HomeMy WebLinkAbout52-01087_114-116 E College_SchneiderBrosSite Inventory Form State Inventory No. 52-01087 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 Schneider Bros. Furniture Store
other names/site number Kinney Shoe Store; Scott Stores
2. Location
street & number 114-116 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) 81 Lot(s) E 40' 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)
02E COMMERCE/TRADE/specialty store 02E COMMERCE/TRADE/specialty store
7. Description
Architectural Classification (Enter categories from instructions) Materials (Enter categories from instructions)
07C Late 19th & Early 20th Century American Movements/ foundation
Chicago 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 114-116 E. College Street Site Number 52-01087
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 1883 check if circa or estimated date
Other dates
05 COMMERCE 1906 (façade & addition)
Significant Person Architect/Builder
(Complete if National Register Criterion B is marked above) Architect
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, Architectural 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 52-01087
Iowa Site Inventory Form Related District Number
Continuation Sheet
Page 1
Schneider Bros. Furniture Store Johnson
Name of Property County
114-116 E. College Street Iowa City
Address City
7. Property Description
The Schneider Brothers Furniture Store is located along the urban renewal era, 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 (Svendsen, 2001).
The building is constructed of solid brick on a brick or stone foundation. The upper façade blends classically
styled modillions and geometric designed moldings suggestive of an early Prairie School influence. The two
upper level window groupings are variations of a feature common to the Commercial style that originated at the
end of the 19th century in Chicago. These “Chicago windows” include a square plate glass panel between narrow
double-hung 1/1 sash. In these window groups, the center sash have the added break of a transom light. The
building’s brickwork includes a series of corbeled bands and panels in the façade and surrounding the window
openings. Diamond shaped brick squares are symmetrically placed above the storefront to either side of the
signboard area. The storefront originally was occupied by one tenant with two sets of doors separated by pairs of
plate glass display windows. The original transoms above the doors and shop windows remain in place. The
overall effect of this building’s mixed design is to make the building look larger through the use of horizontal
elements. The only change to the storefront is the application of a tile facing to the first floor wall surface
(Svendsen, 2001).
In 2017, the upper façade appears to be without alteration from the previous evaluation. The storefront is currently
faced in a golden-colored brick aligned with the two-bay arrangement of the upper story. A recessed, double-door
entrance with narrow side lights is located in the west bay with a similar configuration in the east bay – that
configuration being comprised of a display window and narrow sidelights. Windows are set in steel frames and
glazed with darkly tinted glass. A single, fixed awning runs the full width of the storefront. A deck has been
introduced for outdoor seating (Image 01).
8. Statement of Significance
This building is a reasonably well-preserved example of a late 19th century commercial building that was
significantly altered in the early 20th century – its current appearance retaining a good level of integrity specific to
that alteration. The 1906 façade incorporates a mix of stylistic features, all of which illustrate the influence of
architectural design coming out of Chicago. Alteration of the storefront and the likely alteration of the interior
makes the building not individually eligible for listing on the National Register of Historic Places. However, the
building is a contributing resource to a potential historic district under both Criteria A and C.
Historical Background
This 2-story brick building was built in ca.1890 according to information in an appraisal of the property
completed in the 1960s for the City of Iowa City’s urban renewal plan. This date is consistent with property
transfer records that show it being sold in 1892 and city directories that show the business of the new owner
occupying this location by 1893 (Svendsen, 2001).
Fire insurance maps contradict the previously suggested construction date, with the building footprint appearing
without alteration on maps in 1883 (Figure 01), 1888, 1892, 1899, and 1906 (Figure 02). In those years, a two-
story building with a 30- to 34-ft. frontage on College Street covered approximately 2/3s of the lot. A small one-
Iowa Department of Cultural Affairs
State Historical Society of Iowa Site Number 52-01087
Iowa Site Inventory Form Related District Number
Continuation Sheet
Page 2
Schneider Bros. Furniture Store Johnson
Name of Property County
114-116 E. College Street Iowa City
Address City
story structure (“cabinetry shop”) was located on the alley at the rear of the lot and a bridge connected the two
buildings at the 2nd story. A large addition and renovation of the façade in 1906 accounts for the building’s current
size and early 20th century design character (2017).
Image 01. View of the façade, looking south across E. College Street (the Ped Mall)
(Image by AKAY Consulting, August 2017)
According to Svendsen, the building was occupied by a furniture store, with undertaking services from the time it
first appears on fire insurance maps in 1883 through after World War I; Schneider Bros. operated in the building
from ca.1893 through ca.1919. William, Alois and Frank Schneider bought this property from the Hamilton
family in the early 1890s. The Schneiders operated a furniture and undertaking business under the style
“Schneider Brothers” at 210 E. Washington Street in 1890-91 and by 1893 had relocated to this address. In 1897
William bought out Frank’s interest in the building and the following year William acquired the adjacent building
to the east. By 1904 Frank had his own furniture business at 10 S. Dubuque Street and Schneider Brothers – now
just William and Alois – had expanded into 118 E. College (the west half of the two-bay building).
Schneider Bros. continued occupied the building until after World War I after which time the property was leased
to a series of tenants. White’s Consolidated Stores operated a department store from this site during the 1920s.
Later the G.R. Kinney Co. leased the space for its Kinney Shoe Store. A ca.1940s image documents the building’s
occupation by Scott Stores, a department store. The building has had a series of short-term tenants since the
1980s. It is currently occupied by TCB!, a soft serve frozen yogurt store.
Iowa Department of Cultural Affairs
State Historical Society of Iowa Site Number 52-01087
Iowa Site Inventory Form Related District Number
Continuation Sheet
Page 3
Schneider Bros. Furniture Store Johnson
Name of Property County
114-116 E. College Street Iowa City
Address City
Figure 01. Fire Insurance Map – 1883
(Source: Sanborn Company Fire Insurance Map, 1883.)
Figure 01. Fire Insurance Map – 1906
(Source: Sanborn Company Fire Insurance Map, 1883.)
Iowa Department of Cultural Affairs
State Historical Society of Iowa Site Number 52-01087
Iowa Site Inventory Form Related District Number
Continuation Sheet
Page 4
Schneider Bros. Furniture Store Johnson
Name of Property County
114-116 E. College Street Iowa City
Address City
Image 02. Historic Image – ca.1890
(Source: State Historical Society of Iowa)
This early image substantiates the early appearance of the building, which was much-altered in 1906.
Figure 03. Fire Insurance Map – 1920
(Source: Sanborn Company Fire Insurance Map, 1920.)
The 1920 map is the first to record the altered building. It also reflects Schneider’s use of the
west bay of the adjacent building (118).
Iowa Department of Cultural Affairs
State Historical Society of Iowa Site Number 52-01087
Iowa Site Inventory Form Related District Number
Continuation Sheet
Page 5
Schneider Bros. Furniture Store Johnson
Name of Property County
114-116 E. College Street Iowa City
Address City
Image 03. Historic Image – ca.1940
(Source: State Historical Society of Iowa)
By the 1940s the building was occupied by Scott Stores, a department store. This image provides an excellent
view of the building’s upper façade, which remains much the same today.
Iowa Department of Cultural Affairs
State Historical Society of Iowa Site Number 52-01087
Iowa Site Inventory Form Related District Number
Continuation Sheet
Page 6
Schneider Bros. Furniture Store Johnson
Name of Property County
114-116 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.
2017: References
Iowa City Public Library. Digital Photograph collection. http://history.icpl.org.
Iowa City Then & Now. Publisher unknown.
Iowa City Directory, 1940. Omaha: R.L. Polk & Co., 1940.
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. “Schneider Brothers Furniture Store: 52-01087.” Iowa Site Form, 2001.
Newspapers
Iowa City Press-Citizen. “Furniture and Rugs.” April 26, 1911.
Iowa City Press-Citizen. “Big Improvement. Schneider Bros. Decide to Remodel Their Already Big Store.”
February 24, 1906.
Iowa City Press-Citizen. “Local News.” March 10, 1906.
Iowa City Press-Citizen. “Who in Business.” October 06, 1915.
Iowa Department of Cultural Affairs
State Historical Society of Iowa Site Number 52-01087
Iowa Site Inventory Form Related District Number
Continuation Sheet
Page 7
Schneider Bros. Furniture Store Johnson
Name of Property County
114-116 E. College Street Iowa City
Address City
Timeline: Schneider Bros. Furniture
1906 Fire insurance map shows 2-story building with a 34-ft. frontage. Building extends 2/3s of the lot with a
freestanding structure on the alley that is connected by a 2nd floor bridge to the main building. Notes: “ir.
columns 1st, Wooden posts 2nd.
Schneider Bros. advertisement for a “remodeling sale.”
1907 Schneider Bros. advertising their location at 114, 116, 118 College Street
1911 Schneider Bros. advertising their location at 114, 116, 118 College Street
1912 Fire insurance map shows 2-story building with a 34-ft. frontage stretching all the way to the alley. Notes:
“ir. columns 1st, Wooden posts 2nd.
1940 City Directory: Scott Stores, department store
11. Additional Documentation
Full Legal Description: Original Town Plat, Block 81, E 40-ft Lot 6
Assessor PIN: 002+1010378023
Lat/Long: 41.659560/-91.534000
Parcel Map - 2017
COLLEGE
115
110124 107CLINTONDUBUQUEWASHINGTON
118102
138
104 109
112111-117119-123125-131114 109111
114-116128132±