HomeMy WebLinkAbout52-01943_121-123 Iowa_BrunswickHallSite Inventory Form State Inventory No. 52-01943 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 Brunswick Hall
other names/site number Athens Print Shop; Malone's Pub & Eatery, Burger Palace
2. Location
street & number 121-123 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) 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 shop/billiards hall 02G02 COMMERCE/TRADE/restaurant/bar
02E16 COMMERCE/TRADE/specialty shop/bowling alley 01B02 DOMESTIC/apartment
7. Description
Architectural Classification (Enter categories from instructions) Materials (Enter categories from instructions)
09F COMMERCIAL foundation
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 121-123 E. Iowa Avenue Site Number 52-01943
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 1890 check if circa or estimated date
Other dates
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 5242 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 52-01943
Iowa Site Inventory Form Related District Number
Continuation Sheet
Page 1
Brunswick Hall Johnson
Name of Property County
121-123 E. Iowa Avenue Iowa City
Address City
7. Narrative Description
This 2-story brick building was constructed sometime between 1888 and 1892 when fire insurance maps show it
first appearing; historic images place it here by 1891. The building originally had two storefronts with a staircase
leading to the upper level in between and shop entrances to either side. The upper level had a massive pressed
metal cornice that included a central pediment with embossed designs and finials and a heavily ornamed freize. A
central bay widnow had four sash with transoms and matching pressed metal trim. To either side of the bay
window were groups of narrow three 1/1 double-hung windows with transoms. The first floor storefront included
plate glass windows with the three entrances recesssed beneath the projecting bay window (Svendsen, 2001).
In 1946 the building front was substantially modified with the addition of new facing brick and windows. The
elaborate cornice was removed at that time. In 1974 the storefront and signboard section of the building was
modified with the addition of a modified castle appearance consistent with its tenant at the time – the Burger
Palace. The current façade treatment dates from the 1990s. The central staircase entrance is set beneath a
semicircular molding and a multilight transom. A recessed shop entrance is located to the right, which is accessed
from a ramp. The storefront windows consist of a series of square panes arranged between stylized pilasters all set
beneath a continuous signboard. Four 1/1 double-hung sash are set equally spaced along a beltcourse that
separates the upper level from the storefront. Each window is surmounted by a curved, fixed awning. The current
cornice also dates from the recent remodeling and includes a moderately scaled crown molding with paired,
miniature brackets. All of the new façade elements are metal. The building measures 50-feet wide with a depth of
75-feet (Svendsen, 2001).
In 2017, the building appears much as was observed in 2001. The assessor notes a significant interior renovation
was undertaken in 2008 and it may be that some modification of the exterior occurred simultaneously. While the
description of the storefront is largely the same as previously noted (i.e. central entrance, gridded storefront),
neither storefront is recessed. The storefront maintains a generally unified appearance. A raised deck with exterior
seating and fencing has been added. On the upper story, new windows (double-hung with a 4/4 configuration)
have been located in existing openings.
Image 01. View looking southwest across Iowa Avenue
(Image by AKAY Consulting, August 2017)
Iowa Department of Cultural Affairs
State Historical Society of Iowa Site Number 52-01943
Iowa Site Inventory Form Related District Number
Continuation Sheet
Page 2
Brunswick Hall Johnson
Name of Property County
121-123 E. Iowa Avenue Iowa City
Address City
Image 02. View looking south across Iowa Avenue
(Image by AKAY Consulting, August 2017)
8. Statement of Significance
The Brunswick Hall building is located along Iowa Avenue near Old Capitol, a National Historic Landmark, and
the Pentacrest, a National Register historic district. The building’s façade has been substantially modified from its
original appearance, with additional alterations made subsequently. As a result, the building is not individually
eligible for the National Register under Criteria A or C. However, because the initial, and most significant loss of
character-defining features, occurred more than 50 years ago (ca.1946) and because, relevant to the post-1946
appearance, the building retains the original form (without addition or significant alteration) and the historic
delineation of storefront and façade, 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.
Please note that due to the noted integrity issues the building’s significance as a contributing resource is not
associated with Criterion C.
As originally laid out, Block 80 of the Original Town Plat had lots in its northeast quarter facing Iowa Avenue.
This street was planned as a wide boulevard leading from Capitol Square to Governor’s Square on the west edge
the town. Its 120-foot 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 were public buildings.
As noted above, an interpretation of fire insurance maps for 1888 and 1892 indicates that this building was
constructed sometime between those years; historic images place it here by 1891 (Image 03). The property was
Iowa Department of Cultural Affairs
State Historical Society of Iowa Site Number 52-01943
Iowa Site Inventory Form Related District Number
Continuation Sheet
Page 3
Brunswick Hall Johnson
Name of Property County
121-123 E. Iowa Avenue Iowa City
Address City
owned by Lemuel B. Patterson from before the Civil War until 1897 when he transferred it to his daughter Lilly
Welch. Lilly’s husband, Willard, was involved with Patterson in constructing another nearby building, the
Patterson Block located at 9-15 S. Dubuque Street. City directories show that by 1904 the building’s two
storefronts housed the Brunswick Hall (billiards) at (121) and the Brunswick Barber Shop at (123). The following
image of 1891 documents a billiards hall in the west storefront (121) and (judging by the pole on the sidewalk) a
barber shop on the east. By 1911 the first floor businesses were operated by Ernest Nicking and Charles Schmidt
and in 1915 a bowling alley was added to the billiards hall under the proprietorship of Roy Wertz. The upper level
housed a physicians supply house and a dental supplier.
Image 03. Historic Image – 1891
(Source: Finials: A View of Downtown Iowa City.)
The building today is a far cry from its original character. The primary character-defining features including the elaborate
cornice and 2nd floor bay window were removed in the first known façade renovation, which was completed in 1947.
After World War I the first floor became the Athens Print Shop, later the Athens Press, and remained so for 20
years. The print shop moved down Iowa Avenue and the 123 Lunch Room, located in the east storefront and a
student supply shop located in the west storefront. In 1947 the building was sold to Albert Graham, proprietor of
the Paris Cleaners. It was this change in ownership that triggered the re-façade that forms the basis of the exterior
character today. Graham and his sons Don and John later operated the business adopting the Eiffel Tower as the
company logo. In ca.1974 the Burger Palace restaurant located here. It currently houses Basta Pizzeria Ristorante.
Iowa Department of Cultural Affairs
State Historical Society of Iowa Site Number 52-01943
Iowa Site Inventory Form Related District Number
Continuation Sheet
Page 4
Brunswick Hall Johnson
Name of Property County
121-123 E. Iowa Avenue Iowa City
Address City
Image 04. Historic Image – View looking southwest across Iowa Avenue – ca.1974
(Source: Iowa City Public Library.)
This image may well document the transformation of the building from Paris Cleaners to the Burger Palace,
which occurred in the 1970s.
Iowa Department of Cultural Affairs
State Historical Society of Iowa Site Number 52-01943
Iowa Site Inventory Form Related District Number
Continuation Sheet
Page 5
Brunswick Hall Johnson
Name of Property County
121-123 E. Iowa Avenue Iowa City
Address City
9. Major Bibliographic References
Iowa City city directories.
Property Transfer Records, Johnson County Auditor’s Office.
Tax Assessor’s Records, City of Iowa City Assessor.
Summary Sheet, 121 and 123 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.
Weber, Irving. Irving Weber's Iowa City - Volume 1. Iowa City, Iowa: Iowa City Lions Club, 1976, pp. 168-
170.
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. “Brunswick Hall: 52-01943.” Iowa Site Form, 2001.
Iowa Department of Cultural Affairs
State Historical Society of Iowa Site Number 52-01943
Iowa Site Inventory Form Related District Number
Continuation Sheet
Page 6
Brunswick Hall Johnson
Name of Property County
121-123 E. Iowa Avenue Iowa City
Address City
11. Additional Documentation
Legal Description: Original Town, Block 80, from a pt. 79’ West of Northeast corner of Lot 1, south 75’,
southwest 38’, west 20’, north 100’ and east 47’.
Assessor PIN: 009+1010311008
Latitude/Longitude: 41.661269/-91.533708
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
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7
128-130CLINTONDUBUQUEWASHINGTON
IOWA
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