This home on Washington Street in Bonaparte, Iowa, was listed for sale as of December 2016. (photo/Cindy Hadish)
A magazine assignment took me to Bonaparte, and although the subject of the story wasn’t historic preservation, I was immediately captivated by the stunning architecture in this town of just over 400 people in southeastern Iowa.
Stained glass windows add character to the Meek Mansion in Bonaparte, Iowa. (photo/Cindy Hadish)
One mansion followed another and another, leading to a scenic historic district along the riverfront.
Randy and Pamela Pittman were so struck by the architecture of one home that they uprooted themselves from New Mexico and moved to Iowa, a place they had never even visited before, to buy the historic mansion.
The seven-bedroom home was built in the 1860s to 1870s by a leading Bonaparte businessman, Robert Meek, whose family started the town’s mills.
With more than 4,000 square feet of living space, the home was in disrepair when the Pittmans purchased it, but they saw potential in its magnificent grand staircase, stained glass windows, hardwood floors and pocket doors.
A metal floor grate is shown inside the Meek Mansion in Bonaparte. (photo/Cindy Hadish)
Randy began with repairs to the roof, which had been leaking, but the two know much more remains to be done.
“It’s a work in progress,” Randy said.
Read about the history of Bonaparte in this piece by the Van Buren County Historical Society and see images of some of the grand homes of Bonaparte, as well as the Bonaparte Baptist Church and inside the Meek Mansion, below. (photos © Cindy Hadish/Homegrown Iowan)
More about Bonaparte can be found on the town’s website.
Wow beautiful houses Cindy!
They are! The boys said I should buy the one that’s for sale. It’s tempting!
What\’s the status of this house? We\’ve watched it for years and hoped that somebody would be saving it! What a masterpiece!
Good question, William! I’ll see if I can find out.
It sounds like they are selling the mansion. I’m not sure of the asking price.
I was hoping to see pictures of all or most of the mansions. Old houses are a particular passion of mine. I’ve looked at the Meek Mansion a number of times on Zillow. It’s filed in my head under “dreams if I had the money”. I love the space around it. I’m a huge gardener and an artist. The town seems like a charming oasis too. It’s perfect for me, if I had the money lol. It’s always in the back of my mind because of how much I love it .
Thanks for your note, Lyla! There are several mansions in these photos if you scroll through. I was only able to go inside one, so will hopefully return to see more. 🙂