Pella Historical Society and Museums has announced the donation of property on the north side of the Pella city square from Wells Fargo Bank to the non-profit organization. The property, which sits next to the home of Pella’s founder, Dominie Hendrik Peter Scholte and his wife Maria, was once part of the original Scholte House property.

Wells Fargo closed its Pella branch in August of this year; Pella Historical Society Executive Director Valerie Van Kooten says negotiations started soon afterwards between PHSM and Wells Fargo about a possible donation.

“It is not often that an organization gets to shape the face of the city square, but we have had that opportunity twice in the past three years,” says Van Kooten. “This is an incredible gift and one for which we are immensely grateful.”

“We are so thankful to Wells Fargo for this very generous gift,” says PHSM Board President Chad Vande Lune. “The Board will be making decisions down the road on how to steward this new resource to augment the Scholte House next door and enhance the experience for visitors and members.”

Scholte’s property once extended several blocks north and east, according to Van Kooten. In the 1850s, Scholte deeded the land the Wells Fargo building now stands on to his daughter, Sara Scholte Keables. The Keables built a large house on the property that was razed in the 1960s, when the current building was constructed. Before becoming a Wells Fargo branch, it had served as a doctor’s office, a private residence, and several other bank branches.

No plans have been announced as to what Pella Historical Society intends to do with the space, but Van Kooten says they want to continue enhancing the area on the north side of the Pella square. In the meantime, the facility will be used for extra storage space until more formal plans can be established.

For more about the acquisition, tune into Let’s Talk Pella Friday.