20th Street 0397
Site Inventory Form
State Historical Society of Iowa
(December 1, 1999)
State Inventory No. 31-03235 rgJ New D Supplemental
D Part of a district with known boundaries (enter inventory no.) _
Relationship: D Contributing D Noncontributing
D Contributes to a potential district with yet unknown boundaries
National Register Status:(any that apply) D Listed D De-listed D NHL D DOE
9-Digit SHPO Review & Compliance Number _
D Non-Extant (enter year) _
1. Name of Property
historic name J. J. Crode Jr. Buildinq
other names/site number
2. Location
street & number 397 East 20th Street
city or town Dubuque
Legal Description: (If Rural) Township Name
D vicinity, county Dubuque
Township No. Range No. Section Quarter of Quarter
(If Urban) Subdivision_
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)
IZI building(s)
D district
D site
D structure
D object
Block(s) _
Lot(s) see below
Number of Resources within Pro ert
If Non-Eligible Property If Eligible Property, enter number of:
Enter number of: Contributin Noncontributin
1 buildings 1 Q buildings
sites sites
structures structures
o~ects o~ects
Total 1 Q Total
1
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. 1833-1955 31-045
6. Function or Use
Historic Functions (Enter categories from instructions) Current Functions (Enter categories from instructions)
02-Commercial Trade
same
7. Description
Architectural Classification (Enter categories from instructions)
Materials (Enter categories from instructions)
05D Queen Anne
foundation Stone
walls brick
01-no stvle/German Vernacular
roof Asphalt
other
Narrative Description (IZI 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)
DYes D No IZI More Research Recommended A Property is associated with significant events.
DYes IZI No D More Research Recommended B Property is associated with the lives of significant persons.
IZI Yes D No D More Research Recommended C Property has distinctive architectural characteristics.
DYes IZI No D More Research Recommended D Property yields significant information in archaeology or history.
County Dubuque
City Dubuque
Criteria Considerations
D A Owned by a religious institution or used
for religious purposes.
D B Removed from its original location.
DCA birthplace or grave.
D D A cemetery
Address 397 East 20th Street
Site Number 31-03235
District Number
D E A reconstructed building, object, or structure.
D F A commemorative property.
D G Less than 50 years of age or achieved significance within the past
50 years.
Areas of Significance (Enter categories from instructions)
Significant Dates
Construction date
1909 D check if circa or estimated date
Other dates
Arch itectu re
Significant Person
(Complete if National Register Criterion B is marked above)
N/A
Architect/Builder
Architect
N/A
Builder
Unknown
Narrative Statement of Significance (IZI SEE CONTINUATION SHEETS, WHICH MUST BE COMPLETED)
9. Major Bibliographical References
Bibliography IZI See continuation sheet for citations of the books, articles, and other sources used in preparing this form
10. Geographic Data
11. Form Prepared By
name/title James E. Jacobsen
organization History Pays! Historic Preservation Consultinq Firm
street & number 4411 Inqersoll Avenue
city or town Des Moines
state IA
date July 22.2000
telephone 515-274-3625
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 # 7425 Frame/slot # 21-22 Date Taken 03-07-00
Roll/slide sheet # Frame/slot # Date Taken
Roll/slide sheet # Frame/slot # Date Taken
D See continuation sheet or attached photo & slide catalog sheet for list of photo roll or slide entries.
D 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
Iowa Department of Cultural Affairs
State Historical Society of Iowa
Iowa Site Inventory Form
Continuation Sheet
Site Number 31-03235
Related District Number
Paqe 1
J. J. Crode Jr. Buildinq
Name of Property
397 East 20th Street
Address
Dubuque
County
Dubuque
City
7. Narrative Description:
This two story brick corner commercial building is well preserved and richly ornamented. It
represents a later-date example of this building type. The visually dominant corner turret and conical
roof are unusual in the survey area where rectangular angled corner bays are predominant. The
storefront has a high ceiling/transom level. The storefront has been infilled but the cast ironwork
remains in place. The angled corner entry has been replaced with a reduced side entrance. Square
pilasters break up the front and east side wall into a series of window set panels. Vertical separations
between the floor levels are accomplished by use of a brick beltcourse, a series of corbelled brick
rectangular panels which are set beneath each window, and finally a unified stone sill beltcourse.
Windows utilize a semi-elliptical rubbed soldier brick arch. The fayade contains separated single
windows while those on the side wall are paired in four sets. The turret windows were originally
rounded, but have been covered or replaced. Each has a transom window opening. Unlike most
examples of the type, this one does not use projecting pressed metal cornice on its fayade parapet
wall, instead, a flush-set highly decorative band, either of terra-cotta or metal, is continued on both
exposed fronts. The turret too features a pressed metal covering.
The plan (24x60) is based on a stone foundation. John and Mary Gronen have purchased the
building and intend to restore it further. The building marks the southeast corner of the Couler Valley
survey area and functions as a visual landmark at Five Points.
8. Narrative Statement of Significance:
This is an excellent and relatively well preserved Queen Anne/German vernacular example of a
corner commercial storefront. The building is an important visual landmark at a key intersection and
the turret and other features make it distinctive. The building is individually historically significant under
Criterion C architecture and further research is recommended to trace its builder, designer and history.
Elm Street was cut through to Rhomberg Street during the 1890s and that change made this
corner commercial site attractive for redevelopment. A small single story saloon was on this site as of
1891. Curiously a city directory search for J. J. Crode, Jr. for the years 1886-1909 turned up nothing
and his identify and business remains undiscovered. The 1909/36 Sanborn Map merely refers to the
building as a store.
9. Major Sibliographical References:
Sanborn Fire Insurance Maps, 1884, 1886, 1888, 1889, 1891, 1903, 1909/36
Dubuque City Directories, 1902, 1915, 1925, 1934
Bruce Kriviskey, Dubuque, lowa--Architectural Survey 1978/1979, Atlas of City Wide and District
Survey Maps, Dubuque; n.p., c.1979
11 Additional Documentation:
Legal Description: Sub 2 of Sub of 1-E "V4 & W %-E % of 95 L. H. Langworthy's Addn., E 25'11.5" of S
100' Lot 2