Many people who live in large cities have numerous places to go to find out about history of their area. Museums are a good place to start. But sometimes in smaller communities one has to search for history, especially if you do not live within the community. I came across the Ring House in Mapleton, Iowa, over the summer. It was the first frame built house in Maple Valley and utilized black walnut wood for the construction. The home was later moved from its original location to within Mapleton proper for preservation.
I find any look back into history an interesting endeavor. The owner of the home came from the East Coast, New York state, in the 1850’s. There are some original furnishings in the home, which a simple two-room lower with smaller rooms upstairs. It seems the idea of McMansions in those early pioneer days in the Midwest was not on everyone’s minds.
The information within the home gives people another glimpse of early life on the prairie and about the people who took the risk and populated the region. As an old saying goes, “You don’t know where you are going if you don’t know where you have been.” History is something people never really think about or search out, which is sad, because even though it is always there, one has to look for it or it just disappears.
Jerry Mennenga
Sioux City, Iowa
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- The Ring House was the first frame house built in Maple Valley using black walnut in construction, is now located in Mapleton, Iowa, Saturday July 4, 2015. (Photo by Jerry Mennenga©)
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- The main parlor and sitting room in the Ring House, the first frame house built in Maple Valley using black walnut in construction, is now located in Mapleton, Iowa, Saturday July 4, 2015. (Photo by Jerry Mennenga©)
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- This piece of furniture traveled with William Ring and his bride as they made their way to Iowa where he built the Ring House, the first frame house built in Maple Valley using black walnut in construction, is now located in Mapleton, Iowa, Saturday July 4, 2015. (Photo by Jerry Mennenga©)
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- The coin silver tea set was given to the City of Mapleton for display by descendants of William Ring’s family, the builder and first owner of the Ring House, the first frame house built in Maple Valley using black walnut in construction, is now located in Mapleton, Iowa, Saturday July 4, 2015. (Photo by Jerry Mennenga©)
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- William Ring, the owner of the Ring House, the first frame house built in Maple Valley using black walnut in construction, is now located in Mapleton, Iowa, Saturday July 4, 2015. (Photo by Jerry Mennenga©)
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- Guests visit the Ring House during the 2015 Fourth of July celebration. This home was the first frame house built in Maple Valley using black walnut in construction, is now located in Mapleton, Iowa, Saturday July 4, 2015. (Photo by Jerry Mennenga©)
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