Penn Township, Madison County, Iowa

The Peter and Isabelle McCulloch McQuie Milkhouse is a historic building located on a farm southwest of Earlham, Iowa, United States. The McQuies were natives of Scotland who immigrated to the US in 1857, and settled in Madison County in 1871. They bought a 320-acre (130 ha) farm that in time grew to 680 acres (280 ha). This building is an early example of a vernacular limestone farm building. The single-story structure is composed of ashlar and rubble stone that might have been quarried at Parkins Quarry in Madison Township. Two-thirds of the building housed the milkhouse. The other third was separated from the milkhouse by a stone wall, and may have housed a hired man. The building was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1987.

The W.T. Ford House is a historic residence located south of Earlham, Iowa, United States. This early example of a vernacular limestone farmhouse was built in three parts. The first section of the house is attributed to George Francis, who was one of the first settlers in the township. This 1+1⁄2-story section is composed of rubble limestone. The first addition was built onto the south side of the original house. It is also 1+1⁄2 stories and it is composed of locally quarried finished cut and ashlar limestone. Most of the main facade of this addition has a full-sized enclosed stucco porch. W.T. Ford bought the property in 1868 from Francis and had the second addition built to the west of the first addition. It is 2+1⁄2 stories and is composed of ashlar and rubble stone that was quarried at Eureka Quarry in Madison Township. The quarry's owner, J.G Parkins, is credited with building this addition. He may have built the first addition as well. All three sections of the house are capped with gable roofs, and the two additions feature bracketed eaves. Ford was a major player in the area owning 2,000 acres (810 ha), and with his partners, farmed 5,000 acres (2,000 ha). The house was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1987.

The Bricker-Price Block is a historic building located in Earlham, Iowa, United States. It was built in 1900 by J.E. Walton. The building was jointly owned by its namestakes Cephas D. Bricker and Walter J. Price. They each owned a separate half of the building. Its unified facade features two mirror images with a central staircase in between. It is one of the oldest Romanesque Revival structures remaining in Earlham's central business district. The main-level storefronts originally housed general stores with other commercial interests taking their places over time. The second-floor originally housed offices, but they were later converted into five apartments. The building suffered significant water damage when a storm lifted the roof off in the spring of 2015. A nonprofit corporation was formed by the community to restore the building. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2017.

Earlham is a city in Madison County, Iowa, United States. The population was 1,410 at the time of the 2020 census. It is part of the Des Moines–West Des Moines Metropolitan Statistical Area.

Dexter is a city in Dallas County, Iowa, United States. The population was 640 at the time of the 2020 census. It is part of the Des Moines–West Des Moines Metropolitan Statistical Area.

The Earlham Community School District is a rural public school district headquartered in Earlham, Iowa.The district is mostly in Madison County, but also has an area portions in Dallas County. The district serves Earlham and the surrounding rural areas.Michael Wright has served as superintendent since 2007, after serving in the same role for Clear Lake Community School District for two years.

The Earlham Public School is a historic building located in Earlham, Iowa, United States. The town's name was chosen by the Quakers, who were the largest group of settlers in the community. They named it for Earlham College in Richmond, Indiana because they intended to establish a similar institution in the town. Fundraising got underway in 1869, and the following year plans were made to establish a public befitting a college town. Earlham Public School open in 1871. Jennings P. Osborn, a local builder, constructed the two-story structure of smooth-faced limestone that rests on rusticated limestone foundation. The building soon proved to be too small and a brick addition was added to the south side of the original building. The college plans fell through because of a lack of financing. The Quakers founded Earlham Academy in 1892 hoping it would grow into a college, but it did not. They sold the building to the local public school in 1900, and they used it for a high school. This building was used by the elementary grades. School districts were consolidated in 1920 and a larger building that could accommodate all grades was built in Earlham. This building was used from that point as a Masonic lodge until it was converted into a local museum. The building was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1982.

Dexter Community House, also known as The Roundhouse, is a historic building located in Dexter, Iowa, United States. Several prominent members of the community were responsible for the fundraising and building of this community facility. It replaced an older facility that was used for revival meetings, social and entertainment functions. After $10,000 had been raised Major Matt King drew up the plans for the building, which was completed in 1917. It continues to be used for a variety of community functions, and for a time it was used as a high school gymnasium. The elliptical-shaped building is 145 feet (4,420 cm) in diameter. The exterior is composed of hollow blocks, and they are the support for the dome roof. The interior walls are finished with sandstone. A large stage is located opposite the main entrance. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1975.

The John and Elizabeth McMurn Early House is a historic residence located south of Earlham, Iowa, United States. The Earlys settled in Madison County in 1855 from Eddyville, Iowa. They bought 160 acres (65 ha) of raw prairie and established a farm. This was the second house built on the property, and it was unusual for a "second generation" farm house in Central Iowa to be built of stone around the time of the Civil War. The Earlys were Presbyterians and held services in the house until a church was built. John Early was an ardent Republican and abolitionist who was active in the Underground Railroad. While "it is said, had as many as five runaway slaves on his place at one time", there is no evidence this house itself was a stop. The Earlys lived here until their deaths in 1872 (Elizabeth) and 1873 (John). The house was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1993.

The James Allen Stone Barn is a historic building located on a farm southeast of Earlham, Iowa, United States. Allen acquired 280 acres (110 ha) in 1855, and is thought to have built this barn to house his draft stallions. The single-story, one-room structure is composed of locally quarried rubble stone. The entrance on the east side and a window on the west side both have arched openings. The interior had four stalls for the horses. Frame lean-tos were added to the north and south elevations at a later date. The barn was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1987.

The Seth and Elizabeth Wilson House is a historic residence located southeast of Earlham, Iowa, United States. Seth settled with relatives in the northwestern part of Madison County in 1854. They acquired 3,000 acres (1,200 ha) of land, of which Wilson himself bought 600 acres (240 ha). He was a Quaker, and he encouraged other Quakers to settle in this area. He was one of the people who developed the town of Earlham, selling the land for its establishment. The house is an early example of a vernacular limestone farmhouse. This 1½-story structure is composed of ashlar and rubble stone. It is one of the few symmetrically massed rectangular stone houses built in the county. The house was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1987.

The William and Mary (Messersmith) Seerley Barn and Milkhouse-Smokehouse are historic buildings located on a farm southwest of Earlham, Iowa, United States. The Seerleys moved from Indiana and settled on their 200-acre (81 ha) farm in 1856, and built a log cabin the same year as their residence. They built a permanent home in 1861, and around the same time the combination milkhouse and smokehouse was built. The barn followed around 1876. These two buildings are early examples of well preserved agricultural building. The two rooms of the milkhouse-smokehouse sit at right angles from each other. The single-story structure is composed of finished cut rubble. It features a stone lined well, water troughs that cooled and stored dairy products, the smokehouse, and a covered outdoor work area where food was processed and laundry. The Sweitzer Pennsylvania barn is composed of native limestone on the lower level, and a heavy timber haymow with forebay on the upper level. It was built into the side of a south facing hill, and the forebay extends 8 feet (2.4 m) on the south side. The buildings and the connecting stone walkway were listed together on the National Register of Historic Places in 2009.