Iowa Street 1684IOWA STATE HISTORICAL DEPARTMENT, DIVISION OF HISTORIC PRESERVATION
DUBUQUE, IOWA 1978
Amhitectural SUrvey 1979
Inventory
STREET ADDRESS
BUILDING ~ NAME
PRESENT O~ER
Address
Photograph ~o~ ~
__ Frame ~9A
LEGAL DESCRIPTION
DATE OF CONSTRUCTION
Source
ARCHITECT/BUILDER
Source
PRESENT USE
DESIGNED USE
Source
ACCESSIBILITY ~UNR/NO
STATUS ~/UNO/WP
BUILDING MATERIALS CONDITION
Foundation ~ ~~ ~ 234
Trim L~A~57~_~ ~ ~}~f~ (~A~V ~234
Eaves/Cornice ~%%Mz~ ~%M3~ ~234
Roof ~0~ l~[~ [ ~?M~% 1~ 34
Chimney(s) .~ 1C~ 34
1234
1234
DESIGN FEATURES
Facade N/S/E/W By Date
MODIFICATIONS/ADDITIONS:
Details of Note:
Site Features:
Evaluation
I QUALITY Aesthetic 1~34
Historical 1~34
Rarity 1~34
II ENVIRONMENTAL STATURE 1~34
III CONTEXT Immediate ~234
Broad <~'~234
IV INTEGRITY OF FABRIC 1~34
Architectural Significance
PROBABLE ADDITIONAL AREAS OF SIGNIFICANCE
REPRESENTATION IN EXISTING SURVEYS
COMMENT:
H~S / NEaP
SURVEY CONSULTANT: Bruce M. Kriviskey, AICP
Date
Site Inventory Form
State Inventory No. 31-01680
New Supplemental
State Historical Society of Iowa
Part of a district with known boundaries (enter inventory no.)
Relationship:ContributingNoncontributing
(December 1, 1999)
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 First German Presbyterian Church
other names/site number
2. Location
street & number 1684 Iowa
city or town Dubuque vicinity, county Dubuque
Legal Description: (If Rural) Township Name Township No. Range No. Section Quarter of Quarter
(If Urban) Subdivision Block(s) Lot(s) see below
3. State/Federal Agency Certification []
Skip this Section
4. National Park Service Certification []
Skip this Section
5. Classification
Category of Property Number of Resources within Property
(Check only one box)
building(s) If Non-Eligible Property If Eligible Property, enter number of:
district Enter number of: Contributing Noncontributing
site 0 buildings 1 0 buildings
structure sites sites
object structures structures
objects objects
0 Total 1 0 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
The Architectural and Historical Resources of Dubuque, 1833-1955N/A
6. Function or Use
Historic Functions Current Functions
(Enter categories from instructions)(Enter categories from instructions)
06-Religion/06A01-church 06-Religion/06A01-church
7. Description
Architectural Classification Materials
(Enter categories from instructions)(Enter categories from instructions)
foundation Stone
thth
06-Late 19 & 20 Century Revivals/06E-Late Gothic Revival walls brick
roof Asphalt
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.
31-01680
Dubuque1684 Iowa
County Address Site Number
Dubuque
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 Significant Dates
(Enter categories from instructions)
Construction date
Architecture1896
check if circa or estimated date
Other dates
Significant Person Architect/Builder
(Complete if National Register Criterion B is marked above)
Architect
N/A Unknown
Builder
Unknown
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 James E. Jacobsen
organization History Pays! Historic Preservation Consulting Firm date June 15, 2004
street & number 4411 Ingersoll Avenue telephone 515-274-3625
city or town Des Moines state IA zip code 50312
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 # 7465 Frame/slot # 10 Date Taken Sept. 2003
Roll/slide sheet # Frame/slot # Date Taken
Roll/slide sheet # Frame/slot # Date Taken
photo & slide catalog sheet
See continuation sheet or attached 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
31-01680
Site Number
Iowa Site Inventory Form
Related District Number
Continuation Sheet
Page 1
First German Presbyterian Church Dubuque
Name of Property County
1684 Iowa Dubuque
Address City
7. Narrative Description:
This property is located in the Jackson Park Historic District. Style/Year: 1896, late Gothic Revival,
remarkable design with an angled square steeple, Gothic windows, buttresses with stone shoulders.
Physical Description: Rectangular plan, off center east end, raised rusticated stone foundation and
water table, cruciform footprint with side gable wings, bulls eye window with quatrefoil infill, same in
steeple gable fronts.
Alterations: removal of spire from stone tower, metal stair railing. Permits note re-roofing in 1938 ($50),
1949 ($500), 1967 ($8,000), 1996 ($10,000), cast concrete handicap access ramp 2000.
Landscaping/Setting: prominent corner parcel, ground level drops to the east, building fronts west.
8. Narrative Statement of Significance:
Special Significance; First German Presbyterian Church
th
Original Owner/Builder: this building, similar in design to the German Presbyterian Church at 11 and
Locust, but had a greater capacity and would “exceed any German protestant church in the city.” The
foundation was nearly finished by late May 1896, $20,000 (Herald, May 24, 1896).
Building History: the original church on this corner was built 1856-57 and had a pastor’s residence in
the basement. It was called “Old Blue Church” and measured 40x60 with a basement ceiling of 12 feet.
The pastor’s quarters were in the basement where there was also a large lecture room. It was built for
$6,000. The congregation sponsored the Presbyterian Seminary, later the German Theological
Seminary and finally the University of Dubuque (Jackson Park Walking Tour; Herald, March 8, 1857).
The German Presbyterian Church owned the parcel when it was first sewered.
9. Major Bibliographical References:
Sanborn Fire Insurance Maps, 1884, 1891, 1909/36
Dubuque City Directories, 1902, 1915, 1925, 1934
Bruce Kriviskey, Dubuque, Iowa--Architectural Survey 1978/1979, Atlas of City Wide and District
Survey Maps, Dubuque; n.p., c.1979
Dubuque County Assessor’s Data
Newspapers and other primary sources as noted in the text above.
Historical photographs, Center For Dubuque History, Loras College
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First German Presbyterian Church Dubuque
Name of Property County
1684 Iowa Dubuque
Address City
10. Additional Documentation:
Map:
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First Presbyterian Church
1684 Iowa Street
Dubuque, Iowa 52001
January 16, 2004
Wally Wernimont, Assistant Planner
Planning Services Department
50 W. 13th Street
Dubuque, Iowa 52001
Dear Mr. Wernimont:
Thank you for the historical papers that you sent in regard to our church. Our history book
indicates that the present church was built in 1896 for a cost of$10,599. A church member
named Ulrich Willy was the contractor using plans prepared by Heer and Son. I am enclosing a
short history which includes some facts which you already have plus some additional information.
The First Presbyterian Church of Dubuque, Iowa
Swiss Pastor, Peter Flury, came to Wisconsin to minister to Indians. However, he was drawn
to German-speaking immigrants in Dubuque who were in need of leadership. On December 25,
1847, he gathered 35 people and organized the German Evangelical Church and a small church
building was soon built.
The church moved to 17th and Iowa Streets while Rev. Adrian VanVliet was pastor. They
built the"Blue Church", painted with VanVliet's favorite color. He lived in the basement and
trained young men for the gospel ministry. This was the start of the University of Dubuque
Theological Seminary. The church became the First German Presbyterian Church in 1854.
The present building, erected in 1896, is in the National Historic Register. A pipe organ was
purchased for$986 during that same year. This organ is of similar style and type as the organ
used by Johann S. Bach to compose his great masterpieces. The organ blower was pumped by
hand until 1926. "German" was cemented over on the identification stone on the church during
World War I but restored in 1985.
While Dr. William C. Laube was pastor of First Presbyterian, he was instrumental in the
founding of Bethany Home for the Aged in 1923. He persuaded Mrs. Christian Loetscher to
donate her home to the church for this purpose and encouraged Presbytery to accept it. Bethany
Home continues today in the same location at 1005 Lincoln Avenue.
Today First Presbyterian Church welcomes a variety of races and cultures including a number
of Native American students, a fact which would have pleased Peter Flury. This"Mother
Church" maintains close ties with the seminary, encouraging students to be a part of the church
family and supervising one or two student pastors each year. Local outreach is done
cooperatively with other downtown churches. There are currently 89 members and in 1999 they
called their first full-time pastor in almost twenty years.
(revised 1-14-04)
Please call if you have further questions: My number is 582-9462.
VeNita E. Fawcett
Clerk of Session