Questions linger as smoke dissipates
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Aunt Jennie’s House – This was the original house out there, it was not moved in. Photo by Mike Avitt taken about 2010.
The fire that burned down the original farm house at Ramsey Farms on Sunday, January 19, left many questioning why anyone was living or staying there at the time.
Initially reported at 5:49 p.m., first responders interacted with an unidentified male south of the house on fire. He reported the woman who was staying at Aunt Jennie’s house went to the pavilion to keep warm after the house caught on fire.
The most recent caretaker of Ramsey Farms, Debra Weaver, passed away December 27 last year, and memorial services were recently held Thursday, January 2 at the Blockton Christian Church.
Mount Ayr Record News staff made several phone calls and learned from Paul Ramsey Jr. that Laura Vaughn, Weaver’s daughter, was staying there the night it burned down. Vaughn had been living with Weaver prior to her passing, and was still on the property.
The two of them had provided catering, bar tending and party set up at Ramsey Farms over the years. Although the pavilion was no longer being rented out for events, any rental arrangements made for the bed and breakfast houses in 2024 were still being honored.
A space heater was initially believed to be the source of the fire, although Ed Rotert stated they were still investigating the incident.
While Aunt Jennie’s house was a total loss, the carriage house, Lesan Heritage House, and Lesanville Inn are still standing along with the church and school, although they have fallen into disrepair since the hail storm last spring.
The Ramsey Farm Foundation currently owns the historic farm, pays the property taxes, and insurance for any of the structures located in that location.
A long term lease with The Ramsey Group was arranged prior to Paul Ramsey Sr. passing away in 2015. The agreement allowed Ramsey’s two sons, Patrick A. Ramsey and Michael Paul Ramsey (Paul Ramsey Jr.), to facilitate and manage any rental agreements for at least 20 years.
History of Ramsey Farms at Lesanville
August 2, 2001- Paul Ramsey’s dream of creating a 1930’s era historical farm was announced and shared with surrounding communities. Ramsey Farm began as the homestead of David Lesan in 1856. He was one of several Lesans who migrated from Sebac, Maine via oxen driven covered wagons in 1855. The Lesans collectively purchased 600 acres for $1.25 an acre, and Lesanville was settled. David Lesan constructed the front portion of the existing eight-room frame house later occupied by George and Jennie Lesan Vance from 1918 to 1956. Known to Ramsey as “Aunt Jennie’s House,” the two-story Prairie Gothic style farm house, “Uncle George’s Barn,” originally built in 1928 by Carl Hogue, and 120 acres of farmland became the site of Ramsey Farm. Joe Routh donated the Mountain Brush School House to Ramsey Farm.
August 8-16, 2001- A two-story Victorian farm house constructed by Burrit M Lesan in 1904 and donated by Don and Edna Small, was moved to Lesanville. Ramsey’s grandparents, Burrit and Molly Lesan, raised seven children in the house and lived there until 1923. Hugh and Cleo Lesan and their sons Richard and Marvin made the house their home between 1924 to 1942. The restored house was to become “The Heritage House” and museum.
December, 2001- The Prairie Gothic style farm house built by George Axtell in 1903, was donated by Ron Bice and moved east of Aunt Jennie’s house across the road to serve as a bed and breakfast. The Bice family had purchased the farm and house from the Axtell family in the 1990’s. A $12,500 matching grant from the Department of Cultural Affairs was received to help with electrical, plumbing and interior renovations of the Lesan house.
March 14, 2002- The Ramsey Farm Foundation invited assistance from the community to complete the development of the farm at Lesanville by the spring of 2003. Donations of additional historical buildings, farm machinery and furnishings were sought.
Spring/Summer, 2003 – Ramsey Farms hosted the first wedding at Lesanville and tours started in October of 2003.
Fall, 2004 – The first fall festival was held at Ramsey Farms in 2004, and became an annual event with festivals held through 2007. Harvest time activities included hayrack rides, cider making, horseshoeing, antique farm machinery demonstrations, Model A Ford rides, rug weaving, crafts and food.
October, 2007 – The Heritage House meeting room at Ramsey Farms was completed and became available to rent. Seating for roughly 85 people and dinners were available by reservation.
December, 2008 – A Christmas open house was held at Ramsey Farms on Saturday, December 3, 2005.
Circa 2015 – The first mention of the new pavilion reception hall and commercial kitchen facility that accommodated groups of up to 250 people was around Thanksgiving of 2015.
Grants Fueled Growth- Several grants helped restore various Ramsey Farm buildings at Lesanville. An Iowa Department of Cultural Affairs grant in the amount of $12,500
In May of 2023, a Vision Iowa, Community Attraction and Tourism (CAT) grant provided $100,000 in assistance to help restore the existing buildings of the 180-acre heritage farm/village. The grant was matched by funds from the Ramsey Farm Foundation. The city of Mount Ayr and Ringgold County also provided $2,500 in pass-through grants to satisfy the grant matching requirements.
We had a lot of Beede family reunions at the Ramsey Farm and I love the place! I was just wanting to see how much damage was done to the Ramsey house in the fire. Thank you Darci
You can also see the article from last week that had a picture of the fire – nothing was left of Aunt Jennie’s House but the foundation.