Abernathy House

Home sweet home.

Built in 1892 for Moses Henry Abernathy and his wife, Louisa Christina Fritz, this elegant Queen Anne style home is one of Blakesburg’s most treasured landmarks, noted for its turret, wraparound porch, detailed woodwork, and graceful rounded rooms.

The Abernathy family lived in the home for more than seventy-five years, remaining its sole occupants until 1968 when the property was sold outside the family for the first time. Two additional families later called the house home until 2010, when the daily rhythms of family life fell quiet. In the years to follow, it stood quietly maintained but unoccupied. In 2024, the Blakesburg Historical Preservation Society purchased the Abernathy House to preserve this remarkable piece of the community’s heritage and ensure it remains accessible to the public.

Today, the Abernathy House stands alongside the Blakesburg Community Museum as part of a growing historic complex celebrating the people, places, and stories of Blakesburg’s past.

Moses Henry Abernathy (1850–1929)

Born on May 3, 1850, in Agency, Iowa, to John and Lucy Ann (Barnes) Abernathy, Moses Henry became one of Blakesburg's most influential businessmen and community leaders. After moving to Blakesburg as a young man, Abernathy started a livestock buying and shipping business. His early success led him to open a general store in 1879. By 1893 his expanding business required larger quarters, and he built a new store at the corner of Main and State Streets, establishing himself as a central figure in the town’s commercial life.
Abernathy also played an important role in Blakesburg’s financial and civic development. In 1900, he became a founding stockholder and director of the Blakesburg Savings Bank, helping guide the town’s economic future. Appointed Postmaster in 1897 by President William McKinley, Abernathy would purchase property from the Bank in 1909 to construct Blakesburg’s first Post Office, still standing and now home to the Blakesburg Community Museum.
In 1892 Moses’s Queen Annestyle residence symbolized his prosperity and the broader optimism of the late nineteenth century. Today, the Abernathy House preserves the story of Moses and Louisa Abernathy—a partnership whose enterprise, leadership, and commitment to family and community left a lasting mark on the history of Blakesburg.
Louisa Christina Fritz Abernathy (1858–1932)

Born in Blakesburg, Iowa on July 13, 1858 to Austrian immigrant parents Benedict and Anna (Miller) Fritz, Louisa Christina Fritz was raised in a family shaped by hard work, opportunity, and strong values. Her father, Benedict Fritz, immigrated to the United States in 1853 and soon traveled west after hearing reports of gold discoveries in California. Arriving on the Pacific Coast in February 1854, he found success in the gold fields of Placer County before returning to Iowa three years later. Upon his return, he purchased land in Wapello County and married Anna Miller on September 20, 1857. His subsequent financial stability allowed him to provide generously for their family of eight children.
Louisa was the eldest of these eight children. In 1878, she married Moses Henry Abernathy and became an integral part of both the Abernathy household and the Blakesburg community. While her husband built successful business enterprises and served as postmaster, Louisa managed the home, supported his work, and raised their children in the family residence that would later become one of Blakesburg’s most significant historic landmarks. The Abernathy House served as the center of family and community life and today stands preserved as a tangible link to the town’s past.

Abernathy Family

1892 - 1968

On November 28, 1878, Moses Henry Abernathy, then 28, married 20-year-old Louisa Christina Fritz. Together, they became parents to four children, three of whom survived infancy: Achsa Ann, Clara Christine, and Moses Walter Fritz Abernathy.

Following financial success in the livestock and mercantile businesses, Moses and Louisa began the construction of a four-bedroom Queen Anne–style home in 1892 to accommodate their growing family. The residence reflected the comfort and refinement of the period, featuring fireplaces in both the formal and family parlors, as well as in the master bedroom.

An abundance of tall windows filled the first-floor rooms with natural light, while stained glass adorned the principal window of the formal parlor. From the main hall, an open stairway rises gracefully, serving as both a functional passage and a prominent architectural feature. The staircase ascends to a generous mid-landing, where it makes a 180-degree turn before continuing to the second floor. Its open configuration allows light from a tall vertical window on the landing to filter throughout the stairwell, enhancing the sense of height and elegance. Such stairways were hallmarks of Victorian design, intended not only to connect floors but also to convey craftsmanship, refinement, and a welcoming progression through the home. A second-floor bathroom afforded the family the luxury of indoor plumbing and modern conveniences—a notable rarity for a residence of this era.

The Abernathy family lived in the home for more than seventy-five years, remaining its sole occupants until 1968, when the property was sold outside the family for the first time. Two additional families later called the house home until 2010, after which it stood quietly maintained but unoccupied under two subsequent owners.

Kelly Family

1968- 1972

Following the death of Achsa Stutz in the spring of 1968, the Abernathy House was sold in August to John Robert and Joyce May (McMillen) Kelly. According to the property abstract, the purchase price of $10,750 included $3,000 for the home’s furnishings, all of which remained with the property.

Married in Albia in 1959, John and Joyce Kelly moved into the house in the fall of 1968 with their five young children—Kerry, Deborah, Dennis, John, and Robert E., all under the age of nine. Their lively presence is still remembered within the community.

Local recollections indicate that John Kelly served as Blakesburg’s town marshal, while Joyce was a stay-at-home mother. The Kelly family lived in the Abernathy House for less than four years, moving out very early in 1972, after which they left the Blakesburg community. Notably, the Abernathy furnishings remained with the house when the Kellys departed.

Ulin Family

1972 - 2010

Following the Kellys’ departure, the Abernathy House changed hands quickly. In March 1972, Harold C. “Pete” and Donna D. (Hall) Ulin purchased the property for $7,500 according to the abstract. The house was still furnished with original Abernathy furniture.

Married in 1941, Pete and Donna were longtime farmers who raised four children—Gary, Dennis “Danny,” Cheri, and Darcie. Donna had long loved antiques and admired the Abernathy House, so when Pete began to look toward retirement and the house came up for sale in 1972, they became its new owners.

At the time, Cheri and Darcie were still living at home. Cheri, then a high school junior, later married Donnie Sandifer in 1975, with the wedding reception held in the Abernathy House. Darcie, eight years old when the family moved in, had a deep love for horses, which soon became a familiar presence on the property. She continued to live with her parents even after marrying Rodney Reck in 1995. By then, Pete’s health had begun to fail, and Darcie and Rodney remained in the home to help care for him and assist with its upkeep.

The Ulins experienced both joy and loss during their years in the House. Son Danny died in 1977 at age 33--the result of a motorcycle–automobile accident. 22 years later in 1998 Pete passed away at home at age 85, but Donna continued living in their home. Then in 2006, Darcie died after a tragic accident involving one of her horses. She was 42 years old and had lived most of her life in the house. A widow now mourning the loss of a second child, Donna began spending time between her home and the home of her daughter Cheri.

In 2010, the Abernathy furnishings were sold at auction, and Donna had moved into an apartment in Blakesburg. That same year, she lost her remaining son Gary, who passed away from cancer at age 67. Donna and daughter Cheri remained close until Donna’s death in 2017 at the age of 92.

The Ulin family was the final family to live in the Abernathy House, calling it home for 38 years. Their time there is remembered with warmth and fondness by many in the Blakesburg community.

BHPS

2010 - Present

After falling silent for 14 years, the Abernathy House was purchased by the Blakesburg Historical Preservation Society in 2024. With deep respect for the generations of family life that once lived within its walls, the mission was clear: to restore and preserve this remarkable piece of Blakesburg’s heritage and ensure it remains accessible to the public.

Support our continued work to bring the Abernathy House back to life!

Furniture Hunt

We are looking for original Abernathy house furniture! Records show that furniture dating back to the Abernathy family stayed with the house through two sales until it was auctioned off in 2010.

If you know someone with connections to any of the pieces auctioned in 2010, please contact us.
Photos of the House

Photographs are critical in our efforts to piece together the past and understand the lives of those who called the Abernathy house home. These photos are especially valuable to us as we search for original furniture and continue restoration efforts of the rooms.
If you or someone you know has photographs, please contact us.
Volunteer List

BHPS is proud to offer a variety of volunteer opportunities throughout the year, many of which happen at the Abernathy house! Follow us on Facebook for a chance to volunteer or contact us to join our volunteer registry.
Donate

Be a part of history! Help us restore the 1892 Abernathy House to it’s original grandeur and make a donation today. Every contribution, big or small, makes a difference. For those looking to make a permanent impact, contact us directly about sponsoring the restoration of an entire room.