Scholte Gardens

The Scholte Home is the first, and oldest, structure to be constructed by the Hollanders upon their arrival at Pella. Dominie Henry Scholte was the spiritual and administrative leader of the Dutch immigrants who arrived at the site of Pella in late summer 1847. Initially, Scholte took up residence in an existing log cabin which was located near the middle of Central Park. He had purchased it and some of the surrounding land from pioneers Thomas and Nancy Tuttle.

Scholte initially had nine blocks of the town surveyed and platted in a 3 x 3 grid, with Central park (and his log cabin) in the center. This platting allowed him to determine the location for his new home and to promptly begin construction on it. Since there were no sawmills yet operating in the area, construction materials for this home were hauled by horse and wagon, much of it from as far away as Keokuk. This home was completed in March 1848 and Scholte and his family promptly moved in.

The large, elegant home was built to fulfill a promise to his wife, Maria. Scholte had to entice her to leave both Holland and big city life behind, and move to the wild frontier of Iowa. Recall that less than five years before this area was still the domain of Native Americans. Settlers were not allowed prior to April 1843. The home was placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1982. Today the home is the property of the Pella Historical Society.