HomeMy WebLinkAbout52-01060_32 S Clinton_WhetstoneBldgSite Inventory Form State Inventory No. 52-01060 New Supplemental
State Historical Society of Iowa Part of a district with known boundaries (enter inventory no.)
(December 1, 1999) Relationship: Contributing Noncontributing
Contributes to a potential district with yet unknown boundaries
National Register Status:(any that apply) Listed De-listed NHL DOE
9-Digit SHPO Review & Compliance Number
Non-Extant (enter year)
1. Name of Property
historic name Whetstone Building
other names/site number Sanxay & Murray's Store, Whetstone Drug Co., Whetstone Pharmacy
2. Location
street & number 32 S. Clinton Street/108 E. Washington Street
city or town Iowa City vicinity, county Johnson
Legal Description: (If Rural) Township Name Township No. Range No. Section Quarter of Quarter
(If Urban) Subdivision Original Town Block(s) 80 Lot(s) Part of Lot 6
3. State/Federal Agency Certification [Skip this Section]
4. National Park Service Certification [Skip this Section]
5. Classification
Category of Property (Check only one box) Number of Resources within Property
building(s) If Non-Eligible Property If Eligible Property, enter number of:
district Enter number of: Contributing Noncontributing
site
buildings 1
buildings
structure
sites
sites
object
structures
structures
objects
objects
Total 1
Total
Name of related project report or multiple property study (Enter “N/A” if the property is not part of a multiple property examination).
Title Historical Architectural Data Base Number
Iowa City Central Business District Study - 2017 UPDATE 52-127
6. Function or Use
Historic Functions (Enter categories from instructions) Current Functions (Enter categories from instructions)
02F01 COMMERCE/TRADE/general store 02E COMMERCE/TRADE/specialty store
02E COMMERCE/TRADE/specialty store/drug store 02G COMMERCE/TRADE/restaurant
7. Description
Architectural Classification (Enter categories from instructions) Materials (Enter categories from instructions)
05B LATE VICTORIAN/Italianate
foundation 04 STONE
walls 03 BRICK
roof
other Narrative Description ( SEE CONTINUATION SHEETS, WHICH MUST BE COMPLETED)
8. Statement of Significance
Applicable National Register Criteria (Mark “x” representing your opinion of eligibility after applying relevant National Register criteria)
Yes No More Research Recommended A Property is associated with significant events.
Yes No More Research Recommended B Property is associated with the lives of significant persons.
Yes No More Research Recommended C Property has distinctive architectural characteristics.
Yes No More Research Recommended D Property yields significant information in archaeology or history.
County Johnson Address 32 S. Clinton Street/108 E. Washington Street Site Number 52-01060
City Iowa City District Number
Criteria Considerations
A Owned by a religious institution or used E A reconstructed building, object, or structure.
for religious purposes. F A commemorative property.
B Removed from its original location. G Less than 50 years of age or achieved significance within the past
C A birthplace or grave. 50 years.
D A cemetery
Areas of Significance (Enter categories from instructions) Significant Dates
Construction date
05 COMMERCE 1868 check if circa or estimated date
Other dates
02 ARCHITECTURE
Significant Person Architect/Builder
(Complete if National Register Criterion B is marked above) Architect
unknown Builder
unknown
Narrative Statement of Significance ( SEE CONTINUATION SHEETS, WHICH MUST BE COMPLETED)
9. Major Bibliographical References
Bibliography See continuation sheet for citations of the books, articles, and other sources used in preparing this form
10. Geographic Data
UTM References (OPTIONAL)
Zone Easting Northing Zone Easting Northing
1
2
3
4
See continuation sheet for additional UTM references or comments
11. Form Prepared By
name/title Alexa McDowell, Historian
organization AKAY Consulting date 10/2017
street & number 4252 Oakland Avenue telephone 515-491-5432
city or town Minneapolis state MN zip code 55407
ADDITIONAL DOCUMENTATION (Submit the following items with the completed form)
FOR ALL PROPERTIES
1. Map: showing the property’s location in a town/city or township.
2. Site plan: showing position of buildings and structures on the site in relation to public road(s).
3. Photographs: representative black and white photos. If the photos are taken as part of a survey for which the Society is to be
curator of the negatives or color slides, a photo/catalog sheet needs to be included with the negatives/slides and the following
needs to be provided below on this particular inventory site:
Roll/slide sheet #
Frame/slot #
Date Taken
Roll/slide sheet #
Frame/slot #
Date Taken
Roll/slide sheet #
Frame/slot #
Date Taken
See continuation sheet or attached photo & slide catalog sheet for list of photo roll or slide entries.
Photos/illustrations without negatives are also in this site inventory file.
FOR CERTAIN KINDS OF PROPERTIES, INCLUDE THE FOLLOWING AS WELL
1. Farmstead & District: (List of structures and buildings, known or estimated year built, and contributing or non-contributing status)
2. Barn:
a. A sketch of the frame/truss configuration in the form of drawing a typical middle bent of the barn.
b. A photograph of the loft showing the frame configuration along one side.
c. A sketch floor plan of the interior space arrangements along with the barn’s exterior dimensions in feet.
State Historic Preservation Office (SHPO) Use Only Below This Line
Concur with above survey opinion on National Register eligibility: Yes No More Research Recommended
This is a locally designated property or part of a locally designated district.
Comments:
Evaluated by (name/title): Date:
Iowa Department of Cultural Affairs
State Historical Society of Iowa Site Number 52-01060
Iowa Site Inventory Form Related District Number
Continuation Sheet
Page 1
Whetstone Building Johnson
Name of Property County
32 S. Clinton Street/108 E. Washington Street Iowa City
Address City
7. Property Description
The Whetstone Building is a 3-story, brick commercial building consisting of two separate sections merged into a
single ownership and business operation by the early 1880s. The corner building (facing S. Clinton St.) was
constructed in ca.1868 and the east building was in place by 1874 when both appeared on the the fire insurance
map for that year (Svendsen, 2001). After unification, the property became and remains a single resource with an
L-shaped footprint.
Historically, the Whetstone Building (both prior to and after the 1880s unification) housed three separate shop
spaces on the lower level (one facing Clinton and two facing Washington) and a combination of apartments,
studio, and shop spaces located on the upper floors (Svendsen, 2001).
The building’s contemporary storefront has an angular entrance recessed at the southwest corner and a pair of
plate glass shop windows facing onto S. Clinton Street. The east section’s storefront contains a display window
and closed entranceway. A fixed angular awning separates the storefront from the second floor on both buildings.
An entrance stairs to the upper levels is located midway along the Washington Street façade. The building’s three
1/1 double-hung windows on the west façade and six on the south façade feature stone sills and segmental arched
windows with keystone designs. At one time the building had 2/2 sash that fit the segmental shape of the
openings. The corner building’s distinctive cornice has a wide wood overhang with closely spaced dentils set
between large wood brackets with pendants set at points between the windows. The east section of the building is
somewhat lower in height than the corner building and its four windows have pedimented hoods. The cornice
matches that of the corner building which is an indication that the two buildings were built simultaneously or that
the smaller east section was remodeled when the corner seciton was built. Since the two parcels were in separate
ownership in ca. 1865, it is likely that the two buildings were built at different times. Both building sections have
brick walls set on rubble foundations. The building has an ell shaped footprint with the Clinton Street front
measuring approximately 20’ and the Washington Street front measuring approximately 30’ (Svendsen, 2001).
In 2017, the Whetstone Building remains largely as described in 2001 with the exception of the storefronts which
appear to have been recently renovated. Both storefronts share a design approach which includes a dark, likely
metal framing structure, modestly scaled windows arranged in a series, a paneled sign board with a “Pancheros”
sign mounted on it, and a sense of scale and design that is both contemporary and sympathetic to the historic
character of the building as a whole. Retention of the corner entrance with corner column is an important element
in retention of historic character.
Iowa Department of Cultural Affairs
State Historical Society of Iowa Site Number 52-01060
Iowa Site Inventory Form Related District Number
Continuation Sheet
Page 2
Whetstone Building Johnson
Name of Property County
32 S. Clinton Street/108 E. Washington Street Iowa City
Address City
Image 01. View of the streetscape within which the building is located, looking NE across S. Clinton Street.
(Image by AKAY Consulting, August 2017)
The Whetstone building (occupied by Pancheros) is on the corner, at right.
Image 02. View of the south elevation, looking north across E. Washington Street
(Image by AKAY Consulting, August 2017)
In this view we see the connection of the two originally autonomous buildings. Because the connection of
ownership and function occurred more than 50 years ago (in this case very early in the history of the building),
the property is considered a single resource.
Iowa Department of Cultural Affairs
State Historical Society of Iowa Site Number 52-01060
Iowa Site Inventory Form Related District Number
Continuation Sheet
Page 3
Whetstone Building Johnson
Name of Property County
32 S. Clinton Street/108 E. Washington Street Iowa City
Address City
8. Statement of Significance
The Whetstone Building is located opposite Old Capitol, a National Historic Landmark, and the Pentacrest, a
National Register historic district. The resource is a well-preserved example of an early Brick-Front Commercial
Form in the Italianate Style. Retention of the building’s elaborate cornice and window arches make the building a
contributing resource to a potential historic district. Further evaluation of the building’s interior may well support
a case for individual eligibility, should it be determined that the interior retains sufficient historic integrity.
Further, the building’s longstanding use as a pharmacy adds to its historic significance under Criterion A in
association with the history of commerce.
Historical Background
As originally laid out, Clinton Street provided a series of lots facing west onto “Capitol Square.” Both sections of
this commercial building date from prior to 1874 when a building of similar dimensions was first depicted on a
fire insurance map. Two factors contributed to the installation of a separate storefront entrance facing Washington
Street – the need for additional natural light and the early importance of Washington Street as a commercial
corridor. Property transfer records show separate parcels owned by Fred Sauxay (east section) and Theodore
Sauxay (corner building) prior to 1866. In 1872, after several transfers between Fred and Theodore, a parcel
containing both sections was transferred to J.P. Sauxay who in turn transferred it back to Theodore in 1883. By
1893 the property was sold to Peter A. Dey. In 1914 the Dey Estate transferred the property to his heirs. In 1948
the Dey family sold it to William Byington and Everett Moss (Svendsen, 2001).
Image 03. Historic Image - ca.1888
(SOURCE: Finials: A View of Downtown Iowa City, 2015: 81.)
In this view looking northeast across Clinton and Washington streets, both sections of the Wetstone Building (then occupied
by Whetstone & Foltz, Druggists) is in view. The image provides a clear understanding of the high degree of integrity
retained on the building’s exterior today.
Iowa Department of Cultural Affairs
State Historical Society of Iowa Site Number 52-01060
Iowa Site Inventory Form Related District Number
Continuation Sheet
Page 4
Whetstone Building Johnson
Name of Property County
32 S. Clinton Street/108 E. Washington Street Iowa City
Address City
The 1874 fire insurance map indicates that both the corner building and the east section (#108 E. Washington)
housed a hardware store. City directories for 1875-76 include three possible hardware stores in the 100 block of
Washington Street, which could have been the occupant(s). By 1879 both the corner building and #108 were
vacant but a photography studio moved to an upper floor location in the east section (Svendsen, 2001).
Later Sanborn maps show #32 South Clinton and #108 East Washington combined into a single business with a
drug store (1883, 1888, 1892, 1899, 1906, 1912, 1920, 1926 and 1933). Various uses in the east section included
a boot and shoe shop (1883 & 1888), barbershop (1892), postal station and Western Union (1899,1906, 1912,
1920). Upper levels were variously used for offices, club rooms, a photographer’s studio, and storage (Svensen,
2001).
Figure 01. Fire Insurance Map – 1874
(SOURCE: Sanborn Fire Insurance Company, 1874.)
As noted by Svendsen, the longest lived business located in the building was the Whetstone Pharmacy operated
by John Whetstone and later by Robert Whetstone. City directories show John Whetstone originally operating his
business from another location along the south side of Washington Street west of Clinton Street in 1875.
According to the 2015 Friends of Historic Preservation publication, Finials: A View of Downtown Iowa City,
“John Whetstone began as a clerk in Morrison’s Drug Store on E. Washington Street. He then went into
partnership with Mr. Foltz in 1874, creating the “Whetstone Corner” (Image 02).
By 1891 the city directory shows “Whetstone & Schneider” operating from 32 S. Clinton Street. In 1904,
directories note that John Whetstone was again the sole proprietor. His son Robert eventually joined John and the
business became a downtown landmark. Whetstone’s included a soda fountain where “Persian Sherbet” was a
feature. A postal station was located as part of the business. Its presence along with the building’s location
immediately adjacent to the SUI campus gave rise to the drugstore’s motto as a “Store of Conveniences at the
Convenient Corner.” By 1926 this was one of three downtown locations for Whetstone Drugstores (#2 at 132 S.
Dubuque St. and #3 at 19 S. Dubuque St.) (Svensen, 2001).
Iowa Department of Cultural Affairs
State Historical Society of Iowa Site Number 52-01060
Iowa Site Inventory Form Related District Number
Continuation Sheet
Page 5
Whetstone Building Johnson
Name of Property County
32 S. Clinton Street/108 E. Washington Street Iowa City
Address City
9. Major Bibliographic References (2001)
Iowa City city directories.
Property Transfer Records, Johnson County Auditor’s Office.
Tax Assessor’s Records, City of Iowa City Assessor.
Summary Sheets, 32 South Clinton, Urban Revitalization Act Study Area Survey, 1981.
Sanborn maps, 1874, 1879, 1888, 1892, 1899, 1906, 1912, 1920, 1926, 1933, and 1933 updated to 1970.
Weber, Irving, Irving Weber’s Iowa City, Volume 1 and Volume 2, Iowa City, Iowa: Iowa City Lions Club, 1976
and 1979, pp. 11 and 219.
2017: References
Iowa City Public Library. Digital Photograph collection. http://history.icpl.org.
Slonneger, Marybeth. Finials: A View of Downtown Iowa City. Iowa City: Hand Press, 2015.
Svendsen, Marlys A. “Survey and Evaluation of the Central Business District.” Prepared for the Iowa City
Historic Preservation Commission, 2001.
Svendsen, Marlys A. “Whetstone Building: 52-01060.” Iowa Site Form, 2001.
Timeline: Whetstone Building
1888 Fire Insurance Map: 32 united with 106-108
“Drugs” in 32 storefront
Boots & Shoes in 108 storefront
Offices on 2nd floor
1901 City Directory:
32 Whetstone Drug Co.
108 Unknown
1922 City Directory:
32 Whetstone Drug Co. No. 1
Post Office Station No. 1
106-1/2 Malcolm H. Dowell
Carl M Carpenter
108 Whetstone Drug Co.
1930 City Directory:
32 Whetstone Drug Co. No. 1
Post Office Station No. 1
Iowa Department of Cultural Affairs
State Historical Society of Iowa Site Number 52-01060
Iowa Site Inventory Form Related District Number
Continuation Sheet
Page 6
Whetstone Building Johnson
Name of Property County
32 S. Clinton Street/108 E. Washington Street Iowa City
Address City
1943 City Directory:
32 Whetstone Drug Co.
108 Frank Palik, tailor
1959 City Directory:
32 Whetstone Drug (Everett O. Moss, Mary M. & Wm. M Byington)
Branch Post Office Since 1872
108-1/2 KXIC Radio Station
JD Whisenand, dentist
Wilford M. Spector, podiatrist
Johnson County Broadcasting
Kenneth L. Christensen, dentist
11. Additional Documentation
Legal Description: beg SW cor of Lot 6, east 77’, north 60’, west 14.33’, south 40’, west 63.66’
Assessor: PIN 002 +1010311024
Latitude/Longitude: 41.660555/-91.534403
Parcel Map – 2017
28 120132121-12311711023
1121
12410-12-14
32
19-21
24-26
9119
17
13-15
114-11612611115
16 1138
30
5
11818-20
22
7
128-130CLINTONDUBUQUEWASHINGTON
IOWA
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