The William F. Gieske House at 601 West Lyon Street was placed on the market. The house is one of two Marshall buildings listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

MARSHALL — A new owner with a vision for the future is needed for one of Marshall’s most historic landmarks.

The William F. Gieske House at 601 West Lyon Street was placed on the market in the past month at an asking price of $325,000. Current owner Mark Goodenow said he opted to buy his parents’ home in Iowa since it’s a more practical option for his retirement years.

The house is one of two Marshall buildings listed on the National Register of Historic Places, along with the Masonic Temple on West Main Street.

It was first owned by William Gieske, who also owned the Marshall Milling Company that was located on South Sixth Street at the present-day site of the Turkey Valley Farms processing plant. The home’s history includes 12 years as a hospital until the early 1950s opening of the hospital along South Bruce Street.

Goodenow is one of only two owners in the past 60 years. He purchased the house in 1990, when a Realtor inquired on his behalf and found that the owners at the time were willing to sell.

“I was interested in a Victorian house, and the one on West Lyon had great possibilities,” Goodenow said. “It needed restoration if it was going to last much longer. It became a hobby for me as well as a place to live.”

The home offers more than 4,000 square feet of living space, plus an unrestored carriage house. Goodenow said it’s zoned for commercial use, which means it could function both as a residence and for some types of office-related business.

Prior to listing the property, he looked into the possibility of donating it to either the city of Marshall or the Lyon County Historical Society. Either option would have involved operating costs for insurance, utilities, landscaping and snow removal. It might have required a caretaker who would live on the property.

“The city and the historical society turned me down, so I put it on the market to find a new private owner,” Goodenow said. “I’m encouraged by the number of showings. There’s seems to be interest.”

He hopes that new owners will keep the property in restored condition for many years to come. His work over the past 30 years enabled it to survive while several similar homes that were located on West Redwood Street behind Marshall’s post office were torn down.

“Whenever you sell property you leave it behind, but I hope for the best,” he said. “I’d like someone to come along who loves the house as much as I do, someone who will enjoy its history and its character.”

Since the house was placed on the market, it has been reposted more than a dozen times on social media. Some of those who’ve reposted have called it their “dream home”.

Lyon County Museum Director Jennifer Andries said Goodenow has recently donated some items to the museum. They include a collection of Marshall Milling memorabilia and furniture that’s on display in the museum’s Heritage Room.

She said costs that would have been associated with a historical society purchase were too much to absorb, but she anticipates good results from the real estate market.

“I’m confident about its future,” Andries said. “The house is in very good condition because it had extensive restoration at the right time. Someone who invests money in it is likely to be interested in its history. I hope they’ll open the house for occasional tours and events like Mark did.”

Marshall City Council Member John DeCramer said he looks forward to seeing the Gieske House continue to thrive under new private ownership.

“A city usually doesn’t get involved when it comes to residential property,” DeCramer said. “The goal is to keep homes on the tax rolls. That way they can be enjoyed by owners and generate tax revenue.”