HomeMy WebLinkAbout52-02225_13 S Linn_HohenschuhMortuarySite Inventory Form State Inventory No. 52-02225 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 Hohenschuh Mortuary
other names/site number Donohue-Lensing Mortuary
2. Location
street & number 13-15 S. Linn 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) 66 Lot(s) see full description
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)
07C02 FUNERARY/mortuary/funeral home 02G02 COMMERCE/TRADE/bar
01B02 DOMESTIC/multiple dwelling/apartment building 01B02 DOMESTIC/multiple dwelling/apartment building
7. Description
Architectural Classification (Enter categories from instructions) Materials (Enter categories from instructions)
06B LATE 19th & EARLY 20th CENTURY REVIVALS/ foundation
Georgian Revival 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 13-15 S. Linn Street Site Number 52-02225
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 1917 check if circa or estimated date
Other dates
05 COMMERCE
Significant Person Architect/Builder
(Complete if National Register Criterion B is marked above) Architect
H.C. Cross Builder
H.L. Stevens Co.
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
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 52-02225
Iowa Site Inventory Form Related District Number
Continuation Sheet
Page 1
Hohenschuh Mortuary Johnson
Name of Property County
13-15 S. Linn Street Iowa City
Address City
7. Narrative Description
The Hohenschuh Mortuary is a two-story, brick building constructed in 1917. The building is comprised of two
primary sections: the public space is identified on the exterior by the fully articulated façade, which faces S. Linn
Street on the east; the non-public space extends west from the main building and its identified by a flat roof and
lack of ornamentation (2017).
The building’s façade is an example of high style Georgian Revival, the level of execution an indication that the
building was architect designed. The main building is distinguished by the details that define that style, namely a
side-facing gable roof with roof dormers, symmetrical façade, use of classically inspired details: denticulated eave
on both the front and sides; returned cornice; the pedimented form, classical pilasters, and round headed windows
with elegant paning used in the dormers; segmented arches of the second and first floor windows; and (most
definitively) the elaborate entrance with its curved portico, simple frieze and denticulated cornice, elegant
columns, segmental arch of the recessed entrance and doorway with elaborate fanlight and sidelights (2017).
In addition, the façade incorporates curved balconies associated with the second floor windows. Each balcony has
simple square spindles with a decorative detail insert. The center balcony surmounts the entrance portico, while
the flanking balconies are supported by paired brackets.
Upper story windows of the façade have been retrofitted, with the glazed opening now significantly smaller than
the historic opening. Windows are paired, jalousie type windows. Although the curved head of each window is
infilled, the form of the historic opening is discernible and retains the historic segmental arch, label type lintel
with a stone keystone and corner blocks. Some of the windows of the secondary elevations have also be replaced;
original versions can be identified by their multi-paned configuration. The dormer windows appear to be original
to the building. Fenestration on the lower level includes a single horizontal window opening on either side of the
entrance. Each window opening has straight lintels of soldiered brick with stone keystones. Both window
openings have been replaced by plate glass – one by 2001 and the other subsequent to the 2001 survey (2017).
The rear wing of this building belies its original construction for commercial purposes. Fashioned of concrete
block and brick, it has a flat roof with a tall parapet and cornice molding. This wing originally had multi-light
casement windows with straight arches and a garage entrance door for the hearse/ambulance. Brick corbels
beneath the first floor windows, including those on the front façade, originally supported narrow flower boxes,
which have since been removed. The building has a concrete foundation with brick veneer walls. It measures 40-
ft. across the front and is approximately 95-ft. deep (2001).
Contemporary changes to the building are principally confined to the window openings, interior floor plan, and
interior finishes. It is also possible that sections of balustrade were removed from the entrance portico on the
lower level (2001).
In 2017, the building remains largely unchanged from the previous description. Both stories of this building are
currently occupied by The Yacht Club, a bar.
Iowa Department of Cultural Affairs
State Historical Society of Iowa Site Number 52-02225
Iowa Site Inventory Form Related District Number
Continuation Sheet
Page 2
Hohenschuh Mortuary Johnson
Name of Property County
13-15 S. Linn Street Iowa City
Address City
Image 01. View looking southwest across S. Linn Street
(Image by AKAY Consulting, August 2017)
Image 02. View looking west across S. Linn Street
(Image by AKAY Consulting, August 2017)
Iowa Department of Cultural Affairs
State Historical Society of Iowa Site Number 52-02225
Iowa Site Inventory Form Related District Number
Continuation Sheet
Page 3
Hohenschuh Mortuary Johnson
Name of Property County
13-15 S. Linn Street Iowa City
Address City
8. Statement of Significance
This building is a relatively well-preserved example of the Georgian Revival architectural style. It was one of a
series of quasi-public or civic buildings constructed along S. Linn Street in the decades immediately preceding
and following the turn-of-the 20th century. It is also associated with the business career of William P.
Hohenschuh, operator of a local mortuary and a statewide leader in the mortuary business. Due to a loss of
integrity, specific to the replacement of most windows and the apparent radical renovation of the interior, the
building is not considered individually eligible for listing on the National Register of Historic Places. However,
the building is an important and unusual example of the Georgian Revival style in the Iowa City downtown and it
has a long association with the history of commerce in the downtown. As a result, Hohenschuh Mortuary is
considered a contributing resource to a potential historic district, significant under both Criterion A and C.
Historical Background
William P. Hohenschuh purchased this property from W.E.C. Foster in 1917 when the site held a two-story frame
building containing three side-by-side flats. The frame building was razed a short time later to erect the
Hohenschuh Mortuary. Its location along S. Linn Street is just two blocks east of Old Capitol, a National Historic
Landmark, and the Pentacrest, a National Register historic district. S. Linn Street was on the eastern fringe of the
downtown with several public buildings already in place by this time. They included the City Hall built at the
northwest corner of Washington and Linn streets, the new Post Office (1904, 1931 addition), and the new library
(1904). The Elks Building and Masonic Temple were located east of Linn Street. A second mortuary was
constructed across the street at the southeast corner of Linn and Iowa in 1918 and like the Hohenschuh Mortuary
took advantage of proximity to churches, fraternal halls, and both the Osteopathic and University hospitals located
nearby (Svendsen, 2001).
Hohenschuh’s funeral parlor business had operated in conjunction with a furniture store previous to the
construction of this new building. It was first located on Washington Street east of Linn in ca.1875 and moved to
20 S. Dubuque Street a short time later. Information compiled in the 1981 downtown survey indicates that the
business also used space at 19 S. Dubuque and 332 E. Washington Street. Hohenschuh was president of the state
association of funeral directors from 1894 to 1895 and frequently served as a speaker on funerary topics. His
leadership among his peers was acknowledged when he received license no. 1 when the industry was first
regulated. Hohenschuh also held the position of vice-president of the First National Bank (Svendsen, 2001).
Hohenschuh was also president of the Hotel Jefferson when it opened in 1913. His experience in constructing that
building led him to retain the hotel’s architect, the H.L. Stevens Co. of Chicago, to design his new mortuary.
Local news accounts report excavation for the new building was underway by October of 1917 and confirm that
architect H.C. Gross of H.L. Stevens and Co. had completed the design plans. H.L. Stevens and Co. was to act as
the architectural engineers and general contractors with C.B. Campbell acting as the superintendent in charge.
Descriptions of the new mortuary indicate that it was designed with a “service parlor” on the first floor, which
with a lobby could accommodate 200 people. The building also had a private family parlor and a “trimming and
embalming room.” Offices were located on the third floor and a garage at the rear of the main building would
house the mortuary ambulance and truck. The second floor was used for a stock room, three “show rooms” and
bedrooms for people who wished “to stay with their dead.” The description provided of the building also notes
that the roof would be red tile. Lacking a detailed historic image, it is not known whether the tile roof was actually
executed (2017).
By 1930, the Hohenschuh Mortuary had been sold to John Donohue and Delmer Sample, who retained its name.
Judging by advertisements for the mortuary, John Donohue had been associated with the enterprise for a number
Iowa Department of Cultural Affairs
State Historical Society of Iowa Site Number 52-02225
Iowa Site Inventory Form Related District Number
Continuation Sheet
Page 4
Hohenschuh Mortuary Johnson
Name of Property County
13-15 S. Linn Street Iowa City
Address City
of years prior to assuming part ownership; he is noted as the funeral director and proprietor by 1922 (Image 03).
They also operated a private ambulance service in connection with the mortuary. Donohue retained his interest in
the mortuary but eventually took on a new partner, Walter Lensing. Donohue’s son, Walter, succeeded him in the
business and the business was renamed the Donohue-Lensing Mortuary. After Walter’s death in ca. 1976 Michael
Lensing took over the business and operated it into the 1980s (2001).
Image 03. Historic Image – 1922
(Source: City Directory, 1922.)
Iowa Department of Cultural Affairs
State Historical Society of Iowa Site Number 52-02225
Iowa Site Inventory Form Related District Number
Continuation Sheet
Page 5
Hohenschuh Mortuary Johnson
Name of Property County
13-15 S. Linn 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, 13-15 South Linn Street, 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
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. “Hohenschuh Mortuary: 52-02225.” Iowa Site Form, 2001.
Newspapers
Iowa City Press-Citizen. “Hohenschuh Will Build Mortuary.” August 28, 1917.
Iowa City Press-Citizen. “Mortuary is Now Started.” October 09, 1917.
Iowa City Press-Citizen. Advertisement for Hohenschuh’s Mortuary. October 25, 1918.
Iowa Department of Cultural Affairs
State Historical Society of Iowa Site Number 52-02225
Iowa Site Inventory Form Related District Number
Continuation Sheet
Page 6
Hohenschuh Mortuary Johnson
Name of Property County
13-15 S. Linn Street Iowa City
Address City
11. Additional Documentation
Legal Description: Original Town, Block 66, 110’ South of Northeast corner, West 95’, South 40’, East
95’, North 40’ to point of beginning.
Assessor PIN: 009+1010312004
Latitude/Longitude: 41.661008/-91.531917
Parcel Map - 2017
LINN202-214
24-26
20-22
14
DUBUQUEWA SHINGTON
IOWA
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