HomeMy WebLinkAbout52-01550_7 S Dubuque_EpeneterBlgSite Inventory Form State Inventory No. 52-01550 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 F.J. Epeneter Building (south half)
other names/site number
2. Location
street & number 7 S. Dubuque 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 1
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)
02E15 COMMERCE/TRADE/specialty store/billiards hall 02E03 COMMERCE/TRADE/specialty store/drygoods
02E11 COMMERCE/TRADE/specialty store/grocery 01B DOMESTIC/multiple dwelling (upper floor)
01B DOMESTIC/multiple dwelling (upper floor)
7. Description
Architectural Classification (Enter categories from instructions) Materials (Enter categories from instructions)
09F05 COMMERCIAL/Brick Front foundation
walls 03 BRICK; 02 WOOD
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 7 S. Dubuque Street Site Number 52-01550
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 1879 check if circa or estimated date
Other dates
1999 (façade)
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 52-01550
Iowa Site Inventory Form Related District Number
Continuation Sheet
Page 1
F.J. Epeneter Building (south half) Johnson
Name of Property County
7 S. Dubuque Street Iowa City
Address City
7. Property Description
The Epeneter Building (Image 01) was built as a two-story, two-bay masonry commercial building constructed in
ca.1879 (south half) and ca.1883 (north half). For much of its history, the building functioned as a unit, the
configuration of the storefronts and upper story changing through time. It wasn’t until ca.1930 that the two halves
of the building began to function autonomously; replacement of a shared one-story rear addition with a two-story
rear addition with dedicated access to each of the two halves marks the transition. The re-facing of the north half
(5) may have been undertaken at that same time. The south half of the Epeneter Building remains independent of
the north half, which each building under separate ownership (2017).
Image 01. Historic Image - View looking north along S. Dubuque Street - 1893
(Source: State Historical Society of Iowa.)
This 1893 image provides a clue as to the building’s original appearance. 7 S. Dubuque accounts for the south (left) half of
the Epeneter Building.
Iowa Department of Cultural Affairs
State Historical Society of Iowa Site Number 52-01550
Iowa Site Inventory Form Related District Number
Continuation Sheet
Page 2
F.J. Epeneter Building (south half) Johnson
Name of Property County
7 S. Dubuque Street Iowa City
Address City
The Epeneter Building (south half) is located mid-block in a contiguous line of commercial buildings dating to a
similar construction era and sympathetic in size and scale. The appearance of the building reflects rehabilitation
work completed on the upper level in 1999 as well a nearly intact original or early storefront. The storefront has a
pair of plate glass windows at the right with entrances to the shop space and upper level apartment at the left.
Both entrances have transoms and replacement doors in the openings. The clapboard siding below the display
window is installed over structural glass. According to the current building owner, the storefront has remained
unaltered since 1926. A fixed awning obscures the sign board section of the storefront and a wood crown molding
and dentil course separate the levels (Svendsen, 2001).
Image 02. View of the Epeneter Building (north half), looking NW across S. Dubuque
(Image by AKAY Consulting, August 2017)
From 1883 through ca.1930 the building at 7 S. Dubuque was part of a two-bay, two storefront
building – the building at left (5 S. Dubuque) is the other half of the Epeneter Building.
During the 1960s the upper façade was altered by the installation of permastone and new windows (Image 02).
This remodeling was reversed in 1999 when historic photographs were used to recreate the original design. The
segmental arch windows, 1/1 double-hung sash, and geometric patterned corbeling in the cornicework were the
product of careful study of the photographs. The lower level was not altered as a part of this rehabilitation work
(Svendsen, 2001).
Changes include façade rehabilitation work and improvements to the façade of the upper level and apartment
completed under the direction of Iowa City architect, Susan Licht in 1999. Interior improvements to the shop
Iowa Department of Cultural Affairs
State Historical Society of Iowa Site Number 52-01550
Iowa Site Inventory Form Related District Number
Continuation Sheet
Page 3
F.J. Epeneter Building (south half) Johnson
Name of Property County
7 S. Dubuque Street Iowa City
Address City
space were completed in ca. 1945 that included installation of a basement, new tile floor and preservation of the
original tin ceiling. Unspecified remodeling of the storefront was completed at an unknown date. Assessor records
indicate remodeling of the building in 1930 (Svendsen, 2001).
In 2017, the building remains as previously described.
8. Statement of Significance
The Epeneter Building (south half) represents the evolution of downtown Iowa City commercial buildings over
time. Although the building is now representative the original appearance, the materials are non-historic (the
alteration dating to 1999). As a result, the building is not considered individually eligible for listing on the
National Register of Historic Places. However, due to retention of historic form and an historic (albeit not
original) storefront, the building retains sufficient integrity to be considered a contributing resource to a potential
historic district under Criterion A in association with the history of Iowa City commerce (2017).
Historical Background
As originally laid out, Dubuque Street was a major north-south street entering the central business district from
the north. However, this fact was in conflict with the configuration of lots in the east half of Block 80, which were
oriented towards Iowa Avenue. The strong pull of the Dubuque Street corridor won out with buildings erected on
lots reconfigured for east-west orientations.
This building may date from sometime shortly before or after 1874 when the lot was sold by L.B. Patterson to F.J.
Epeneter. A building of similar dimensions first appeared on Sanborn maps in 1874. F.J. Epeneter installed a
billiard hall in the new building and was listed as operator in subsequent city directories. However, the building as
depicted on the subsequent map in 1879 has some variation, which calls into question the construction date.
Clearly, however, the building was constructed by 1879 (2017). Fire insurance maps show either a saloon or
billiards hall at this location between 1883 and 1920. By 1901 Epeneters Billiards Hall appears in city directors at
7 S. Dubuque and by 1904 the business was listed as operating on the lower level of 5 S. Dubuque and Epeneter’s
son and daughter-in-law, Charles and Hattie Epeneter, lived in the apartment above.
This particular block of S. Dubuque Street was an especially popular location for saloons and billiard halls
immediately following the Civil War with eight saloons located in the block between Iowa Avenue and
Washington Street in 1868. This pattern changed somewhat in later years as various waves of prohibition and
concern about the evils of idleness impacted the saloon and billiard hall trade. This may help explain the unusual
retail decision made by brothers Charles and Thomas Epeneter by 1911. City directories show the two operating
under the style “Epeneter Brothers” but their trade now included the sale of vacuum cleaners as well as billiards.
By 1911 Charles and his wife had moved to the apartment above 7 which may or may not have included the space
above 5. In 1926 the parcel containing the whole of the Epeneter Building was sold to Joseph Rinella by Charles’
widow. Rinella operated a produce business in the shop space at 5 S. Dubuque while residing above while his son
Joseph, Jr. continued to operate a pool hall under the style “Epicenter Pool Hall” at 7. He and his wife Edris
occupied the apartment above the pool hall.
Retail occupants changed frequently after World War II including Joe’s Place (perhaps referring to Joseph
Epicenter), the Braun Derby Tavern (1951), Marguerite’s Gift Shop (1950s), Whitebook’s Clothing Store (1960s),
and the current business, Catherine’s clothing store (1969-present).
Iowa Department of Cultural Affairs
State Historical Society of Iowa Site Number 52-01550
Iowa Site Inventory Form Related District Number
Continuation Sheet
Page 4
F.J. Epeneter Building (south half) Johnson
Name of Property County
7 S. Dubuque Street Iowa City
Address City
Image 03. Historic Image - View looking south along S. Dubuque Street from Iowa Avenue – ca.1960
(Source: State Historical Society of Iowa.)
This image documents the building’s mid-20th century appearance.
Figure 01. Fire Insurance Map – 1879
(Source: Sanborn Company Fire Insurance Map, 1879.)
The south half of the Epeneter Building is in place by the 1879 fire insurance map – the north remaining a vacant lot.
Iowa Department of Cultural Affairs
State Historical Society of Iowa Site Number 52-01550
Iowa Site Inventory Form Related District Number
Continuation Sheet
Page 5
F.J. Epeneter Building (south half) Johnson
Name of Property County
7 S. Dubuque Street Iowa City
Address City
Figure 02. Fire Insurance Map – 1883
(Source: Sanborn Company Fire Insurance Map, 1883.)
By 1883, the north half of the building was in place.
Figure 03. Fire Insurance Map – 1926
(Source: Sanborn Company Fire Insurance Map, 1926.)
From ca.1910-ca.1930, the building shared a one, one-story addition on the rear.
Iowa Department of Cultural Affairs
State Historical Society of Iowa Site Number 52-01550
Iowa Site Inventory Form Related District Number
Continuation Sheet
Page 6
F.J. Epeneter Building (south half) Johnson
Name of Property County
7 S. Dubuque Street Iowa City
Address City
Figure 04. Fire Insurance Map – 1933
(Source: Sanborn Company Fire Insurance Map, 1933.)
Iowa Department of Cultural Affairs
State Historical Society of Iowa Site Number 52-01550
Iowa Site Inventory Form Related District Number
Continuation Sheet
Page 7
F.J. Epeneter Building (south half) Johnson
Name of Property County
7 S. Dubuque 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 Sheet, 5 South Dubuque, Urban Revitalization Act Study Area Survey, 1981.
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.
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. “Epeneter Building (south half): 52-01550.” Iowa Site Form, 2001.
Iowa Department of Cultural Affairs
State Historical Society of Iowa Site Number 52-01550
Iowa Site Inventory Form Related District Number
Continuation Sheet
Page 8
F.J. Epeneter Building (south half) Johnson
Name of Property County
7 S. Dubuque Street Iowa City
Address City
11. Additional Documentation
Legal Description: S. 20’ of N. 80’ and E. 67’ of Lot 1, Block 80
Assessor: 002+1010311003
Latitude/Longitude: 41.660933, -91.533332
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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