic buildings in an open-air setting. The buildings depict the story of immigration, showcasing life in Norway in the 1800s and then life for immigrants in America. The park is a forested area, interspersed with glade-like openings that act as outdoor rooms.
Norris Miller Stovewood House
Decorah, Iowa (1855-56)
Originally located on the west side of Decorah, this house is a rare example of stovewood construction, using short lengths of wood and mortar. This system originated in the mid-1800s, apparently in Canada. Norwegian immigrants who returned to Norway introduced the construction technique around 1900 in Norway. With exterior siding, a parlor, and closets, this house exemplified fashionable town living. Vesterheim acquired it because of its unique architecture—it is the only example known to exist in Iowa. (1)
The Miller Stovewood House (1856) is one of three known dwellings of this type in the United States. At one point there were two other known houses of similar construction in Decoran, one was torn down twenty years ago, the other little over a year ago. The other two existing dwellings are located in Wisconsin.
The Stovewood House was moved in April of 1976 to the grounds of the Norwegian American Historical Museum where it will be restored as a museum and house of the mid 1800's. The move was the only way to preserve the building after a developer began construction of a series of condominiums on the original site. (2)
References (1) Vesterheim vesterheim.org/exhibits/
(2) NRHP Nomination Form s3.amazonaws.com/NARAprodstorage/lz/electronic-records/rg...
Norris Miller Stovewood House, Decorah, IA (2)
**Miller, Norris, House** - National Register of Historic Places Ref # 76000814, date listed 6/8/1976
118 N. Mill St.
Decorah, IA (Winneshiek County)
Vesterheim Heritage Park on Vesterheim’s campus includes 12 historic buildings in an open-air setting. The buildings depict the story of immigration, showcasing life in Norway in the 1800s and then life for immigrants in America. The park is a forested area, interspersed with glade-like openings that act as outdoor rooms.
Norris Miller Stovewood House
Decorah, Iowa (1855-56)
Originally located on the west side of Decorah, this house is a rare example of stovewood construction, using short lengths of wood and mortar. This system originated in the mid-1800s, apparently in Canada. Norwegian immigrants who returned to Norway introduced the construction technique around 1900 in Norway. With exterior siding, a parlor, and closets, this house exemplified fashionable town living. Vesterheim acquired it because of its unique architecture—it is the only example known to exist in Iowa. (1)
The Miller Stovewood House (1856) is one of three known dwellings of this type in the United States. At one point there were two other known houses of similar construction in Decoran, one was torn down twenty years ago, the other little over a year ago. The other two existing dwellings are located in Wisconsin.
The Stovewood House was moved in April of 1976 to the grounds of the Norwegian American Historical Museum where it will be restored as a museum and house of the mid 1800's. The move was the only way to preserve the building after a developer began construction of a series of condominiums on the original site. (2)
References (1) Vesterheim vesterheim.org/exhibits/
(2) NRHP Nomination Form s3.amazonaws.com/NARAprodstorage/lz/electronic-records/rg...