Two local southeast Iowa historic properties are among eight recipients statewide of Iowa Rural Heritage Revitalization Grants awarded by the Iowa Economic Development Authority’s State Historic Preservation Office, according to a press release from Preservation Iowa.
The Bonnifield Log Cabin in Fairfield and the Presbyterian Church in Bentonsport each received grants of up to $150,000 to support preservation and rehabilitation work. The funding marks Iowa’s first award through the competitive federal program since 2020, with the State Historic Preservation Office receiving 13 applications requesting more than $1.4 million — nearly twice the funding available — before selecting eight recipients totaling $750,000.
The Bonnifield Log Cabin in Fairfield is recognized as Iowa’s oldest surviving two-story log house and is considered one of Jefferson County’s most significant historic landmarks. The Presbyterian Church in Bentonsport is one of the historic structures that defines the character of the Villages of Van Buren County, a collection of 19th century river towns along the Des Moines River.
The grants are funded through the National Park Service’s Paul Bruhn Historic Revitalization Grant Program and support the rehabilitation of historic properties listed on the National Register of Historic Places in rural Iowa communities with fewer than 50,000 residents. Eligible applicants included nonprofit organizations, local and county governments, and federally recognized tribal councils. Recipients are required to provide a 30 percent cash match, comply with federal historic preservation requirements, and follow the Secretary of the Interior’s Standards and Guidelines for Archeology and Historic Preservation.
Iowa Economic Development Authority Director Debi Durham said the investment goes beyond preserving the past. “Historic buildings help tell the story of a community, but they’re also part of its future,” Durham said. “By investing in their preservation, we’re helping communities create opportunities for businesses, residents and visitors while keeping these places active and relevant for future generations.”
The Villages of Van Buren County Economic Development organization congratulated those involved in the Bentonsport church’s selection, calling it a well-deserved recognition of the community’s commitment to preserving the history that makes the Villages of Van Buren County special.
The other six statewide recipients were the Chicago, Rock Island and Pacific Railroad Depot in Atlantic, the Former Beaconsfield Supply Store in Beaconsfield, the Former Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Fort Dodge, the Harcourt Community Center in Harcourt, the Lidtke Mill Complex in Lime Springs, and Fairview Church in Wapello.
