The Gehlen House and Barn are historic buildings located in St. Donatus, Iowa, United States. Both buildings were built by Peter Gehlen (originally Jahlen), an immigrant from Luxembourg who settled in this area in 1846. He built a flour mill on the Tetes des Mortes Creek in 1848. As other immigrants from Luxembourg settled here they built distinctive houses from the local limestone. Of these the Gehlen house was the most significant.[2] It is located at a crossroads, and because of its size it served as a community center. At one time or another it served as the post office, hotel, and general store. The exterior of the stone house is covered with plaster and features many windows and doorways on the long side, narrow eaves, a low-pitched jerkinhead, and a rear wing. The barn, which sits immediately behind the house is significant as one of the few stone barns in Iowa.[2] The house and barn were listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1979, and were included as contributing properties in the Village of St. Donatus Historic District in 1989.[1]

Gehlen House and Barn
The Gehlen house from behind.
Gehlen House and Barn is located in Iowa
Gehlen House and Barn
Gehlen House and Barn is located in the United States
Gehlen House and Barn
LocationU.S. Route 52
St. Donatus, Iowa
Coordinates42°21′38″N 90°32′23″W / 42.36056°N 90.53972°W / 42.36056; -90.53972
Area1 acre (0.40 ha)
Built1860
Part ofVillage of St. Donatus Historic District (ID89001870)
NRHP reference No.79000901[1]
Added to NRHPJune 18, 1979

References

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  1. ^ a b "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service. March 13, 2009.
  2. ^ a b M.H. Bowers. "Gehlen House and Barn". National Park Service. Retrieved 2016-06-19. with two photos from 1978
 
The Gehlen barn