A well-known, unique Dutch Colonial home at 9426 Pflumm Rd. in Old Town is being transformed into a great space for Autism from the Start. Although the renovation will include a new addition on the west side, much of the work is restoring the main structure to its original state.

In 1904, on six acres, Frank Legler built the $7,000 home for E.H. Haskin, a prominent Lenexan who co-founded the Farmers State Bank that same year. He lived in the stately home with his wife, Maud, along with daughters Miriam and Genevieve. Haskin served as mayor in the 1920s, owned 320 acres of valuable Johnson County land, and is said to have been the first person in the city to have an automobile. The Haskin family owned the property until 1964, and it has housed several businesses since the 1990s. The home is recognized as an historic site by the Lenexa Historical Society.

Committed to preserving historic details

The Lenexa Historical Society recently got an inside look at the ongoing renovations at the former Haskin House. They learned from the owners that all wood floors, most of the pocket doors and the impressive staircase will be preserved. Exterior window trim will be maintained, the front porch railing is being rebuilt, and all native Kansas plants will be featured in the landscape.

The preservation of historic homes and businesses is sometimes overlooked, but the importance to the community cannot be understated. The exemplary restoration of the Haskin House, by owners Todd and Michelle Macrorie, sets a high standard for others to follow.