Israel Beetison House

The Israel Beetison House was built in 1874. The site, located on the south side of Ashland, was built by its namesake, Israel Beetison, who immigrated from England. The residence became significant for its unique Italianate architectural style, a style not common in Nebraska during the time period that it was built. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1977. The abode was bought by Boyer-Young in 1999 and the surrounding land became the Iron Horse housing development as well as a golf course. The home was partially destroyed by a fire on April 12, 2022.

Israel Beetison, born August 26, 1836, immigrated from England in 1844. He was christened in York, England, three months after his birth on November 13, 1836. His citizenship was naturalized in Massachusetts as of 1858. Beetison married Amelia Holland in Hampden, Massachusetts, on April 2, 1864. During his time in Massachusetts, it is recorded that he was a goods merchant. Between 1865 and 1870, Beetison settled in Saunders County, Nebraska. At the time he arrived, Beetison was part of one of the largest immigrant movements to Nebraska, as between 1870 and 1890, almost one million people traveled from the eastern United States, and other countries to settle in Nebraska. One of the reasons that many settlers, like Beetison, came to Nebraska was because of the Homestead act. The Homestead act became law in 1862 and it provided 160 acres of land to a citizen if they were able to pay a $10 fee. Many moved west to claim their own land. 

Positioned near the historical Ox-Bow Trail, Beetison began the construction of the home in 1874. The local quarry became a source for the limestone and other materials used in the construction process and was transported by horse and buggy. Beetison paid the Dalton brothers and other local masons to complete the dwelling until its completion in 1875. Israel Beetison died in 1907 at the age of 70, he was buried in Ashland Cemetery. 

The building became significant because of its unique Italianate style of architecture, which was not common in Nebraska as the settlement of wilderness territory was usually associated with economic difficulty. One of the distinguishing features of the residence is the “cupola”, a dome-like structure crowing the building that allowed the inhabitants to observe the surrounding area. Other features include segmentally-arched windows, stone corners, and bracketed moldings below the ceiling. 

The residence became a part of the National Register of Historic Places on April 18, 1977. The significance of the site according to the National Register of Historic Places was the intricate architectural style that made it one of the best examples of an Italianate dwelling in Nebraska. The Italianate style was developed in Britain by John Nash, in 1802. The Italian Renaissance-era architecture inspired many aspects of the style. Characterizing elements of the Italianate Style include cupolas, masonry blocks in the corners of walls, cornices, and low, flat roofs. The style became prominent in the Eastern United States in the 1840s, however, it slowly became more popular west of the Appalachian Mountains over time. 

The home was sold to Boyer-Young in 1999, and the land around it became the Iron Horse housing development and the Iron Horse Golf Course. The building was left vacant and boarded up. Melissa Dirr Gengler and Mike Eisenbarth were hired to evaluate and assess the property, with the goal of restoration. They concluded that total renovation would be required and estimated repairs between $750,000 and $900,000 with the possibility of additional costs. On April 12, 2022, the Israel Beetison house was subject to a devastating fire and was damaged beyond repair. The event is currently under investigation. 

“City of Ashland - Beetison House.” Accessed April 14, 2022. https://www.ashland-ne.com/vnews/display.v/SEC/Residents

KLKN-TV. “Historic Beetison House Deemed a Total Loss after Overnight Fire,” April 12, 2022. https://www.klkntv.com/historic-beetison-house-deemed-a-total-loss-after-overnight-fire/.

MyHeritage. “Israel Beetison - MyHeritage Family Trees.” Accessed April 14, 2022. https://records-myheritagelibraryedition-com.leo.lib.unomaha.edu/research/record-1-383080522-1-500233/israel-beetison-in-myheritage-family-trees

National Register of Historic Places, Israel Beetison House, Ashland, Saunders County, Nebraska, 77000839.

“NH1989Historic_Places.Pdf.” Accessed April 14, 2022. https://history.nebraska.gov/sites/history.nebraska.gov/files/doc/publications/NH1989Historic_Places.pdf

Sanborn Fire Insurance Map from Ashland, Saunders County, Nebraska. Sanborn Map Company, De, 1912. Map. Retrieved from the Library of Congress, <www.loc.gov/item/sanborn05141_004/>.

Yallop, R. 2017. “Villa Rustica, Villa Suburbana: Vernacular Italianate Architecture in Britain, 1800-1860.” PhD thesis, University of Oxford.