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www.driftlessjournal.com | news@driftlessjournal.com | 563-382-4221 | Tuesday, August 1, 2023 | Vol. 5 Issue 31
Restoring a piece of history
‘Horn House’ renovation preserves structural integrity
Opening ceremonies
A vintage photograph taken in front of the Horn House was captured at a Christmas party back in 1872. The historic Winneshiek County home is being renovated and will be featured on a nationally-known cable network. (Photo courtesy Winneshiek County Historical Society) By Roz Weis
Why would a nationallyknown cable television network select a Driftless area home to feature during a renovation for an upcoming broadcast? Danielle Dotzenrod of Decorah credits the rich, significant history of her rural Decorah home, which dates back to the mid-1800s. The details about the renovation are being kept top secret for the time being, as a production team completes filming. Danielle grew up on her grandfather’s dairy farm in Winneshiek County. At age 16, she represented the United States in an international modeling competition. Her career blossomed, and after working as a fashion model in New York, she became a television host in Los Angeles. She has since returned to northeast Iowa and has been working on other renovation projects
in the area with her dad, Jimmy Dotzenrod. Those efforts have included the transformation of a 1973 train caboose into a rental property. Her company, BEHUMANE, sells leather to designers sourced from ranches having high animal welfare and regenerative agriculture standards. Historical significance The historical Horn House, which boasts an old ballroom, complete with original piano, has sat empty for the past several years, and the ongoing remodeling has been challenging. Danielle said she spent the winter and spring months doing what she calls “destruction/discovery” and is now in “construction” mode. “Everyone who has had the house has loved it, and they’ve done their best with improvements,” Dotzenrod said. “But it was time for a full-blown remodel.” Dotzenrod is passionate about the historical importance of the residence. “I’ve learned so much about this house,” she exclaimed. “This is the only house of its kind on
the National Historic Registry in Winneshiek County that is situated in the rural countryside,” she said, “as opposed to being in Decorah or in town.” The house was built by English immigrant Henry Harcourt Horn back in 1869. It is situated a few miles northwest of Decorah. The residence has a detailed, rich history. Horn wrote a book about settling here in Winneshiek County, and he penned several pages about the home’s construction. The book’s title is “An English Colony in Iowa” and tells the story of the voyage to America, the journey westward and much more. His riveting musings about the train ride to Chicago, Ill., and Milwaukee and Prairie du Chien, Wis., were capped by his first view of the mighty Mississippi River. Horn’s travels by train ended in Ridgeway, where he found a “Concord Coach” waiting to take him and several other passengers on a one-hour
Nordic Fest 2023 opened with a flair Thursday night, July 27, in front of the Winneshiek County Courthouse. Paul Ulvilden of Decorah ceremoniously opened the Fest (top). Junior Nordic Dancers were among the performers. (Driftless Multimedia photos by Roz Weis) More photos inside!
Horn House
continued on page 8
Country on the Creek Aug. 19
The fifth annual Country on the Creek outdoor music festival in Waterville is set for Saturday, Aug. 19. This year, co-headliners Cory Farley and Ashley Wineland will offer up great country music in Waterville as part of their respective 2023 national concert tours. Event gates open at 4 p.m., and bands start around 5 p.m. Special guests Smoking Gun Showdown and Annie Ellingson round out the festival’s top-notch line-up. Ellingson is a Waukon resident and high school student getting a shot at the stage who plays high energy country with confidence far beyond her years. Waterville Mayor Dave Monserud relayed the town’s excitement for the festival, “We have a great show planned this year, take advantage of our Cory Farley will co-headline Country on the Creek outdoor music festival Aug. 19. (submitted photo)
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Country on the Creek
continued on page 2
Andrea Gibbs of Waukon gets a few licks from her show cow at the Allamakee County Fair, held July 19-23 in Waukon. (Driftless Multimedia photo by Jennifer Bissel) More photos inside!
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