HomeMy WebLinkAbout52-02812_126 E Washington_CommercialBldgSite Inventory Form State Inventory No. 52-02812 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 Adams Sisters Millinery; Josephine Hat Shop; the Judy Shop; Reddick Shoes
2. Location
street & number 126 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) 80 Lot(s) part of Lot 8
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/ 02G COMMERCE/TRADE/restaurant
01B DOMESTIC/multiple dwelling 02G02 COMMERCE/TRADE/bar
7. Description
Architectural Classification (Enter categories from instructions) Materials (Enter categories from instructions)
09F05 COMMERCIAL/Brickfront foundation
walls 03 BRICK
roof
other 04 STONE 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 126 E. Washington Street Site Number 52-02812
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 1869 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 02/2018
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 52-02812
Iowa Site Inventory Form Related District Number
Continuation Sheet
Page 1
Commercial Building Johnson
Name of Property County
126 E. Washington Street Iowa City
Address City
7. Property Description
This 2-story, brick commercial building likely dates to ca.1869, when a glimpse of it is captured in a photograph
of its neighbor to the west, the Security Insurance Co. building (Image 04). As noted by Svendsen, a building with
a similar appearance first appears on the fire insurance map in 1874.
The building occupies a mid-block position along the north side of E. Washington Street between S. Clinton and
S. Dubuque streets. Although the building façade has undergone at least two major renovations, the appearance
today is representative of its original appearance, though absent the period cornice (2017).
As described by Svendsen, “the building’s original front had a bracketed heavy cornice (Ellis, p. 146) that has
been removed and parapet edge lowered slightly.Three 1/1 double-hung sash are equally spaced across the upper
level with stone sills and flat stone lintels. The current storefront has two doors on the right side with one leading
to the second floor on the outside edge. The balance of the front consists of two pairs of operable 15-light French
doors set in frame openings with paneled bulkheads beneath. The crown molding separating the levels has been
removed and replaced with a horizontal wood member. The building measures 22’ across the front, has a depth of
80’, and a flat composition roof.
A 1970s image documents one significant façade renovation (Image 07). The date of that renovation is
undetermined, but judging by the design the work was undertaken in the late 1930s; the original cornice was
removed at that time. Removal of the structural glass cladding in the 1980s likely damaged the original brick and
led to a decision sandblast and tuckpoint (per Svendsen, that work occurred in ca. 1981). Despite the abrasive
approach taken to renovate the façade, the building stands as an important representative of a very early
commercial building. The present storefront was installed in 2000.
In 2017 the building appears to be unaltered from the previous description. The storefront is occupied by
Restaurant 126 and the second story is occupied by Moonrakers.
Image 01. View of the streetscape within which the building is located
(Image by AKAY Consulting, April 2018)
View of the E. Washington streetscape, looking northeast. The resource is indicated.
Iowa Department of Cultural Affairs
State Historical Society of Iowa Site Number 52-02812
Iowa Site Inventory Form Related District Number
Continuation Sheet
Page 2
Commercial Building Johnson
Name of Property County
126 E. Washington Street Iowa City
Address City
Image 02. View of the façade (north), looking north across E. Washington Street
(Image by AKAY Consulting, April 2018)
8. Statement of Significance
This commercial building has seen at least two major façade alterations. The present appearance represents the
ca.1981 removal of a 1930s renovation that had included removal of the original cornice to accommodate the
adherence of structural glass cladding. Removal of the structural glass cladding in the 1980s likely damaged the
original brick and led to a decision sandblast and tuckpoint. Despite the abrasive approach taken to renovate the
façade, the building’s ca.1869 character has been partially restored. The resource stands as an important
representative of a very early commercial building. Due to the alterations, the resource is not considered
individually eligible for listing on the National Register of Historic Places. However, the resource retains
sufficient integrity to stand as a contributing resource under both Criteria A and C. The resource has a
longstanding association with the history of Iowa City commerce and as a representative of the city’s early
commercial buildings (2017).
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.
Iowa Department of Cultural Affairs
State Historical Society of Iowa Site Number 52-02812
Iowa Site Inventory Form Related District Number
Continuation Sheet
Page 3
Commercial Building Johnson
Name of Property County
126 E. Washington Street Iowa City
Address City
Fire insurance maps show a building with the footprint of the current structure in place by 1874, when Charles
Boye owned the property (Svendsen, 2001). An early image of the neighbor to the west (Security Insurance Co.,
at 124 E. Washington) places a building of similar scale and character at 126 in 1869 (Image 04) (2017).
Confusing legal descriptions in property transfer records for Block 80 make it difficult to trace the chain of
ownership for this building through the years. Boye may have sold the parcel to Annie Bischoff, but by 1889 it
was transferred from Elizabeth Kilty (Lizzie Kitty) to Joseph and Bertha Dourer (Dehner). The couple held the
property until 1901 selling it to Enoch Hope (Svendsen, 2001).
Image 03. Historic Image – ca.1900
(Source: State Historical Society of Iowa, Iowa City.)
In this view of E. Washington Street, looking east from Clinton Street provides a look at the late-19th/early-20th century
character of the streetscape. The building at 126 is indication.
Image 04. Historic Image – ca.1869
(Source: Marybeth Slonneger, Finials, 2015.)
This early image of the building at 124 E. Washington also provides a glimpse of 126 E. Washington St. (right).
Iowa Department of Cultural Affairs
State Historical Society of Iowa Site Number 52-02812
Iowa Site Inventory Form Related District Number
Continuation Sheet
Page 4
Commercial Building Johnson
Name of Property County
126 E. Washington Street Iowa City
Address City
During its nearly thirteen decades of existence, fire insurance maps show that #126 has been leased to a variety of
tenants beginning with a furniture store (1874), billiards hall (1879-1883), restaurant (1888), Saloon (1892-1899),
and millinery shop (1906-1920). City directories show John Schneider with a furniture store on the north side of
Washington Street east of Clinton in 1875 and 1878-79. By 1890 city directories confirm that a billiards hall was
in place under the proprietorship of M. O’Reilly. The 1893-94 directory shows that Joseph Dehner was operating
a restaurant from #126, a change in use that probably took place soon after the Dehners acquired the building in
1889 (Svendsen, 2001).
By 1904 the Adams Sisters millinery operated by sisters Matilda and Lillian was in place. In subsequent years, hat
shops continued with the Adams Sisters continuing for approximately twenty years. After the of longtime
property owner, Enoch Hope, died in 1925, the property was transferred to Catherine Hope, who held it until her
death in 1952 (Svendsen, 2001).
In 1926 the Josephine Hat Shoppe was located in the storefront with no occupant noted for the upper story.
Josephine McNally remained at that location through late 1934. In February of 1936, the Press-Citizen reported
the opening of the Judy Shop (hats), in the newly redecorated building. The paper describes the remodeling,
completed by local architect J. Bradley Rust, as “ colonial in design.” It does not appear that the façade was
altered as part of the remodel. Operated by Gertrude Judy (and later by Gertrude Meachem), the Judy Shop was
located in the building through 1952. Over the course of its operation, the Judy Shop expanded its stock to include
the sale of linens, baby clothes, and girls clothing. In 1940 the upper story housed the Co-Ed Beauty Salon. The
Judy Shop remained in the building in 1946, as did the Co-Ed Beauty Salon.
Image 05. Historic Image – 1926
(Source: Marybeth Slonneger, Finials, 2015.)
In 1926 the storefront was occupied by the Josephine Hat Shoppe with no occupant noted for the upper story.
Image 06. Historic Image – 1940
Iowa Department of Cultural Affairs
State Historical Society of Iowa Site Number 52-02812
Iowa Site Inventory Form Related District Number
Continuation Sheet
Page 5
Commercial Building Johnson
Name of Property County
126 E. Washington Street Iowa City
Address City
(Source: Marybeth Slonneger, Finials, 2015.)
In 1940 the storefront was occupied by the Judy Shop, a millinery. The upper story housed the Co-Ed Beauty Salon.
In December of 1951, a notice advertising the sale of real estate belonging to the estate of the late Catherine Hope
appeared in the Press-Citizen. The building sold at auction in February of 1952 for $31,000. The buyer was S.
Lysle Duncan and Iowa City realtor. Under new ownership, the Judy Shop moved from the building that summer,
relocating to 117 S. Dubuque (2017).
By September of 1952, Reddick Shoes (a newly incorporated business) was celebrating its grand opening in the
building. According to the 1954 city directory, the Co-Ed Beauty Salon remaining in its location on the second
floor. Reddick Shoes continued to advertise their business at this location through the 1960s (2017).
A long-standing, recent tenant was the Great Midwestern Ice Cream Store, located in the building during the
1980s and 1990s. In 2001 the building occupant was The Loft Bar (Svendsen, 2001).
Image 07. Historic Image – 1970s
(Source: Marybeth Slonneger, Finials, 2015.)
Like a number of the commercial buildings along this block of E. Washington, the façade of the building at 126 has seen
multiple renovations. This image documents the façade in the 1970s. The appearance of the upper façade (with what appears
to be black and white Carrara glass facing), suggests a major renovation in the 1930s-1940s.
Iowa Department of Cultural Affairs
State Historical Society of Iowa Site Number 52-02812
Iowa Site Inventory Form Related District Number
Continuation Sheet
Page 6
Commercial Building Johnson
Name of Property County
126 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.
Summary Sheets, 126 East Washington 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.
Ellis, Edwin Charles, “Certain Stylistic Trends in Architecture in Iowa City,” MA Thesis, Depart of Art, State
University of Iowa, June 1947, pp. 145-146.
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. “52-02812.” Iowa Site Form, 2001.
Newspapers
Iowa City Press-Citizen. “New Hat Shop To Open Here.” February 08, 1935.
Iowa City Press-Citizen. Advertisement. March 02, 1949.
Iowa City Press-Citizen. “For Sale.” December 24, 1951.
Iowa City Press-Citizen. “Building Housing Judy Shop Sold For $31,000.” February 15, 1952.
Iowa City Press-Citizen. “Judy Shop Purchased By Former Employes [sic]; To Change Location.” July 14, 1952.
Iowa Department of Cultural Affairs
State Historical Society of Iowa Site Number 52-02812
Iowa Site Inventory Form Related District Number
Continuation Sheet
Page 7
Commercial Building Johnson
Name of Property County
126 E. Washington Street Iowa City
Address City
11. Additional Documentation
Full Legal Description: Original Town, Block 80, West 22’ of the South 80’ of Lot 8.
Assessor: 002+1010311031
Latitude/Longitude: 41.660606/-91.533596
Parcel Map:
28 120132121-12311711023
1121
12410-12-14
32
19-21
24-26
9119
17
13-15
114-11612611115
16 1138
30
5
11818-20
22
7
128-130CLINTONDUBUQUEWASHINGTON
IOWA
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