HomeMy WebLinkAbout52-01561_111 S Dubuque_CommercialBlgSite Inventory Form State Inventory No. 52-01561 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 Commercial Building
other names/site number Mahana & Epeneter Paints, Slabey & Hervert Groceries, Old Capital Cigar Store, Dreamland Theatre, American Theatre, Iowa Candy Kitchen, J.T. Connolly's Tobacco Bowl
2. Location
street & number 111 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) 81 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)
02E03 COMMERCE/TRADE/specialty/drygoods 02E COMMERCE/TRADE/specialty store
02A05 COMMERCE/TRADE/business/newspaper 01b02 DOMESTIC/multiple dwelling/apartment building
02E11 COMMERCE/TRADE/specialty/groceries
7. Description
Architectural Classification (Enter categories from instructions) Materials (Enter categories from instructions)
05H LATE VICTORIAN/Renaissance foundation 04 STONE
05 LATE VICTORIAN 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 111 S. Dubuque Street Site Number 52-01561
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 1860 check if circa or estimated date
Other dates
05 COMMERCE
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, 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 52-01561
Iowa Site Inventory Form Related District Number
Continuation Sheet
Page 1
Commercial Building Johnson
Name of Property County
111 S. Dubuque Street Iowa City
Address City
7. Property Description
This three-story brick building was constructed sometime prior to 1874 when it appears on the first fire insurance
map published of Iowa City. Neither property transfer records nor city directories can confirm an earlier date but
based on a ca.1909 photograph of the building showing the presence of 6/6 sash, it is likely that it was constructed
during or preceding the Civil War.
This commercial building reflects a mixture of the Italianate and Renaissance styles of the Victorian era. It has a
rectangular plan and narrow storefront with walls clad in reddish orange brick. The upper levels originally had
three evenly spaced window openings with stone sills and lintels and 6/6 double-hung sash. The center openings
have been bricked shut and the other windows have 1/1 double-hung windows of shorter height with brick infill.
The pressed metal cornice has four large brackets with pendants and a narrow frieze with a dentil-like detailing
between each bracket. The storefront is the product of an undated replacement. It includes an offset recessed set of
entrances (one to the apartments above and a second to the shop space) with a plate glass shop window on the left.
A set of transom windows appears above the doors and shop window with a retractable awning and wide
signboard above. A photograph showing an earlier storefront (ca. 1909) has taller doors with transoms, a taller
shop window with no transoms, and a narrower signboard with a wide crown molding. The front measures less
than 20-ft. and has a depth of 61-ft. The building has a flat composition roof that slopes slightly to the rear behind
the parapet.
In 2017 the building is without significant alteration from the previous description. Relatively minor alterations
include removal of the retractable awning and the addition of outdoor sidewalk seating. The storefront is currently
occupied by Forbidden Planet (a self-proclaimed “spiffy bar”) with apartments in the upper stories.
Image 01. View looking NW from E. College Street (Ped Mall)
(Image by AKAY Consulting, April 2018)
The building at 111 S. Dubuque (right) is located adjacent to the National Register listed Franklin Printing House,
which was built in 1856.
Iowa Department of Cultural Affairs
State Historical Society of Iowa Site Number 52-01561
Iowa Site Inventory Form Related District Number
Continuation Sheet
Page 2
Commercial Building Johnson
Name of Property County
111 S. Dubuque Street Iowa City
Address City
Image 02. View looking NW from E. College Street (Ped Mall)
(Image by AKAY Consulting, August 2017)
8. Statement of Significance
This building is a moderately well-preserved (and early) example of a commercial block featuring aspects of both
the Italianate and Renaissance styles popular in the second half of the 19th century. Changes in the upper story
window openings and to a lesser extent, the storefront, make this building ineligible for the National Register on
an individual basis under Criteria A or C. However, the building is considered a contributing resource in a
potential historic district, significant under both Criterion A and C.
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 Block 81, which were oriented
towards Washington Street and College Street. The need for as much natural light as possible and the value of
sidewalk frontage meant that deep lots would generally have a second storefront entrance into the same business
or end up selling off the rear sections of the lot for the construction of separate buildings. The latter case occurred
when this building and the adjacent one located at 115 S. Dubuque were constructed facing S. Dubuque Street.
Property transfer records show this parcel owned by John B. Miller or his wife Josephine from 1866 through 1883
when the couple sold the property to Lemuel B. Patterson, an attorney. Patterson is known to have built the
Patterson Block, 9-15 S. Dubuque Streets during the same time frame that this building was constructed. Irving
Iowa Department of Cultural Affairs
State Historical Society of Iowa Site Number 52-01561
Iowa Site Inventory Form Related District Number
Continuation Sheet
Page 3
Commercial Building Johnson
Name of Property County
111 S. Dubuque Street Iowa City
Address City
Weber recorded that Patterson worked cooperatively with his son-in-law Willard Welch on this project as well as
one that involved the construction of 121-123 E. Iowa Avenue. Patterson was also involved with other downtown
properties including 10-14 S. Clinton Street. In 1883 the fire insurance map shows a saloon at this location with a
paint store here by 1888. City directories confirm that a paint store operated by Mahana & Epeneter was here by
1890 and continued through the mid-1890s when proprietorship changed to Mahana & Carroll.
In 1897 Patterson transferred this and several other downtown properties to his daughter, Lilly Patterson Welch.
By 1897 the building was occupied by the Slabey & Hervert grocery store with lawyers on the upper floor. A
cigar factory operated by George Swords was also located in the upper levels by 1901. By 1904 the cigar
manufacturer was the Iowa City Cigar Company. The first floor was leased to John F. Helmer that year who
operated a billiard hall and cigar store in the retail space. Tenants appeared short lived over the next few years. By
1909 the first floor was operated as the Dreamland Theatre with a 5¢ admission for continuous shows (Image 04).
Image 03. Historic Image – 1915
(Source: Slonnenger, Marybeth. Finials.)
Iowa Department of Cultural Affairs
State Historical Society of Iowa Site Number 52-01561
Iowa Site Inventory Form Related District Number
Continuation Sheet
Page 4
Commercial Building Johnson
Name of Property County
111 S. Dubuque Street Iowa City
Address City
Image 04. Historic Image – ca.1915
(Source: State Historical Society of Iowa, Iowa City.)
By 1911 city directories list the tenant as the American Theatre operated by Fred Racine. Racine operated a chain
of cigar shops in at least four downtown locations by the 1920s. Racine’s venture into nickelodeon operation was
short-lived. James Constantine opened the Iowa Candy Kitchen there in 1912. By 1919 the space was occupied by
Louis Benda as a grocery store once again. Members of the Welch family continued to own 111 until 1926 when
it was transferred to the trustees of the Christian Science Church. In subsequent years, tenants changed with a
frequency typical of downtown Iowa City. Property transfer records do not clearly specific how this property was
held until 1944 when Roy Koza acquired it. Roy’s father, John Koza had owned the property next door at 115
since 1911 when he relocated his meat market there. The Koza family business continued next door until the
1950s both 111 and 115 remain in the Koza family in 2000 (Svendsen, 2001).
Iowa Department of Cultural Affairs
State Historical Society of Iowa Site Number 52-01561
Iowa Site Inventory Form Related District Number
Continuation Sheet
Page 5
Commercial Building Johnson
Name of Property County
111 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.
Sanborn maps, 1874, 1879, 1888, 1892, 1899, 1906, 1912, 1920, 1926, 1933, and 1933 updated to 1970.
National Register of Historic Places nomination file materials for Franklin Printing House, 115 South Dubuque
Street, 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. “52-01561.” Iowa Site Form, 2001.
11. Additional Documentation
Legal Description: Original Town, Block 61, North 20’ of South 40’ of East 70’ of Lot 1.
Assessor: 009+1010311001
Latitude/Longitude: 41.659890, -91.533372
Iowa Department of Cultural Affairs
State Historical Society of Iowa Site Number 52-01561
Iowa Site Inventory Form Related District Number
Continuation Sheet
Page 6
Commercial Building Johnson
Name of Property County
111 S. Dubuque Street Iowa City
Address City
Parcel Map – 2017
COLLEGE
115
110124 107CLINTONDUBUQUEWASHINGTON
118102
138
104 109
112111-117119-123125-131114 109111
114-116128132±