HomeMy WebLinkAbout52-02810_119-123 E Washington_KresgesSite Inventory Form State Inventory No. 52-02810 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 S.S. Kresge Building
other names/site number
2. Location
street & number 119-123 E. Washington 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 2
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)
02F COMMERCE/TRADE/department store 02E COMMERCE/TRADE/specialty/
02E COMMERCE/TRADE/specialty/
7. Description
Architectural Classification (Enter categories from instructions) Materials (Enter categories from instructions)
08 MODERN foundation 10 CONCRETE
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 119-123 E. Washington Street Site Number 52-02810
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 1930 check if circa or estimated date
Other dates
05 COMMERCE 1956
Significant Person Architect/Builder
(Complete if National Register Criterion B is marked above) Architect
Builder
Sugarman Construction Co., Des Moines
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 52-02810
Iowa Site Inventory Form Related District Number
Continuation Sheet
Page 1
S.S. Kresge Building Johnson
Name of Property County
119-123 E. Washington Street Iowa City
Address City
7. Property Description
The S.S. Kresge building is a two-story, cream colored brick commercial building that was constructed in two
phases beginning in 1930 (careful scrutiny of the façade brick reveals the seam between the two sections) and
1956 (2017).
This mid-block building replaced two earlier Victorian era commercial buildings on this site. The construction
materials and several specific elements are the same for both sections of the building but their arrangement is
different. This is particularly apparent today in the upper façade where the fenestration of the eastern two-thirds of
the building are arranged as a visual unit: three windows massed on-center with paired windows set on either side.
All of the windows are 1/1 double-hung sash (likely original), but the paired windows are narrower than those of
the center group. This complete grouping of windows is framed by a running lintel and sill of cut stone. The
center group is further highlighted with decorative corner blocks and cut stone framing. Additionally, the eastern
two-thirds of the building is marked by a cut stone, stepped parapet elevated slightly above the stone coping; its
location on-center of the eastern two-thirds further marks that section of the building as a separate construction
phase (2017).
The west third of the building continues the running lintel and sill as well as the stone coping (minus a raised
parapet) with a pair of windows (of the same size and configuration as the flanking windows on the east) centered
on this section. No additional decorative elements are used on the western section (2017).
The storefront treatment on the lower level is the same for both halves of the building. The shop windows are
constructed of plate glass and anodized metal of varying configurations. Three recessed entrances also have plate
glass and anodized metal doors. The former transom area is now covered and used as to mount signage. The
building measures approximately 60-ft. across the front and extends to the alley with a depth of 150-ft.
Approximately 20-ft. of the front has two-stories with the larger rear section one-story in height (Svendsen, 2001).
In 2017 the S.S. Kresge building appears largely as previously described. The storefronts are currently occupied
by Encore Life, The Quarters Leasing Office, and RAD. The upper story is vacant.
Image 01. View of the streetscape within which the building is located, looking east along E. Washington
(Image by AKAY Consulting, August 2017)
Iowa Department of Cultural Affairs
State Historical Society of Iowa Site Number 52-02810
Iowa Site Inventory Form Related District Number
Continuation Sheet
Page 2
S.S. Kresge Building Johnson
Name of Property County
119-123 E. Washington Street Iowa City
Address City
Image 02. View of the façade (north), looking south across E. Washington Street
(Image by AKAY Consulting, August 2017)
8. Statement of Significance
The S.S. Kresge Building is a moderately well-preserved example of a 1930s commercial building. Although its
historical associations or architectural design do not merit individual National Register listing, the building is
considered a contributing resource to a potential historic district.
The Kresge building is representative of both the 20th century transformation of this streetscape and the national
rise of the five and dime of which S.S. Kresge was an important example. In those historic associations, the
building is significant under Criteria A. Further, the building form and stylistic details are expressive of the early
Modern period in which it was constructed. Having replaced two Victorian era buildings, the new Kresge building
presented a very different architecture character; its construction marks the beginning of a shift in visual character
for this block of E. Washington. Although likely much altered on the interior, the building was configured
specifically to function as a five and dime – a business type that arose in the 20th century. While the storefront is
much altered from the original, the building retains the character-defining features of the upper façade including
the historic fenestration (including it appears the original windows). As a result, the S.S. Kresge Building is also
significant under Criterion C.
Iowa Department of Cultural Affairs
State Historical Society of Iowa Site Number 52-02810
Iowa Site Inventory Form Related District Number
Continuation Sheet
Page 3
S.S. Kresge Building Johnson
Name of Property County
119-123 E. Washington Street Iowa City
Address City
Image 03. Historic Image – E. Washington Street looking southeast - 1913
(Source: State Historical Society of Iowa.)
This image captures the E. Washington streetscape just after construction of the Hotel Jefferson (left)
and before the loss of the 19th century character.
Historical Background
As originally laid out Washington Street was an important commercial street with an extra wide width (100’
rather than 80’) that extended along the south edge of Capitol Square on the west through the central business
district and then past College Green Park to the east before connecting to Governors Square, the planned location
for the governor’s residence. Within a few decades Washington Street housed the city’s most important banks,
hotels, and public buildings as well as a frequently changing collection of retail establishments.
A three-bay commercial building occupied by men’s and women’s clothing stores, dry goods stores, a shoe store,
and a jeweler occupied this site prior to the 1930s. At the time Kresge’s announced they would construct a new
building at 121-123 E. Washington Street, the storefronts at that location were occupied by Speidel Brothers,
clothing store (121) and Keith and Hauser, jewelers and opticians (123). The Kresge company took a long-term
lease of the site (property owner undetermined). Kresge’s came to Iowa City after a careful survey which revealed
a likelihood for “growth, stability of employment, and general business standing.” The company choose this
specific site for its location at the center of the city’s shopping area and the option for enlargement.
Construction of the new $30,000, two-story, 4,500-sq. ft. building was underway by early summer 1930; the six-
day long demolition was underway by the first of June. The construction contract was let to Sugarman
Construction Co. of Des Moines with F.M. Freeman of the Kresge Company acting as construction
superintendent. Good progress was reported by the end of July, with foundations completed and all steel and brick
work well underway. News accounts noted that local workers were completing most of the construction.
The new Kresge store opened on September 3, 1930. Local news accounts noted that the store was located “in an
entirely new building attractively finished along modern lines” (2017).
Iowa Department of Cultural Affairs
State Historical Society of Iowa Site Number 52-02810
Iowa Site Inventory Form Related District Number
Continuation Sheet
Page 4
S.S. Kresge Building Johnson
Name of Property County
119-123 E. Washington Street Iowa City
Address City
Image 04. Historic Image – E. Washington Street looking southwest - 1930
(Source: State Historical Society of Iowa.)
The 1930 section of the newly completed S.S. Kresge building stands next to the Hotel Jefferson in this 1930 view of
E. Washington Street. It wasn’t until 1956 that the adjacent two-story Victorian era building was removed to make way for an
expansion of the Kresge’s store.
The adjacent 19th century building at 119, which was occupied by the Lorenz Brothers Boot Shop, remained in
place until 1956. Robert and Frank Lorenz operated the business, moving it across the street when Kresge’s
expanded. The grand opening of the newly enlarged Kresge store was reported in September of 1956. The project
involved construction of a new building on the site of Lorenz Boot Shop, creating a storefront frontage of 60-feet.
The enlargement included a 30- by 60-ft. addition across the rear of the store. The first floor then had a sales area
of 9,061-sq. ft. with new features including “a new checkout operation with customers using carts while shopping.
Selections are then checked out at one of five check-out stations in the front of the store. Another station is
located at the rear of the building.” A new stainless steel luncheon fountain with seating for 27 was served by an
“all stainless steel Pullman-type kitchen.” Store offices were located in the upper story of the 1930 building with
an employee’s lounge occupying the upper story of the addition (2017).
Although not described in news accounts, an accompanying image documented the continuation of features from
the 1930 to the upper story of the addition. The storefront of the 1930 building was remodeled at this time to
create visual unity with that of the addition. Storefronts were described in news accounts as being executed in
“glass, aluminum, and a mottled red and tan Macotta.” A large neon sign noting “S.S. Kresge” in large letters
extended the length of the expanded storefront (2017).
S.S. Kresge operated a series of nationally franchised stores in central business district locations in most major
cities in the country. S.S. Kresge was a low-priced department store and its main national competitors in the
1930s were the W.T. Grant Company and F.W. Woolworths. S.S. Kresge started pulling out of downtown
business district locations in 1962, opening large outlet stores in suburban shopping malls. Kresges moved from
this location in the mid-1970s. Drug Fair, a franchise drug store was in place by 1978 (Svendsen, 2001).
Iowa Department of Cultural Affairs
State Historical Society of Iowa Site Number 52-02810
Iowa Site Inventory Form Related District Number
Continuation Sheet
Page 5
S.S. Kresge Building Johnson
Name of Property County
119-123 E. Washington Street Iowa City
Address City
Image 04. Historic Image – E. Washington Street looking southwest - 1956
(Source: Iowa City Press-Citizen. 09/05/1956.)
The newly expanded and remodeled S.S. Kresge Co. Store.
Iowa Department of Cultural Affairs
State Historical Society of Iowa Site Number 52-02810
Iowa Site Inventory Form Related District Number
Continuation Sheet
Page 6
S.S. Kresge Building Johnson
Name of Property County
119-123 E. Washington 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.
2017: References
Iowa City Public Library. Digital Photograph collection. http://history.icpl.org.
Sanborn Company Fire Insurance Map, 1933 rev.1948
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. “S.S. Kresge Building: 52-02810.” Iowa Site Form, 2001.
Newspapers
Iowa City Press-Citizen. “Many Local Firms Move.” March 15, 1929.
Iowa City Press-Citizen. “Start Work on Remodeling for Kresge Company.” June 02, 1930.
Iowa City Press-Citizen. “Start Work on Remodeling for Kresge Company.” June 02, 1930.
Iowa City Press-Citizen. “Let Contract For Building.” June 09, 1930.
Iowa City Press-Citizen. “Construction on Kresge Building Advances Rapidly.” July 23, 1930.
Iowa City Press-Citizen. Advertisement. September 02, 1930.
Iowa City Press-Citizen. “Kresge Store Will Open on Wednesday.” September 02, 1930.
Iowa City Press-Citizen. “Grand Opening of Enlarged Kresge Store is Scheduled.” September 05, 1956.
Iowa Department of Cultural Affairs
State Historical Society of Iowa Site Number 52-02810
Iowa Site Inventory Form Related District Number
Continuation Sheet
Page 7
S.S. Kresge Building Johnson
Name of Property County
119-123 E. Washington Street Iowa City
Address City
11. Additional Documentation
Legal Description: Original Town, Lot 2 Blk 81
Assessor: 119 002+1010378008
121 002+1010378007
123 002+1010378006
Latitude/Longitude: 41.660078/-91.533611
Plat Map:
COLLEGE
115
110124 107CLINTONDUBUQUEWASHINGTON
118102
138
104 109
112111-117119-123125-131114 109111
114-116128132±