COMSTOCK, Neb. – An effort is underway to preserve a piece of Nebraska pioneer history. The Dowse Sod House, located near Comstock, was built from native sod more than a century ago and still stands strong to this day.
An effort is underway to gather funds to put a new roof on the home, which is listed in the National Register of Historic Places and open to visitors year round.
Tanya Stecker is the granddaughter of Curtis Dowse, who was born and raised in the house. She said the family put wooden shake shingles on the house in 2007, and since that time the battle against woodpeckers putting holes in the roof has been a tough one. Her mom, Dory, did what she could to keep filling holes and patching the roof but its condition has gotten too bad to repair anymore.
That’s when the family began the journey of looking to replace the roof.
“We wanted to go with a synthetic vinyl material to keep the woodpeckers from pecking but still have it look authentic,” Stecker explained.
A Bricks and Mortar grant through the Nebraska Historic Preservation Fund was awarded to assist with the restoration in 2024, in an amount just over $14,000. At the time, the full project including labor was estimated at $17,557.50. The family was prepared to cover the remaining balance beyond the grant funds.
Following a factory shutdown that sent material costs higher, the cost of the project rose to over $26,000.
Because grant guidelines don’t allow a change to materials after being awarded, the picture is clear: the additional $10,000 needs to be raised by June 16 so work can be completed by the end of July, or the grant money will be lost.
“The contractor did everything he could all over the nation,” Stecker explained, “different warehouses, different contractors. (He thought) ‘you know, the soddys’ not very big. He thought, you know, he could come up with the product to be able to put it on and he has not been able to come up with it.”
Sitting at its quaint location along a dirt road outside of Comstock, the home has had an impact far beyond the town, county, and even state.
“There’s people from all over the world that come and sign the register book. It’s just a neat piece of history, because there aren’t hardly any original soddys left standing,” said Stecker.
Underneath its deteriorating roof, the house has had its walls plastered during its lifetime and is the definition of structurally sound. Visitors in the summer months marvel at how comfortable it is inside despite the lack of modern cooling.
“.. and it’s in great condition. My grampy, Curtis Dowse, he would talk about (how) ‘It’s better now than when mama lived here’,” Stecker laughed.
Those who want to see the Dowse Sod House get a ‘new hat on its head’ can donate to the Dowse Sod House Roof Fund at First National Bank, PO Box 130, Sargent, NE 68874. An open house is being held on Saturday, June 7 from 10 AM to 5 PM at the house, where free will donations will be accepted. Coffee, lemonade, and cookies will be served.
You can listen to our full conversation with Tanya Stecker here:
