Longview Farm House
After many years and much deliberation, the house in Longview Farm Park is undergoing a facelift – a big one. Above is an artist's rendering of the new addition.
During October 2007, the pre-1970 additions of the house were demolished. The two-story, front portion of the house will undergo some restoration and minor reconstruction. In the rear, a new, low profile addition will be built. The gathering space with retractable walls will be available for small parties and meetings. The offices for the Parks and Recreation Department will also be housed there. Powers Bowersox and Associates is the architect on the project, and Diestelkamp Construction Company is the general contractor.
The area we know today as Longview Farm Park is the remnant of a farm that once encompassed over 350 acres acquired directly from the United States government by the son of a pioneer settler, presumably in the 1820's. The farm was divided several times and passed through the ownership of a few families. The present farm house was originally a story and a half log cabin, thought to be from the 1870’s. By the 1920’s, the log cabin was covered by a white frame house. Through the years, several additions were added to the original house, dividing the space into various rooms and elevations.
After Town & Country purchased the property in 2000, discussions and town hall meetings were held to discuss what to do with the house. Since it was not ADA accessible, and because of its many divided spaces, it was not suitable for City events and meetings. Earlier this year, after long hours and attention given to every detail, the Longview Farm House Subcommittee chose the final plans, and the renovation process began. Construction will continue through next year.
The park will remain open during construction with a new temporary park entrance, west of the tennis court, available for park users during construction. The main park entrance, the upper parking lot and the entire house is a construction zone and closed to the public.
We look forward to the time when the beautiful new gathering space will be open and functional. Thank you for your patience during construction as we await the new and improved Longview Farm House.