Pella Historical Society Windmill

Casey’s General Stores has offered to donate the land where a current store operates to Pella Historical Society & Museums (PHSM).

At a Pella Historical Society board meeting Friday, the board voted unanimously to accept Casey’s offer and has formed a committee to make recommendations for the use of the space.

The land is on the northwest side of the square in Pella and sits next to the Scholte House Museum, the home of Pella’s founder, H.P. Scholte and his wife, Maria. The property has been a gas station since the late 1920s, when it was sold off from the original Scholte-owned grounds.

“This is an unexpected and tremendous gift, and a generous one,” says Lori Ellingson, PHSM Board President. “We’ll be looking at lots of options on using the property.”

This Casey’s store is one of three that will be closing when the new Casey’s store approved by the Pella City Council on South Main Street opens next spring.

“It is so exciting to be getting a piece of land that was part of the original Scholte estate,” says Valerie Van Kooten, PHSM Director. “After 90 years, it’s back together.”

As part of the donation, Casey’s General Stores will remove the underground storage tanks, the gas pumps, and the canopy, as well as the building, if PHSM decides not to use it. In addition, Casey’s must comply with all EPA requirements concerning the soil around the underground tanks.