The site is home to the Nachusa Lutheran Home, first established in 1903 by the Northern Illinois Lutheran Synod. Prior to the establishment of the Nachusa Lutheran Home, the site was the homestead of the Shippert family. The Shipperts were pioneers in Nachusa, arriving during the 1850s settlement period. Roughly fifty years later, Mary chose to give her 46-acre family farm to the Lutheran charity in order to establish an orphanage. Before the Shipperts, the land occupied by the orphanage was first owned by Scotch-Irish settler A. P. Dysart, who arrived from Pennsylvania in 1845. Upon his arrival, he established a 300-acre farm and became well-known throughout Lee and Ogle counties, eventually representing the counties in the State Legislature. During the Civil War, he served as the Captain of the 34th Illinois Infantry Company C. He was promoted to Major after a display of great leadership during the Battle of Shiloh. The original orphanage burned down in 1911, and a second building was constructed soon thereafter. A second fire on the site destroyed the orphanage in 1928, and the extant building was constructed. Today, it is occupied by Nachusa Youth and Family Services.