HomeMy WebLinkAbout52-01940_113-115 Iowa_BushnagelBlgSite Inventory Form State Inventory No. 52-01940 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 Bashnagel Building
other names/site number Konvalinka Cigar Factory; Joe's Place
2. Location
street & number 113-115 E. Iowa Avenue
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) parts of Lots 3 & 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)
02E COMMERCE/TRADE/specialty store 02E COMMERCE/TRADE/specialty store
01B DOMESTIC/multiple dwelling 01B DOMESTIC/multiple dwelling
7. Description
Architectural Classification (Enter categories from instructions) Materials (Enter categories from instructions)
05B LATE VICTORIAN/Italianate foundation 04 STONE
walls 03 BRICK
roof 17 OTHER
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 113-115 E. Iowa Avenue Site Number 52-01940
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
01 ARCHITECTURE 1875 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, 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 52-01940
Iowa Site Inventory Form Related District Number
Continuation Sheet
Page 1
Bashnagel Building Johnson
Name of Property County
113-115 E. Iowa Avenue Iowa City
Address City
7. Property Description
Note: The 2001 survey project considered the building at 113-115 as two resources, each with its own site form
(52-01939 and 52-0140). The present survey treats the resource as a single resource using site form 52-01940.
The rationale for that approach, and the adoption of an historic name, is discussed in section 8.
The Bushnagel Building is a two-story brick, two-bay commercial building built sometime after the 1874 fire
insurance map and before survey of the 1879 map, when the building first appears. Property transfer records
confirm the sale of the property in 1874 making it likely that the building’s construction came soon thereafter
(ca.1875). This mid-block commercial building, constructed in the Late Victorian Italianate style, was built with
two storefronts separated in the middle by an entrance and staircase to the upper level – a common configuration
for a multi-bay commercial building of this period. The upper story appears to have remained without interior
subdivision through at least 1914.
Today, the storefront level remains divided into two storefronts that are occupied by businesses independent of
one another. The storefront at 113 is currently occupied by a restaurant (Pi-Zan) with 115 incorporated into the
bar, Joe’s Place, which combines 115 with the adjacent storefronts at 117 and 119. The central staircase with
entrance at ground level is retained. The interior configuration of the upper story has not been evaluated; the
assessor record indicates there is an apartment associated with 113, but none is noted for 115.
Both storefronts have been dramatically modified with brick infill and the installation of recessed plate glass
openings which, in scale, location, and materials, are not sympathetic to the historic character. The character is
further diminished by the visual consolidation of the east storefront (115) with the adjacent storefronts (also
impacting the interior integrity). That alteration confuses our understanding of the historic delineation of buildings
(2017).
Although camouflaged by a coat of flat black paint (a non-historic treatment that can be mitigated), the upper
façade retains design elements indicative of the Italianate style. Most significantly, a continuous, sheet metal
cornice detailed with brackets alternating with modillions along with several bands of moldings. Also, six semi-
circular arched window openings with projecting brick arches and keystones remain evenly spaced across the
upper façade – three to a bay. The three windows on the east (above 115) retain the historic round headed 2/2
double-hung sash. On the west bay (above 113), only the window on the far west side has the original round
headed 2/2 double-hung sash. The others have been replaced by flat-topped 1/1 sash with the arched sections
infilled with wood panels (2017).
Iowa Department of Cultural Affairs
State Historical Society of Iowa Site Number 52-01940
Iowa Site Inventory Form Related District Number
Continuation Sheet
Page 2
Bashnagel Building Johnson
Name of Property County
113-115 E. Iowa Avenue Iowa City
Address City
Image 01. View of the façade of 113-115, looking south across Iowa Avenue
(Image by AKAY Consulting, August 2017)
Constructed as a single, two-bay building, the property is now parceled with separate ownership of the west (113) and east
(115) halves. The storefront at 113 is currently occupied by a restaurant (Pi-Zan) with 115 incorporated into the bar, Joe’s
Place, which combines 115 with the adjacent storefronts at 117 and 119.
Iowa Department of Cultural Affairs
State Historical Society of Iowa Site Number 52-01940
Iowa Site Inventory Form Related District Number
Continuation Sheet
Page 3
Bashnagel Building Johnson
Name of Property County
113-115 E. Iowa Avenue Iowa City
Address City
Image 02. View of the upper story facade
(Image by AKAY Consulting, August 2017)
The upper story façade details are indicative of a ca.1875 construction; the metal cornice and windows with
round heads were certainly commonly used in Victorian era architectural design. Retention of 4 of the 6 original
2/2 double-hung sash is a rarity and well worth protecting.
Iowa Department of Cultural Affairs
State Historical Society of Iowa Site Number 52-01940
Iowa Site Inventory Form Related District Number
Continuation Sheet
Page 4
Bashnagel Building Johnson
Name of Property County
113-115 E. Iowa Avenue Iowa City
Address City
8. Statement of Significance
The Bushnagel Building is located on E. Iowa Avenue near the Old Capitol, a National Historic Landmark, and
the Pentacrest, a National Register historic district. The ca.1875 building is a moderately well-preserved example
of an early, Victorian era Italianate commercial building. It stands as the oldest remaining building in the 100
block of Iowa Avenue.
Image 03. Historic Image – View of Iowa Avenue from the Old Capitol – 1880s
(Source: University of Iowa Special Collections.)
The Bushnagel Block is seen in this view looking east along Iowa Avenue. The building is adjacent to the
four-story St. James Hotel seen at the corner in this view.
As originally laid out, Clinton Street provided a series of lots facing onto “Capitol Square.” Iowa Avenue was
planned as wide boulevard leading from Capitol Square to Governor’s Square on the west edge of the original
town plat (Image 03). Its 120-ft. width made Iowa Avenue the widest thoroughfare in the Original Town Plat.
With a city park located between Dubuque and Linn Streets and most of the city’s churches located along and
immediately north of Iowa Avenue, commercial establishments were not as well-favored here as public buildings
(Svendsen, 2001).
Because for a significant amount of its history and because the upper story façade retains a unified façade, the
Bushnagel Building is considered a single, contributing resource to a potential resource. The decision about how
to categorize buildings with circumstances of this type – built as a single building with multiple storefronts, but
now under separate ownership – is complicated and the determination varies by the factors specific to each case.
In this case, without an evaluation of the interior of the upper story and its configuration, the integrity of the
exterior dictated how to best categorize the resource. Because the building’s significance relies heavily on the
integrity of the upper story façade, which continues to unite the façade as it did when constructed in ca.1875, the
present evaluation deems the building a single resource and has recorded and counted it as such.
Iowa Department of Cultural Affairs
State Historical Society of Iowa Site Number 52-01940
Iowa Site Inventory Form Related District Number
Continuation Sheet
Page 5
Bashnagel Building Johnson
Name of Property County
113-115 E. Iowa Avenue Iowa City
Address City
Further, the historic name of Bushnagel Building has been adopted to distinguish the building. The name reflects
the likely builder and its first occupant. The secondary name of Konvalinka Cigar Factory is attached to the
longtime occupant of the upper story.
Although storefront alterations and window changes result in insufficient historic integrity to be considered
individually eligible for the National Register, the Bushnagel Building is considered a contributing resource to a
potential historic district under Criterion C as a reasonably well preserved example of an early (the oldest
remaining on this block of Iowa Avenue) and increasingly rare commercial building in the Italianate style.
Further, the building is significant under Criterion A in association with the history of Iowa City commerce.
Historical Background
As noted, fire insurance maps for 1874 and 1879 make it likely that this building was constructed sometime
between those years when the property containing the entire building was owned by Aloys Bashnagel. The city
directory for 1878-79 lists A. Baschnagle [sic] operating a confectionery at this site, a fact that is confirmed by the
fire insurce map for 1879. In 1882 Bashnagel sold the west half of the building (113) to Sophia Meyer while
retaining the east half. Three years later in 1885 he sold (115) to C.A. Wagner and the property changed hands
frequently in subsequent years.
By 1893 the confectionery at 115 had been taken over by Schmidt and Chihak. A restaurant and bakery were here
in 1892 and 1899 according to fire insurance maps. Subsequent maps show a bowling alley (1906), a printing
company (1912), and a cleaning and pressing firm (1920-ca.1950). The bowling alley was operated by William
Boberich, the printing company by C. A. Webber, and the Pairs Cleaners by Albert Graham and Thomas LeVora.
“Joe’s Place” named for founder Joseph Rinella, Jr., moved from 7 S. Dubuque Street and continues at this
location in 2017 (Svendsen, 2001).
During most of its early history, fire insurance maps show a saloon in the storefront of 113. The city directory for
1878-79 lists only the J.B. Baumer Saloon on the south side of Iowa Avenue east of Clinton and in later
directories, saloons were not listed. By 1892 a jewelry store was shown on fire insurance maps. By 1911 the
Varsity Wardrobe operated by J.B. Kemp was taking advantage of the proximity of this location to the campus of
the growing state university. Retail occupants continued to change frequently in later years with William Sutton, a
barber, here in 1915; the Muscatine Sewing Machine Co. along with the Des Moines Register & Leader here in
1919; and the University Café operating from this location in 1930. The building briefly held Simpson’s Shoe
Repair during the early 1950s followed by a bar and café during the 1960s. By the 1980s, 113 was occupied by
Garner’s Jewelry Store (Svendsen, 2001).
Fire insurance maps note the building’s second floor remained a single space through 1948 (a brick wall
separating the bays indicated as on the first floor only). The first known occupant of the upper story is 1904 when
John Konvalinka had a cigar factory in the space (not in a storefront as previously noted). At that time,
Konvalinka boarded at 529 Brown Street (not in the upper story as previously noted). Konvalinka’s cigar
manufacturing enterprise remained in this location through at least 1912 (the factory had relocated to 332-1/2
Davenport Street by 1915).
Beginning in 1914, the upper story held apartments (113-1/2 and 115-1/2) – an apparent contradiction of the fire
insurance maps in 1926, 1933, and the 1948 revision of the 1933 map, which continue to indicate the interior
separation was on the first floor only.
Iowa Department of Cultural Affairs
State Historical Society of Iowa Site Number 52-01940
Iowa Site Inventory Form Related District Number
Continuation Sheet
Page 6
Bashnagel Building Johnson
Name of Property County
113-115 E. Iowa Avenue Iowa City
Address City
Image 04. Historic Image – View looking southwest across Iowa Avenue – 1924
(Source: State Historical Society of Iowa.)
The Bushnagel Building is seen in this view (see the “lunch” sign above the west storefront). The early character (now
camouflaged by black paint) with its heavy cornice, round headed windows and prominent window hoods is apparent.
Image 05. Historic Image – 1915
(Source: State Historical Society of Iowa.)
This 1915 image gives us a great look at the building’s storefront.
Iowa Department of Cultural Affairs
State Historical Society of Iowa Site Number 52-01940
Iowa Site Inventory Form Related District Number
Continuation Sheet
Page 7
Bashnagel Building Johnson
Name of Property County
113-115 E. Iowa Avenue Iowa City
Address City
Image 06. Historic Image – View looking southwest across Iowa Avenue – ca.1964
(Source: Iowa City Public Library.)
The Bushnagel Building is seen in this view looking west along Iowa Avenue. The view documents the mid-20th century
appearance of the 100 block of Iowa Avenue. Note that the building (near right) had been painted black by that time.
Iowa Department of Cultural Affairs
State Historical Society of Iowa Site Number 52-01940
Iowa Site Inventory Form Related District Number
Continuation Sheet
Page 8
Bashnagel Building Johnson
Name of Property County
113-115 E. Iowa Avenue 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, 115 East Iowa Avenue, 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. “Un-named property. 52-01940.” Iowa Site Form, 2001.
Svendsen, Marlys A. “Un-named property. 52-01939.” Iowa Site Form, 2001.
Timeline
1874 Fire Map: two, 1-story buildings (addressed 6 and 7) on the site
1879 Fire Map: the 2-story, 2-bay building with central staircase is on the site (addressed 14 and 15). The east
bay extends several feet deeper than that on the east. The occupant of the west storefront can be read, but
the east storefront was occupied by a “confect” or confectioner. No indication of upper story function or
whether the two sides were open to eachother is noted.
1883 Fire Map: no building numbers noted. No significant change in footprint. Noted that there were no
openings on either the east or west elevations, and indication that the building owner anticipated that
buildings would eventually be constructed on either side and they would adjoin this building.
The west storefront was occupied by “Sal.” (indicating a saloon) and the east by a confectioner. No
indication of the upper story function or whether it was open between bays.
Iowa Department of Cultural Affairs
State Historical Society of Iowa Site Number 52-01940
Iowa Site Inventory Form Related District Number
Continuation Sheet
Page 9
Bashnagel Building Johnson
Name of Property County
113-115 E. Iowa Avenue Iowa City
Address City
1888 Fire Map: addressed 111 and 113. No significant change in footprint. Notes added: west bay = 26-ft.
wide; east bay = 25-ft. wide; no openings on east or west elevations; “piazza” added to 2nd floor rear of
east bay (113); wall to 2nd noted.
Occupants remained “Sal.” and “Confect.”
1892 Fire Map: West bay extended to same length as east bay. “Wall to 2nd” noted.
“Sal.” remained in west storefront. A restaurant occupied the east storefront.
1899 Fire map: addressed 111 and 115. St. James Hotel on the west has expanded to adjoin the west bay.
The footprint is altered at the rear from the 1892 map. Perhaps to accommodate new occupants: west bay
– a jeweler; east bay – a bakery and restaurant with an engine and bake house at rear of the building.
Notably: the building measurements are a 30-ft. width for each bay (likely just a refinement of measuring,
including the central staircase). Also, the interior separation is noted as “br. 1st only.”
1904 City directory: 111-1/2 Iowa City Cigar Co.
113-1/2 Konvalinka & Co., Cigar Manufacturer
John Konvalinka: cigar manufacturer, boards at 529 Brown
1906 Fire map: addressed 111 and 113 and 115. Some modification of the footprint at the rear of the east bay
(115) likely due to change in occupant, which was then a bowling alley. The west bay (113) was occupied
by a tailor. The 2nd story was occupied by a cigar factory. The interior separation is again noted as 1st
floor only.
1907 City Directory: 113-1/2 Konvalinka & Co., Cigar Manufacturer
1909 City directory: 113-1/2 Konvalinka & Co., Cigar Manufacturers
1911 City directory: 113 Varsity Wardrobe, J.B. Kemp
113-1/2 John Konvalinka, Cigar Manufacturer
115 C.A. Webber Printing Co.
1912 Fire map: addressed 111 and 113 and 115. No significant changes to the footprint. East occupant is a
printing business; the west occupant is a 2nd hand shop; and the 2nd story remains occupied by a cigar
factory. The interior separation is again noted as the 1st floor only.
1915 City directory: 113 Wm. A. Sutton, barber
113-1/2 residence: George R. and Edith Hanley
115 Samuel A. McGinnis, motorcyles
115-1/2 residence: Harry H. and Mae E. Morris
** John Konvalinka, Cigar manufacturer at 332-1/2 Davenport
1926 Fire map: addressed 113 and 115. The west bay (113) extends to the south even with the east bay. No
occupants specified, including the 2nd floor. The interior separation is again noted as the 1st floor only.
Iowa Department of Cultural Affairs
State Historical Society of Iowa Site Number 52-01940
Iowa Site Inventory Form Related District Number
Continuation Sheet
Page 10
Bashnagel Building Johnson
Name of Property County
113-115 E. Iowa Avenue Iowa City
Address City
1933 Fire map: address 113 and 115. A small addition appears to the east elevation of the east bay (115) at the
rear. A 2nd story porch runs the full width of the building at the transition from the 2-story section at the
front of the building to the 1st sections at the rear. The interior separation is again noted as the 1st floor
only.
1948 Revision of the 1933 fire map: No significant differences from the 1933 map.
11. Additional Documentation
Full Legal Description: Original Town, Block 80, East 19.25’ of Lot 3 and East 19.25’ of North 20’ of Lot 4
Assessor: 002+1010311011/002+1010311012
Latitude/Longitude: 41.661276/-91.533998
Parcel Map - 2017