Decorah Historic Preservation Commission Award

Posted: May 13, 2024 in City News

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The Decorah Historic Preservation Commission will present its 2024 Preservation Award to Dean and Lois Humpal and their daughter Chanda for their efforts to preserve and renovate more than a dozen historic homes in Decorah over the past twenty years.

The public is invited to attend the award ceremony on Wednesday, May 22 from 4:00 until 5:30 p.m. at Decorah Municipal Center, 400 W. Claiborne Dr., in the City Council Chambers.  The ceremony will begin shortly after 4:00 p.m. and will include a slideshow of many of the Humpals’ renovated Decorah homes. Light refreshments will be served.

The couple’s first major project in Decorah was converting the 1910 Queen Anne style home at 305 W. Broadway from a duplex into a fully-appointed bed and breakfast with four guest rooms and a luxury suite. With the help of their children and contractors, they completed the work in just six months, opening the B&B on Broadway in time to host guests at Luther College’s 2006 graduation.

Although neither Dean nor Lois had any formal training in construction, they grew up on farms where “both of us learned how to fix things and to work hard,” Lois commented. They also learned from contractors – working alongside them in many cases. They involved Chanda and their other five children in much of the renovation work.

When renovating historic homes, the Humpals try to preserve any unique features, update basic systems, and keep changes appropriate to a home’s time period. Their modifications generally include added insulation, updated wiring and plumbing, refinished original floors, remodeled kitchens and bathrooms, fresh paint, and landscaping. Some work is done by them, some by contractors, and some with both  working side by side.

Lois, Dean and Chanda have lived in many of the homes they’ve renovated.  They currently reside in a 1938 International Style/Art Deco duplex at 608 Vernon St. that was designed by Decorah architect Charles Altfillisch. They purchased and began renovating it in 2021. They’ve also owned and renovated two other Altfillisch-designed homes at 401 E. Broadway and 302 Upper Broadway, both of which they’ve since sold.

“The Humpals seem driven by their passions for historic homes, antiques, and an admiration of the outstanding craftsmanship one finds in many older homes,” noted commissioner Judy van der Linden. “Our preservation award celebrates their impressive contribution to Decorah’s  visual streetscape since they began their first historic home renovation in 2006. I hope the public will join us on May 22 to recognize them,”  she continued.

The Decorah Historic Preservation Commission is a state-certified city board established in 2007 to promote the public’s educational and economic welfare through the recognition of historic sites. The DHPC has given an annual award since 2008. For a list of previous awards, see Award Recipients – City of Decorah Iowa (decorahia.org).

Contact the commission by email at: historicpreservation@decorahia.org.

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