Historic homes of Pella have long family connections with Central College. The Prins House, 906 Independence, is one such home that will avoid demolition and be preserved in the Collegiate Neighborhood Historic District.
The City of Pella’s Historic Preservation Commission and the Pella Preservation Trust (formerly Historic Pella Trust) proposed a solution to Central to protect the house. The property had extensive water damage after a pipe burst in December 2022 affecting all three floors of the 1980 addition to the home. Central applied for a demolition permit from the city which instigated the conversation and eventual decision to donate the property to the Pella Preservation Trust.
Bruce Boertje, Pella historian and 1979 Central graduate, explains the Prins House serves as an unofficial anchor and gateway to the Collegiate Neighborhood Historic District. The Historic District is recognized by the National Register of Historic Places and has the distinction of being the first Historic District organized in Pella.
“On behalf of the Historic Preservation Commission, we are grateful to Central College in general, and President Mark Putnam in particular, as well as the Board of Trustees, for their willingness to help preserve this historic property,” Boertje says. “The community can rightly be proud of the college’s efforts to safeguard a significant part of Pella’s heritage. Not only the home, but its location in a historic district, is significant. The property will continue to tell its story for years to come.”
“The strength of this community pulling together continues to amaze me. Much like the creativity and partnership involved with the former Boardwalk house, we appreciate the vision of Pella’s Historic Preservation Commission and the Pella Preservation Trust to propose a way to revitalize the building,” says Mark Putnam, president of Central.
Pella Preservation Trust President Ann Vander Streek Summitt, Central Class of 1977, stated, “We are beyond thrilled to receive this incredible piece of Pella history. The future of this beautiful home will remain in good hands. Thank you to Central for making this happen, as well as perpetuating this piece of Pella’s history.”
Central Connections
The history of the 906 Independence home validates its connection to Central beginning in 1917 when Albert and Nettie Van Houweling purchased the 10-year-old home from Jelle and Minnie Jelsma. Albert graduated from Central in 1905 and began his 44-year-long career on Central’s Board of Trustees.
Around 1945, the Van Houwelings moved out and their only child, Elva Mae, and her husband, Martin Heerema, resided in the home with their children, Doug Heerema, Class of 1961; Martin “Bruce” Heerema, Class of 1963; and Jane Tempel. Martin and Elva Mae Van Houweling Heerema were both Central Class of 1934 graduates who majored in mathematics. Mart served as Central’s vice president of financial affairs for eight years. Martin “Tim” Heerema, Class of 1988, currently serves on the Central Board of Trustees, following in his father Bruce’s and grandfather Mart’s commitment to serve on the Central Board of Trustees.
Hospers and Joyce Huibregtse Kuyper, Classes of 1936 and 1939, purchased the home from the Heeremas and raised four children. All were Central graduates: Jon Quentin Kuyper, Class of 1964; Ruth Ellen Kuyper, Class of 1965; Susan Kuyper, Class of 1970; and Lois Kuyper-Rushing, Class of 1977.
The Kuypers sold the property to Central in 1977 and it became housing for the college’s growing student body. It was known as the International House where international students lived with American roommates to help acquaint them with campus and Pella. It was expanded to accommodate 30 students in 1980 and served as campus housing into the 2010s.
In 1981, Central renamed Kuyper House to the Harriet Prins House after Dean of Students Prins. She and her husband Tunis served Central and the Pella community for 24 years. Tunis was director of athletics and professor of physical education from 1938 until his death in 1949. That same year, Harriet became residence director of Graham Hall and later dean of women. The Prins children — Joyce Prins Schneider, Class of 1948, and T. David Prins, Class of 1952, and his wife, Gloria Fleming Prins, Class of 1953, of Bellevue, Washington — established a scholarship in her name.
More Than 100 Years Later
The Pella Preservation Trust and the Historic Preservation Commission worked together to identify the Collegiate Neighborhood Historic District and to have it placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2017. With such a rich history, it is appropriate that the home is located in the nationally recognized Collegiate Neighborhood Historic District. The district features many prominent homes with a variety of outstanding architectural styles that represent not only the owner’s tastes at the time of construction but the prestige of being located near Central.
The Trust anticipates finding a suitable owner for the property who will likely remove the water-damaged addition and retain the original, historic portion of the house and return it to a single-family home.
The Pella Preservation Trust/Historic Pella Trust is a local nonprofit organization whose mission statement reads: To Preserve and Promote Buildings, Sites and Landscapes Important to the Heritage of Pella, Iowa.
Photo caption: Members of Pella’s Historic Preservation Commission and the Pella Preservation Trust joined Central College President Mark Putnam on the porch of the Prins House as the property changed ownership.
First row: Dody Boat, 2005 honorary alumna; Ann Vander Streek Summitt, Central Class of 1977; and Pella City Council member Lynn Hinga Branderhorst, Central Class of 1979.
Second row: Central President Mark Putnam; Rhonda Hiemstra Kermode, Central Class of 2004; Bruce Boertje, Central Class of 1979; Wayne Stienstra, Central Class of 1973; and Bob Zylstra.
