Summit Street 0439-0447-0449Site Inventory Form
State Inventory No. 31-01577
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 Rufus B. Rittenhouse Triplex
other names/site number
2. Location
street & number 439-49 Summit Street
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 3 1 buildings
structure sites sites
object structures structures
objects objects
0 Total 3 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
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)
01B-multiple Dwelling/Rowhouse 01B-multiple Dwelling/Rowhouse
7. Description
Architectural Classification Materials
(Enter categories from instructions)(Enter categories from instructions)
03-Early Republic/03B-Federal Style foundation Stone
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.
31-01577
Dubuque439-49 Summit Street
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
Architecture1857
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, 2005
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 # 7485 Frame/slot # 32 Date Taken Jan. 2005
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
31-01577
Site Number
Iowa Site Inventory Form
Related District Number
Continuation Sheet
Page 1
Rufus B. Rittenhouse Triplex Dubuque
Name of Property County
439-49 Summit Street Dubuque
Address City
7. Narrative Description:
Architectural Style And Key Stylistic Elements:
Federal brick triplex, similar to 427-33, but a triplex, hip roof porch on left third, two hoods over other
entries, returned eaves, stepped end walls on south end, and between the three sections, north section
has hip roof and just two bays, side hall plans (south section left side, middle and north sections right
side entries), two-story full-width rear wing, shed roof.
Physical Description:
Three 16x48 units, brick voussoir arches, wood sills on sidewalls, straight stone lintels on façade, stone
foundation
Alterations:
Hip roof porch on south section is a later addition, 1909 Sanborn shows no porches or canopies.
Window and door replacements. Ground level raised south section for porch addition.
Building Permit Cards:
1956 (433?) concrete block garage
1973-re-sided
Outbuildings:
Frame side gable shed
Landscaping Notes:
Stepped lot, low terrace, ground drops to the north and west, fronts east, corner lot
8. Narrative Statement of Significance:
Historical Notes:
Rufus Rittenhouse buildt a block of eight houses on Summit Street…”admirably located…good
neighborhood and delightful view…well built, having every convenience…(Times, August 24, 1857).”
rdth
Mary and Michael O’Brien are likely tenants as of 1873-74, 3 house south of West 5. Michael was a
ICRR conductor. D. D. Myers, CD&MRR engineer, might have occupied south half of duplex at that
time.
William Potts owns when sewered.
City Directory Notes:
(97-103-105 Summit Street)
1883-86 Walter J. Cummings (97) (no 1880 listing)
1890-96 William Potts boards at 97 Summit.
James Rudersdorf (97), 1908
97 Summit vacant 1918-21
Edward Lunens, Chas. McCart, Miss Eliz. Bull, 1921
Iowa Department of Cultural Affairs
State Historical Society of Iowa
31-01577
Site Number
Iowa Site Inventory Form
Related District Number
Continuation Sheet
Page 2
Rufus B. Rittenhouse Triplex Dubuque
Name of Property County
439-49 Summit Street Dubuque
Address City
Historical Image Notes:
The 1909 Sanborn map shows the house as three units, 97-103-105 Summit, the last being shorter in
plan, all having a front cornice and no porches, and all having rear extensions.
The 1909/36 Sanborn map shows the same, and adds a garage in the corner of the lot
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
10. Additional Documentation:
Legal Description: South 23’ of North 100’ Lots 1-2-3, Kiene & Blocklinger Sub
Map:
Fenelon Area Survey Contour Map
Blackened house locates subject property
(City of Dubuque, 2005)