HomeMy WebLinkAbout52-01070_103 E College_S&LSite Inventory Form State Inventory No. 52-01070 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 Savings and Loan Building
other names/site number Grand Opera House; Coldren Opera House
2. Location
street & number 103 E. College 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) 82 Lot(s) Part of Lot 4
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)
02D02 COMMERCE/TRADE/financial institution/bank 02D02 COMMERCE/TRADE/financial institution/bank
02A01 COMMERCE/TRADE/business/office building 02A01 COMMERCE/TRADE/business/office building
7. Description
Architectural Classification (Enter categories from instructions) Materials (Enter categories from instructions)
08 MODERN MOVEMENT foundation 04 STONE
walls 03 BRICK; 04 STONE
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 103 E. College Street Site Number 52-01070
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
02 ARCHITECTURE 1877 check if circa or estimated date
Other dates
05 COMMERCE 1940 - complete remodeling
Significant Person Architect/Builder
(Complete if National Register Criterion B is marked above) Architect
Rust, J. Bradley (1940) Builder
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 52-01070
Iowa Site Inventory Form Related District Number
Continuation Sheet
Page 1
Savings and Loan Building Johnson
Name of Property County
103 E. College Street Iowa City
Address City
7. Property Description
This three-story brick and stone commercial block was originally built in 1877 as an opera house and substantially
remodeled in 1940 as a bank and office building. Original architect of the mansard-roofed opera house was R.S.
Finkbine with Sheets, Gesberg and Co., contractors. The 1940 remodeling was planned by J. Bradley Rust
(Svendsen, 2001).
The Savings and Loan Building is located along the downtown pedestrian mall that extends for several blocks
along E. College Street and S. Dubuque Street. As originally platted, College Street had a 100-ft. width with four
80-ft. wide lots laid out perpendicular to the street. 20-ft. wide east-west alleys bisected the blocks and were
presumed to extend along the rear of the buildings. College Street extended from the “Promenade” along the Iowa
River east through the downtown, over Ralston Creek, and eventually along the south side of College Green park
before it reached the city limits. The Savings and Loan Building is located at the southeast corner of College and
Clinton streets (Svendsen, 2001).
This building was so substantially changed by the 1940 remodeling that it bears no resemblance to its earlier
appearance. The building is four bays wide along College Street and three along Clinton Street. The remodeled
building has a buff colored brick exterior with three courses of corbeled brick below the parapet and above the
first floor windows. Bedford stone blocks cover the first floor and matching stone is used to form the window sills
that ring the building. A single corbeled brick band forms the flat window arches above the second and third level
windows. The 1940 remodeling saw the new first floor window openings filled with glass block that has
subsequently been replaced with tinted plate glass panels. The dramatic College Street entrance installed in 1940
remains the same with a pair of doors framed in brushed metal and inset in nine molded bands of receding stone.
The building’s name since the 1940s, “The Savings and Loan Building,” is depicted in Art Deco style lettering
above the entrance doors. Fenestration includes 1/1 double-hung windows clustered in pairs with a contemporary
window treatment including a pair of windows wrapping the northwest corner of the building on both upper
levels. A stone band caps the parapet and there is no other ornamentation along the cornice. On the interior the
remodeling was substantial as well. An elevator was added and the upper floors were converted to office spaces.
The first floor continued to house a financial institution as it had before the remodeling (Svendsen, 2001).
In 2017, the building stands largely as previously described. Significant alterations include the painting the brick
of the upper walls. Although a neutral palette was used, which is similar to the historic color, the introduction of
paint and the change in color at the cornice adversely impacts the 1940 character. Wells Fargo Bank currently
occupies a portion of the first story with two retail businesses occupying the remainder of the storefront level. The
upper stories house professional offices, including the offices of the Iowa City Downtown District.
Iowa Department of Cultural Affairs
State Historical Society of Iowa Site Number 52-01070
Iowa Site Inventory Form Related District Number
Continuation Sheet
Page 2
Savings and Loan Building Johnson
Name of Property County
103 E. College Street Iowa City
Address City
Image 01. View of the façade (north) and west elevations, looking SE across S. Clinton and E. College streets
(Image by AKAY Consulting, August 2017)
Image 02. View of the west elevation, looking east across S. Clinton Street
(Image by AKAY Consulting, August 2017)
Iowa Department of Cultural Affairs
State Historical Society of Iowa Site Number 52-01070
Iowa Site Inventory Form Related District Number
Continuation Sheet
Page 3
Savings and Loan Building Johnson
Name of Property County
103 E. College Street Iowa City
Address City
Image 03. View of the storefront entrance (105) on the Ped Mall (E. College)
(Image by AKAY Consulting, August 2017)
Although the upper story brick has been painted, the storefront level retains its 1940 stone cladding. The storefront alteration
uses materials and a straightforward character that are sympathetic to Modern architecture.
8. Statement of Significance
This building is an example of a 19th century building being radically modified so as to have a mid-20th century
appearance. As a result, it derives its architectural significance from the rehabilitation rather than its original
construction. Alterations of the storefronts (including loss of glass block) on all elevations and painting of the
upper stories diminish the building’s historic integrity to the degree it cannot be considered individually eligible
for listing on the National Register. In addition to the significance of its Modern stylistic character, the building
has long been associated with the financial sector of the city’s commercial history. As a result, the Savings and
Loan Building is considered a contributing resource to a potential historic district under both Criteria A and C.
Historical Background
As noted above, the building was originally constructed as the Grand Opera House in 1877 by Ezekiel Clark and
Thomas Hill. In 1897 John P. Coldren purchased the property and renamed it the “Coldren Opera House.” The
opera house actually occupied the two upper floors with seating for 1,050 people. The 30-ft. high ceiling and the
walls were decorated with elaborate frescoing, including portraits of Shakespeare and Beethoven. The newspaper
account of the opera house’s 1877 opening took pride that the only finer theater in the Midwest was in Chicago.
The opera house was closed shortly before the Englert Theatre opened in 1913 and the third floor was made into
club rooms. Tenants included the University Triangle Club before and after World War I and the Knights of
Pythias during the late 1920s and 1930s. After the opera house closed, the second floor was remodeled to hold ten
office suites while the first floor continued to house the Iowa City State Bank (Image 03). By the 1920s it was
reorganized as the Iowa City Savings Bank. It continued to operate from this location until the bank closed during
the 1930s.
Iowa Department of Cultural Affairs
State Historical Society of Iowa Site Number 52-01070
Iowa Site Inventory Form Related District Number
Continuation Sheet
Page 4
Savings and Loan Building Johnson
Name of Property County
103 E. College Street Iowa City
Address City
Image 03. Historic Image – ca.1910
(Source: State Historical Society of Iowa)
An image documenting the building prior to its complete renovation in 1940.
In 1940 the property was acquired by Investors Inc. and substantially remodeled. First Federal Savings and Loan
Association became the prime tenant on the first floor with two floors of offices occupied by dentists, lawyers,
accountants, insurance agents, and other offices. The building took on the name “Savings and Loan Building” in
subsequent years. In ca. 1980 United Federal Savings and Loan replaced First Federal.
Image 04. Historic Image – Savings and Loan Building – ca.1940
(Source: State Historical Society of Iowa)
This image documents the building soon after its completion renovation in 1940.
Iowa Department of Cultural Affairs
State Historical Society of Iowa Site Number 52-01070
Iowa Site Inventory Form Related District Number
Continuation Sheet
Page 5
Savings and Loan Building Johnson
Name of Property County
103 E. College 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.
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. Iowa City, Iowa: Iowa City Lions Club, 1976, pp. 84-86.
Historic photograph, “First Federal Savings and Loan Building on College & Clinton Street, Iowa City, Iowa,” ca.
1935-1940, State Historical Society of Iowa Collection, Iowa City, Iowa.
2017: References
Iowa City Public Library. Digital Photograph collection. http://history.icpl.org.
Iowa City Then & Now. Publisher unknown.
Mansheim, Gerald. Iowa City: an illustrated history. Norfolk, VA: The Donning Company, 1989.
State Historical Society of Iowa. Iowa City. Photograph Collection.
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. “Savings & Loan Building: 52-01088.” Iowa Site Form, 2001.
Iowa Department of Cultural Affairs
State Historical Society of Iowa Site Number 52-01070
Iowa Site Inventory Form Related District Number
Continuation Sheet
Page 6
Savings and Loan Building Johnson
Name of Property County
103 E. College Street Iowa City
Address City
11. Additional Documentation
Legal Description: Original Town Plat, Block 82, Part L4
Assessor: PIN 002+1010380010
Lat/Long: 41.659054/-91.534497
Parcel Map - 2017