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Four Mds - Historic NominationPlanning Services Depm'tment City Hall 50 West 13ffi Steer D~buque, Iowa 52001-4864 (563) 5894210 office (563) 5894221 fax plannlng~cityoffiub~que.org August 28, 2001 The Honorable Mayor and City Council Members City of Dubuque City Hall- 50W. 13aStreet Dubuque IA 52001 RE: To place the Four Mounds Estate Historic District (4900 Peru Road) on the National Register of Historic Places. Dear Mayor and City Council Members: The City of Dubuque Historic Preservation Commission has reviewed the above-cited request. The application, staff report and related materials are attached for your review. Discussion John Gronen, board member of the Four Mounds Foundation, spoke in favor of the request. He explained that the nomination is for the 60-acre site, including the principal structures, all out buildings, the burial mounds, and the landscape. He also noted that the budal mounds had been listed on the National Register in 2000 as an amheological site. There were no public comments. Staff reviewed the nomination, and the three criteria for significance: local, history, architecture and prehistory (archeology). The Historic Preservation Commission discussed the request, noting that it meets the criteria for placement on the National Register of Historic Places. Recommendation By a vote of 7 to 0, the Histodc Preservation Commission recommends nomination of the Four Mounds Estate Histodc District to the National Register of Histodc Places due to significance to history of Dubuque, architectural significance and information important to prehistory or history of Dubuque. A simple majodty vote is needed for the City Council to concur with the request. Respectfully submitted, Terry Mozena, Chairperson Historic Preservatin Commission Attachment~ Service People Integrity Responsibility Innovation Teamwork CITY OF DUBUQUE IOWA MEMORANDUM Auguxt 21,2001 TO: Historic Preservation Commission FROM: Wally Wernimont, Assistant Planner SUBJECT: National Register Nomination for the Four Mounds Estate Historic District at 4900 Peru Road The State Nominations Review Committee plans to consider Four Mounds Estate Historic District at 4900 Peru Road for nomination to the National Re~ster of Hisxoric Places during their October 12, 200I, meeting. As a pmticipant o£the Certified Local Government Program, the City. of Dubuque is required to rexSew and comment on the proposed National Register nominations of properties w/thin its jurisdiction. The State has provided copies of the nomination, photographs, and review form for this appiication. The Cornm~ssion shotdd review this nomination ~t a public meeting, which is slated for August 27, 2001. The State is requesting the Commission review the nomination, and then comment on whether the nominated property meets the significance criteria (A,B,C, or D) for listing on the National Register of Historic Places. The application indicates ttmt the property is significant under criteria A, C, and D. Please review the attached documents and be prepared to recommend whether the property in question should be listed or not. enclosures The Historical Division of the Department of Cultural Affairs STATE HISTORICAL SOCIETY OF IOWA Where past meets future C)TY Of DUBUQUIE AUG 2 0 2001 August 16, 2001 American Gothic House Eldon Blood Run NHL Larchwood Centennial Building Iowa City Matthew Edel Blacksmith Shop Marshalltown Abbie Gardner Cabin Arnolds Park Iowa Historical Building Des Moines Montauk Governor's Home Union Sunday School Clermont Museum Clermont Plum Grove Governor's Home Iowa City Toolesboro Indian Mounds Toolesboro Western HistoricTmils Center Council Bluffs City of Dubuque C/o Mark Noble 50 W. 13th Street Dubuque, LA 52001 RE: Four Mounds Estate Historic District, 4900 Peru Road, Dubuque, Dubuque County Dear Mr. Noble: We are pleased to inform you that the above named property will be considered by the State Natione! Register Nominations Revie~ Committee for nomination to the National Register of Historic Places on October 12, 2001. The National Register is the Federal Government's official list of historic properties worthy of preservation. Listing in the National Register provides recognition and assists in preserving our Nation's heritage. Listing of the property provides recognition of the community's historic importance and assures protective review of Federal projects that might adversely affect the character of the historic property. Listing in the National Register does not mean that limitations will be placed on the properties by the Federal government. Public visitation rights are not required of owners. The Federal government will not attach restrictive covenants to the properties or seek to acquire them. Listing in the National Register results in: Consideration in the planning for Federal, federally licensed, and federally assisted projects. Section 106 ofthe National Historic Preservation Actof 1966 requires Federal agencies allow the Advisory Council on Historic Preservation an opportunity to comment on projects affecting historic properties listed in the National Register. For further information please refer to 36 CFR 800. Eligibility for Federal tax provisions. If a property is listed in the National Register, certain Federal tax provisions may apply. The Tax Reform Act of 3.986 revises the historic preservation tax incentives authorized by Congress in the Tax Reform Act of 1976, the Revenue ACt of 1978, the Tax Treatment Extension Act of 3.1.980, the Economic Recovery Tax ACt of !98~_, and Tax Reform Act of 3_984, and as of January 3., 1987, provides for a 20 percent investment tax credit with a full adjustment to basis for rehabilitating historic commercial, industrial, and rental residential buildings. The former 15 percent and 20 percent investment Tax Credits (ITCs for rehabilitation of older commercial buildings are combined into a single 10 percent Yrc for 6ommercial or industrial buildings built before 1936. The Tax Treatment Extension Act of 1980 provides Federal Tax deductions ~or charitable contributions for conservation purposes of partial interests in historically important land areas or structures. Whether these provisions are advantageous to a property owner is dependent upon the particular circumstances of the property and the owner. Because tax aspects outlined above are complex, individuals should consult legal counsel or the appropriate local Internal Revenue Service office for assistance in determining the tax consequences of the above provisions. For further information please refer to 36 CFR 67 and Treasury Regulation Sections 3..48-:t2 (Yrcs) and 3..3.70A-14 (charitable contributions). Consideration of historic values in the decision to issue a surface coal mining permit where coal is located, in accord with the Surface Mining and Control Act of 1977. For further information please refer to 30 CFR 700 et seq. Qualification for Federal and State grants for historic preservation when funds are available. Eligibility for State Tax Credits for rehabilitation. Properties listed on the National Register, eligible for listing on the National Register or Barns constructed before 1937 are eligible to apply for a 25 percent state tax credit for rehabilitation. The cost of a IOWA HISTORICAL BUILDING 600 East Locust · Des Moines, Iowa 50319-0290 Phone: (515) 281-6412 · Fax: (515) 242-6498 or (515) 282~)502 www. iowahistory, org 1990) United States Department of the Interior National Park Service National Register of Historic Places Registration Form This fcrrn i$ for use in norninaQ~ or requesting deterrninatHns for i.~ldlvidua~ p~ and die.cts. See instruct~ns )n Hew to Re~e¢ of Hi,~t.~n'c P~,ce$ Re~.~Tat;or~ Fc~m {Na~nal Regret BuII~in 16A). C~mp~ete ~ch A~ by m~ng ~" ~ ~e ~ i~o~n ~. If an it~ d~ ~ a~ fo ~ pm~y ~i~ d~, ~ ~A" ~ "n~ ap~b~." For ~n~. _~. Name of Property historic name Four Mounds Estate Historic; District other names/site number 2. Location street & number 4900 Peru Road N/A L] not for publication city or town Dubuque [X] vicinity state iowa ccde iA county Dubuque code 061 zip code 52001 3. StatetFe~.e_J:~J Ac~encv Certification As the designated authority ur:~er the Nafieea~ H~s~c P~ ~ as a~r~, t her~y ~d~ [~t ~ ~ ~m~on ~ ~uest ~ ~te~inaflo~ of el~ibi{~ m~ ~e d~e~n ~a~ f~ ~s~dng p~ in the ~{ ~ of H~todc P~ and ~ts ~e pro~uraI ar~ p~io~al r~utr~ ~t ~ in ~ CFR Pa~ ~. in my ~i~Hn, ~he pm~ ~ ~ ~ d~ ~ m~ ~ N~naI Reg~ ~e~. I ~mme~ ~ this p~ ~ ~ s~ ~ namely ~ sm~e ~ ~ ~ see ~n~n ~ ~ ~dd~l ~). Signature of certifying offid, a~/F'~de Date S~e or F~dera~ agency and bureau in my optnHn, the ~ [_] mee~s L] does no~ meet the Natlenet Reg~ter ~ia. (L] See co~tinuat~n sheet for adcii~Jonal comments.) $ignmure of cer~fying of~ciai/Fr~e Date State or F~I ageecy a~-~ b~eau National Park Service Certification hereby ce~ ~ ~e property L] ~red in the Natfonal L~ S~ N~at ~t~. S~eature of the ~r Name of Property County and State Classification Ownership of Property (Check 3s many ~ as apply) Category of Property (Check ~nty o~e box) L] pdvate L] building(s) [~ pubiic-tocaI ~ district L] public-State L] site L] public-Federal LJ structure L] object Number of ResOurces within Property (Do not include p~evio~sty ~s~ed resources in the count) Conlyibuting Noncontributing 11 2 ..... buildings 2 0 sites 4 0 structures 0 0 objects t 7 2 Totat Name of related multiple property listing (Er¢~er 'N/A" if property is tm[ part of a mu~pJa property listing.) N/A Number of contributing resources previously listed in the National Register 6. Function or Use Historic Functions (Enter categories from instructions1 DOMESTiCIsin~la dwellinatresidence DOMESTtC/sin(~la dwellin,qlresidence DOMESTIO~secondar~ structure AGRICU LTU RE/Subsistence!animal facility/barn AGRICULTUREISubsi~tence/animal facilitv/hoq house AG RICU LTU RE/Subsistence/storaoe/cdb A_.GRICU LTURE/Subsistence/storaqe/ice house LANDSCAPE/qarden FUN ERAR¥;qraves/burlals/burtat mounds Current Functions · Enter categories from instructions) DOMESTlC/hotetlinn EDUCATION/ed ucation~related DOMESTiC/secondaw structure EDUCATtO N/education-related EDUCATiON/education-related ED UCATtON/education-retaf:ed EDUCATiON/education-related LANDSCAPE/qarden FUN ERARYtqraves/burials/bunal mounds 7. Description_ Architectural Classification (ErC~r categ~ies from ~truc~ons~ Craftsman Colonial Revival Other clank frame barn Materials (Enter categ~ from fnstrucJ~) foundation STONE/Limestone wails STUCCO WOOD/Weatherboard roof WOOD/Shake other Narrative Description (Describe the histori~ ami current cc~dition of ~he l~'operty on one or mom con~inuatlon sO. etS.) Four--e_ His~onc D~stric~ Dubuque Cour~b/, Iowa Name of Property County and ~ 8. Statement of Applicable Nationa! Register Criteria (M~ "~x~ in one or more boyJes for the orite4ia qua~ng the property for Nationat Regis*~r ~.j A Property is associated -wi~ events that have made a sign~cant contribution to the broad patterns of our history. LJ B Property is associated wi~ the lives of persons significant in our past. C Property embodies the distinc~e characteristics of a type, period, or method of construction or represerrbs the work of a master, or possesses high artistic vatues, or represents a significant and dis~Jnguishable entity whose components lack individual distinction. Property has yteided, or is likely to y'~td, information important in prehistory or history. Criteria Considerations (Mark "x~ Ln alt the boxes that appty,) P roperb! is: bi A owned by a religious instituQon ar used for religious purposes. fl B removed from its original location. L] 0 a birthplace or grave. L~ D a cemetery. f~ E a reconstructed building, object, or st~cture. fl F a commemorative property. [_] G less than 50 years of age or achieved significance within the past 50 years. Narrative Statement of Significance (Expl~ th~ significance of the property o~ one or more continuation sheets.) Areas of Significance (Enter ca~egmies from )nst~ctions) ARCHITECTURE AGRICULTURE ARCHEOLOGY/PREHiSTORIC Period of Significance A.D. 350-1250 1907-195I Significant Dates 1907 1908 1924 Significant Person (Complete if Criterion B ~ marked Cultural Affiliation Late Woodland Architect/Builder Buck, Lavcrence Wvman, A. Phelps ~9,..Ma[or Bibliog_raphical References Bibliography (Cite the books, articles, a~d other sources used in prepa~ng this form on one or more con~uation sheets.) Previous documentation on file (NPS): Primary location of additional data: L] preliminary determination of individual listing (36 CFR 67) has been requested rX1 prevbualy listed in the National Register L] previously determined eligible by the National Register LJ designated a National Historic Landmark fl recorded by Historic American Buildings Survey L] recorded by Histodc American Engineering Record # tX1 State Historic Preservation Office fl Other State agency fl Federal agency fl Local government r__] University L] Other Name of reposi~ry: N~me of Pm~en~y Coa~ and 10. Geoqraphical Da__ta_ Acreage of Properb.~ 54 acres UTM References (Prate actd~nai UTM references on r~ coet~n~n ~) 1 [115] { ) lo]il41 l [4]7]t13! 1 101 Zone Easing No~hi~g 311151 rsM0131 121 [417lq3M M Zone Easfing [Slg]olslT]71 [4171i131713171 L] See con,hearten sheet Verbal Boundary Description (Describe the boundaries of the propedy on a ~nuatien sheet.) Boundary Justification (E. xplam why the ~undar~s were selected on a continuation sheet.) Form P_repared By nameCi3tle Leah D, Roqers/Consu~tant with contributions by Ronald Ramsay/North Dakota State University organization date July 3% 2001 smee~ & number 217 NW 5~ Street telephone 319-895-8330 city or [own Mt, Vernon state IA , z~p code 52314 _A_~d~jtj_9 nat Doc_umentation Continuation Sheets Maps A USGS map (7. 5 or 15 minu4~ sones] indicating the prepertCs location, A Sketch map for histodc districts and properties having large acreage or numerous resources. Photographs Representative black and white photographs of the property. Additional items P r__Eo. Pe rb/Owner ComloCete th~s ~tem ~t the request of SHPO or FPO.1 name Ci~ of Dubuque: contact Mark Noble, Cty Ptann nq Services Deeartment street & number 50 West 13m Street telephone 563-589-4210 or 583-589-4~ 10 city or ~own Dubuque state IA zip code 52001 Paperwork Reduction Act Statement: Th~s mfonmation is be~f~cJ co~c~ed for ac~icatmns [o the National Register of Histodc Places to nommam or~3ertles for ~stif~ of oetermJce eJ~g~ity for listing, to t~t proper~es, ar~ to amend e~bng JistieGs. Respor~e to this request ~ requited to ¢3tam a benef~ in acco~ar~e with the National Historic Preservation Act. as amended (16 U,S.C~ 470 et seq)~ form to the Chief, Administrative Se~s Di*~n, Na~onal Park Set,ce, P,O, Box 37127, Washington, DC 200t3-7127; and the Office of Management s~ Budget. Paperwork Reductions projects (1024A~18), Weshington, DC 20503, United States Department of the Interior National Park Servtce NatiOnal Register of Historic Places Continuation Sheet Section number 7 Page I Narrative Description Four Mounds Estate Historic District Dubuque County, Iowa The Four Motmds Estate Historic District encompasses the country' estate established in I908 by Geese A. and Viola Burden l~wecn Peru Road and the Mississippi River just north of the CiD' of Dubuque in D~buque To~ship, Dubuque County, Iowm The extant buildin~ include their home, the Grey House built ia 1908, a ham, comerS, icehouse, hog house, garage, pump house, porch ramada, root cellar, and two servants' homes (for the gardener and the chanfYeur), and the White House bulk in 1924 for their son, George IL Burden and his wife, Elizabefl~. upon their marriage. George IL ("Bill") and Elizabeth Burden added a garden shed, two playhousas (only one is extaat), a woodworking shop, and a rock garden to ihe estate. The final building added to the estate was a cabin built h~ 1956 for Frin~ Burden Gronen, daughter of George R. and Elizabeth:The Four Mounds estate derived its name ~om the presence of four prehistoric burial mounds that fine the btuf~p just downslepe from the Grey' House. The Burden family has always been carefnl and respectful of these mounds and ~ preserved them in place. The estate also includes landscaping fea-~aras such as the planted trees, shrubs, and flower gardens, many of which retain in place 'or have been re~Xored. The entire site is dominated by extY~sive, bI~a~-Ttop -~Sews of the Mississippi River vall%, to the east and rolling farmland to the west of this bluffiop est:a~. Ori~nally, the btat~op had been cleared of much of ks vegetation but thro ~ugh time, the woodlands have grown back ~ving the estate a wooded park-tike appearance. The pretty is entered from Peru Road along a narrow driveway that winds throu~ the woods up to the bluff~p location of the estute Froper. Tae entD'way is marked by a metal Four Mounds sign and rock walls that ilar& ~e driveway. As one drives up onto the bluffiop, the driveway ~Snds past fl~e working part of the farm including the ham and agricut~ outbuildin~ and two houses for servants of the Burden family before heading directly up to the ~ ]:louse, a mm-mien perched at ~e apex of the bhiffiop. The driveway circles up to the house but also leads over to the Vqqlile Ho~ where it cimles around and heads back to the Grey House. A second side drive~v~ leads to ~e burial mounds m~d the Gronen cabin just below the Grey House. Grey House The Gr~y House was actually the second house built on t~s estate. During the consmmtlon of this house, Geor~e JL and Viola Burden lived in what would become their chauffeur's house. The Grey House was completed in I908 and is an early' example in Iowa of a large house strongly influenced by' the .~s & Crafts MovemenL tt was designed by Chicago archite~t, Lawrence BucL and is the only' s-ar~4ving house in Iowa designed by Buck. The basic layout of the estate grounds was designed by the Chicago landscaping firm of A. Phelps Wyman. '12fis 2t-room house is nye-stories in height and is disth~uished by a massive clipped-~ble or jerkinhead roof and a massive horizontal emphasis. The roof is covered with wood shakes. The walls are ~ey rough-c~.st stucco, while the foundation is limestone block in construction. The roof has ftared~ wide overhanging eaves and small h/p-roofed dormers mn the roof stope at the attic level Exterior features of note inclnde the original easement and multi-pane double-hung windows, the use of rectanbmlar and rounded cantilevered bay windows on both the first and second floors, a distinctive r~vo-story bow window at the juncn~e of the two ells on the mar elevation of the house, and the use of round-arched, segmental-arched and rec~mrgular window and door openin,j~. Also of note is the sracened perte-coehere ~ shelters the ma~ front entry' door, which is a sin~e door flanked by' sidelights. The metal-~ad-~ass light fixrur~ flanking the entp/and hanging do~a from the porte-cochere roof are Arcs & Crafts Extures featuring txvo versions of the Four Mounds logo (see a.~tached photographs). These fixtures ma3: have been designed by Eleanor d'Ar~ Gaw, who had developed a national reputation as aa Arts & Crafl2s metal woP~<cx and was an associate of architect, Lawrence Buck, who designed the Grey House. United States Deparb~ent of the lr~erior National Park Service National Register of Historic Places Continuation Sheet Section number 7 Page 2 Four Mounds Estate Historic District Dubuque County, Iowa The interior of the house follows a T-shaped plan (see attached floor plans). The fLrst floor is raised above ~ouud level and is reached via a staircase in the formal entry vestibule. The vesla'bule leads into an open hall, with the turned bow window on the fight and an ~pen staircase to the second floor on the left. Turning right, one enters the living room, which is graced by a brick a~d file ~place at one end and distinctive Arts & Crafts light fixtures. T-.~o sets of French doors open into the screened veranda or sum'oom at the east end of th~s ell. To the left of the front antry ball one cml enter the card room opposite the Staircase or continue on into the tbrmai dining room, which in mm leads into the screened summer dining room. The pantry, kitchen, and maids' dirfing room are situated off the main hallway in the north ell of the house. Namrat woodwork mid Mission-style ~..mimre complete the ~kel of this Arts & Craf~inspired home. The second floor is reached ~Sa the open staircase t'lmt leads into an open hall l~e that of the first floor (see attached floor plan). Here the bow window i~cludes a w/ndow seat that offers a spectacular view of the Mississippi River valle>'. ' The second fltxyc includes seven bedrooms, including two for the house servants, four bathrooms with ori~nal fixtures, and a screen¢~t veranda off tbe east bedroom that may have been used as a sitting room by' the Burden family. The basement e.-e. ends underneath the main portion of the house mid is remarkable for the massive limestone w~lls even for the interior support walls (see attached floor plan). The basement includes a laundry room, a bathroom, a milk storage room, a fru/~, vagetable and preset;es storage room, a large boiler room, P, vo smaller rooms for gcnaeml stor'~ge and storage of all the ~ree~u and storm xvindows fbr the house, and a larger rank room that st[ll houses the massive water-pmssttm tank that ~-ovides water throughout the house. Finally, the attic, which extends the full length of the hot,se consists of m~atished storage space. This space currenlly houses much or'the extra furniture collection donated to the Four Mounds Foundation. The Grey Hot,se currently sera, es as the Fo~ Mounds Conferea~ce Cent~ and hm (Four Mounds Foundation a.d.). Meeting stYace and overnight ~ys can be reserved. The former card room on the first ~loor now serves as the museum shop for the Four btounds Foundation. White House I~e White House was built in 1924 for George ;R~ (Bill) and Elizabeth (Admns) Burden upon ~ir marriage. Elizabeth Burden lived in this house until her death in 1982, and it w~as her dec/sion to bequeath Four Mounds 'to the citizens of Dubuque. The house when built x~.as a t~o-sto~' side-gabled building desi~med in the Colonial RevivM style of architecture. It is distinguished ~, a very ~p, salt-box gabled roof with extended ~ble over the rear porch. The roof is covered with wood shingles. Steep shed-runfed dormers mark the mar roof slope. The formal front envy has a Colonial Revi~al-style portico entry porch supportxxl by paired round eolumns. Other d/st/nefive features include the 8/8 and 6/6 double-hung Mndows, ~ fanlight w/ndows in the gable peak~ flanking the brick chimneys, and the round archw~s and latticework of the side entr3~v~s. The only modification to the origi~ house was the construction of a gable-roofed addition to the west side of the house. However, this addition had been made by t934 because it was shown in a photograph of the house published in a 1934 ar~icte in the local newspaper (Telegraph Herald & Times Journal, Seplember 9, 1934). The addition likely reflects the ~*~owing family, of Bill and Elizabeth Burden by. flint time. l~e Vv'nite House is currently being restored to serve as an exXonsion of the Four Mounds Conference Center and Inn (Four Mounds Foundation n.d.)~ United States Department of the Interior National Park Service National Register of Historic Places Continuation Sheet Section number 7 Page 3 Four Mounds Estate Historic District Dubuque County, iowa The barn was the main building for the B~trden's farming OlX,n'ation. It was built ia 1908, and housed a shop and ~ge as well as stalls for cows and workhorses. The second floor was ~ for a hayloft and ~ storage as well as living space for the original c~ driver. This roctanguiar gabte~roofed building has a wood-shinned mol with m'o psTamida2 hil> roofed Ventilators on the roof ridge. The siding is horizontal drop siding, and the foundation is rongh-cut limestone blocks. The barn is banked into a slight slope but does not have a ba~ment level. The construction of the bra is plank framing, with much of the interior of the ground level being finished with beaded-board siding on the ceiling and walls. The mjofity of the ~otmd floor interior was used for an automobile garage and workshop; with t~e remainder having a few stalls for horses and milking stanchions for cows. A rack room and granary occupied the remaining spa~e (see attached floor plans). The upper level o£the barn included a small room for the carriage driver and a la~ open lof~ area for hay and gralu storage. Restoration of the ham b%mm in t997-98, with restoration o£ the interior continuing to the present da.w, Tt~e ham currently servcs as a workshop while restoration is ongoing (Four Mounds Foundafien n.cL). Gardener's Th/.s house was built in 1910 m serve as housing fbr the estate gardener. Two generations o£the Heitmnan family lived here. The house is a 1.5 story side-gabled building with a wc~xl-shingte roof., marrow-width clapboard siding, and a limestone l~undation. It is banked slightly into the natural slope. Distinctive t~mres include the shingled cornice returns, the kip-roof portico porch supported by rotmd posts, and the front door with transom ~4adow. The widows are all I/I double-h~mgs likely original to the house construction. The Cvardener's Hon~ currently serves as the rasidence fbr the Four Mounds Grounds Manager and his ~ly. .. Chan~ur's Itouse This was the f~st building constructed on the estate. It was built in 1907 and ~rved as Ihe Burden home until the Grey House was completed in 1908. It later became the home of Milton and trerte IGrch and their fa~nii~y. Milton Kirch w~s the chauffeur. This house is similar in scale and design to the Gardener's House bm lacks the comlce returns m~d has a different pomh design t~han that later house. The Chauffeur's house has a wood-shinned side-gabled roof, a shed-roofed dormer on th~ front roof slope, and a shed-roofed fi-out porch that extends out from the front roof slope. 'I%e porch is supported by maud columns. The 5x4ndows include 2/2 double-bungs and fixed four-panes on the front facade. The house is sided with narrow board clapboards, while the dormer has natm~t wood shingle siding. The foundation is of rough-cut limestone blocks. The Chauffeur's House currently serves as the offices of the Four Mounds Foundation (Four Mounds Foundation a.d.). Gronen Cabin and Privy This cabin was built in 1956 as a home for Frindy Burden Gronen, daughter of Bill and Etbmbeth Burden. II is a one- mo~' recrangutar building with a low-pitched L,_axbled roof with wide cave overhang. The roof is cove~;-d with asphalt shingles, and the siding cons/sts of hcrri2ouml beveled boards. A large brick ckime2,' occupies one end of the building. A deck al the mar provides a wcraderful view of the river valle2/ below. The cabin is currently used as a gues~t house for overnight resea'vatiom (Four Mounds Foundation n.d.). A smail gable-roofed privy is adjacear to the cabin. This privy has a low-pitched gabled root' with exB~sed rafter ends; horizontal clapboard siding and a fixed ~bur-pane window. United States Department of the Interior National Park Service National Register of Historic Places Continuation Sheet Section number 7 Page 4 Four Mounds Estate Hist~c District Dubuque County, lo,va Porch Ramada The open porch or ramada was buik in 1910 by the Burdens on the edge of the bluff overlook~ the MissL~sippi River. This screened-in open porch provided a pleasant summer retreat for informal family m~als and rekaxation. It has a !ow- pitched hip roof covered wi~ asphalt shingles and square wood posts and rail Mth s~ed-in panels. It is open on all four sides. The hip roof has a wide cave overhang. 'The porch rralaada was restored in 1992 as an EaSe Scont project (Four Moonds Foundation n.d.). Pump House The limestone pm~p ho~ was bttilt in 1908 to house a g~soline driven pump. The water was pmnped to a large, black, kon t,q~k still toe, ted in the basement of the Grey House. The entire ¢~rtme is provided by wmer fi'om this single well flour Mounds Foundation n.d.). The p~m~p ho~e is consmacted of rough, ut limestone bloc~ hid in regular courses. ~ mortar joints are tooled with a concave profile. The pump house has a truncated hip roof cov~d with aspMk shingles~ a corbelled brick chimney, a fi`xed sLx-pane window; and a plank door. Garden Shed The garden shed was built in L924 in front of the White House and housed the tools and gardening supplies as~_t by Elizabeth Burden to tend hex gardems. This shed is a front~L~abled structure ~vith a wood-shingled roo~ white-painted clapboard siding, and having interesfi~ windows x~Sth a three-pane fixed section over a four-light moveable pane~ The fi.om facade is distir~,ouished by an exte~ded roof overheng and a latticework roond~hed effect framing the doublewide doors~ It rests on a concr~e foundation. The oYeml] style of the garden shed complements that of the W'nite House. It is situated downslc~ from the W~te House and offthe front facade of that building on the interior ora circle drive. The garden shed is still under restoration; howeve~ the roof was replaced as part of an Eagle Scour project (Four Mounds Foundation md,), Woodworking Shop The woodworking shop was bulk in t924 by Bill Burdem It is a one-stoD~, linear front-gabled bu/ldin~ with two side shed-roofed additions. It has an asphalt-shinned roo£and stained shir~gte siding. The woodworking shop a~s restored and added onto by multiple Eagle Scout projects in 19~-93. 'It is currently' used as a Shop for participants of the YES and 5:~S Impact pro,ams to produce bird,houses, butterfly homes, and bat houses for sale to the public. The funds raised are ctmm~eled back into the YES programs flour Moands Foundation md.). The shop is also used in the restoration work for the Whim Honse for thino~3 such as repairs and replacements of the windows, sashes, screens, mid doors. Playho~e This playhonse was one of two built c, t930 for B/Il and Elizabeth Burden's daugi~ers and the~ friends. It is a small side- gabled bu/ldiag with a wood-shingled roo[ vertical board siding, and a rock foundation. The windows a~ fixed four~panes~ A central fi'mu door is flanked by two single Mndows. The playhouse was reslrrred as part ol'an Eagle Scout project in 19~ (Four Mounds Foandation n.d,). Originally, these playhouses had their own miniature working electric sxoves, lights, and a connecting phone wstem to the White House. United States Department of the interior National Park Service National RegiSter of Historic PlaCes Continuation Sheet Four Mounds Estate Historic District Section number 7 Page 5 Dubuque County, Iowa Corncrib The corncrib w-as built c.1909 and was originally used Ibr storing corn and providing housing for chickens. It later became a shelter for split wood. It is a front-gabled building that h~ a linear emphasis and is rectangular in plan. It has as asphalt-s.h~te roof a~d vertical board siding. The corncrib currently serves as shelter for the chickens and goats cared for by' the Four Mom~ds staff and XES progran~ participants (Four Mounds Foundation a.d.). Icehouse 'The icehouse is an insulated build~g constructed c. 1909 to store ice throu~ the summer months. It now serves as a tool and ~hardwxare storage shed (Four Mounds Fmmdafion a.d.). [t is a side~gabled building with horizontal drop siding, an asphak-shingled roo~} and a limestone foundation. It has a pyram/dal hip-roofed ventilator on the roof apex similar to those On the barn roof. Hog ltoase The hog house was built ¢.t917 with cork-brick flooring to keep the hogs warm during the winter. It has a broken-gable or half-monitor roof ~Sth metal aerators on the roof ape~ 21~e root' is covered with asphalt shingles, while the siding iS vel'mai board-and-battcm siding. The foundation is poured concrete. Ihe hog house was restored in 2000-2001 (Font Mounds Fotmdation a.d.). Garage This lower garage was used tbr additional storage, It ~as built in 1920 and was ori~mally lar~ in size but partially collapsed due to a hea,,~j snowstorm in the I960s. It was later rebuilt to its current look, wFdch includes a shed root~ yin'float board-and-batten siding, a~d a smccoed concrete foundation. The garage currently serves as storage for the restoration tools used on Four Mounds projects (Four Mounds Foundation n.d.)~ Root Cellar This limestone subterranean structure was built c. 1908 into the hillside along the crowing driveway juooz below the Gardener's and the Chauffeur's houses, ti w~s used ~br cold storage of fruits and vegetables, The cellar is bulk o£mugh-cm limestone blocks with tooled mortar joints lmving a convex or rounded profile. A wood-paneled door with handwrought hardware pro~4des access to the cellar. The root cellar is still in use today (Four Mounds Foundation a.d.). 'Rock Garden and Other LaBd~cape Features The rock garden was created and cared for by Elizabeth Burden. It is located offthe east end of the Whi~e House and is built into the hillside (Four Mounds Fonndafion a.d.). One of the featm'es of fills garden was the use of natural thnestone for steps, sida~alks, and terrace walls. The ~m~'den is built into the natural slope off the end of the house. This garden is one of several or/ginal landscape features that remain iw,~act ofl the e~ate. These other features include a limestone wishing well with wood-shin.~ed roof in the back yard of ff~e Grey House, a limestone pillar with brass sundial in front of the Grey Honse, at least two limestone slabs with indentations that may have been used for flowerpot displays and/or birdbaths, a children's pool that is a sunken rec~mgular pc~l located near the playhouses around the White House, some of the ori~nal concrete United States Department of the Interior National Park Service National Register of Historic Places Continuation Sheet Section number 7 Page 6 Four Mounds Estate Historic District Dubuque County, Iowa sidewalks and concrete drivetvays with concrete and stone curbing leading into and through the estate, the rock retaining walls flanking the front cmt~.~ drive into the proF~'ry, the metal Four Mounds sign at the front entry just offPeru Road~ and ninny of the trees m~d shrubs planled as part of the original landscape design. Burial Mounds The e~ate was named for the presence of a row of four conical burial mounds float li~e the btufltop overlooking the Mississippi River valley. ~Pne four mouuds are prehistoric in or/gin and have been listed separmely in the National Re, stet of F~storic Places as archeologicat site 13DB21. Integrity Statement' For the most part, al} oflhe buitdin~ and structures retain good integrity having been carefully restored and refi~bisbed in recent years. ~q~ere original materials bad to be replaced due to deterioration, similar materials and construction teclm/ques were utilized to match the original as closely as poss~te. The most altered buildings include the wood shop, which has had two add~m~s made to the original building, and the garage, which had to be reduced in size after tm~5~g suffered partial collapse during a snowstorm. Howe~er, these buildin~ still re*Mn sufficient integritT to be considered contributing to the ovemil district. 'The following is a list of the buildings, smactures and sites within the Four Motmds Estate Historic District and 'the slams of each as either contributi~ or nomcontriht~g to the d/strict. The one' mo non- contributing bnildings are the Gronan Cabin and Pri,&~, which were built in 1956 and are considered non-contributing because they were built al=mr the period of significance Ji3r this District. Th~ reso~wces are listed in general order of construction. N~mn___~of 'Resource Date nf.~onsxmcfion Contrih~ng or Non-ConMbut~g B~ Mounds A.D. 350-1250 Chauffeur's House 1907 Grey House 1908 Bom 1908 Pump Hot, se 1908 Landscape Features 1908-c. 1930 Root Cellar c.1908 Corncrib c. 1909 Icehouse c. 1909 Gardener's House 19 t 0 Porch Ramaxta 1910 ttog House c.1917 Garage 1920 Vcqqite House 1924 Garden Shed 1924 Wood Shop 1924 Playhouse c. 1930 Gronen Cabin 1956 Gronen PHvy t956 ConI~buting Site (Archeological Site) Contributing Building Contrib~g Building Contributing Building Contributing Structure Contributing Site (Designed Landscape) Con~x4buting S~mcture Contrib[rting Semcma~-e Contributing Structure Contributing Building Contributing Building Contributing 'Budding ContribuFmg Building C ontx4b~g Building Contffbuting Building Contributing Building Contributing Building Non-Contribu~ng Building Non-Contributing Building United States Department of the Interior National Park Service National Register of HiStoric Places Continuation Sheet Sectjon number 8 Page 7 Four Mounds Estate Historic District Dubuque County, Iowa Statement of Significance Introduction The Four Mounds Esrafe Historic District is locally significant under Cri~ou A for its representatim~ of an early twentieth-century "Gentleman's Farm" and the locally well-tmow~a country estate of the Burden ~ily, alt of whom were prominent and influential persons in the development of Dubuque banking and real estate interests in the late nineteen~ and enrly t~entieth centuries and in the public and social interests of the Dubuque community as a whole. The Distfi~ is also locally significant under Criterion C for the Arts & Crofts-inspired design of the Grey House by noted Ctticago architect, La*wenc~ Buck, and the landscape plan for the estate, designed by the land, ape arch'eectml finn cfA. Phelps Wr,~aan, as well as for the subsequent additions to the estate's building stock including a banx two servants' houses, a Colouial Revival- sD-led house built for Geor=~ R. and Eli:,~tbeth Burden, and the various agricultural and domestic outbuildings associated with the operation of this countO- estate. Except for two baildin~ added in 1956 by the Gronen tSamily, the remainder of the buildings and structures are considered conm*buting to the district as are the designed landscape and the app~.enances associated with the landscape plan and development of this estate including the rock garclen, rock walls, children's po{)[ wis~ing well, and the sidewalks and driveways throughout the estate. The Four Mounds prehgstoric site (t 3 DB21 ), to ~ich the rmme of the historic estate refers, consists of four conical-shaped Native American burial motmds. This site was previnualy listed in the National Register under Criteria A, C, and D, and is considered a contributing site to the historic distr/ct because the mounds were incorporated into the historic landscape plan and because it gave the estate i~s distinctive name and logo. The period of significance for the Four Mounds Estate Historic D/strict is from 1~7-t 95 t, encom~sing the major span ofb~ddlng c~on aSthin th/s country es~cte~ The burial mounds add an additional span of A.D. 350-t250 to the tfist6ric distxictls period of significance. Signifimmt dates include 1907 when the fn'st building '~s c°nsmacted on the estate'(i.e., the Chanffkur's House), I908 when the Grey House and ham were built, and 192q when the White House was buik. The end date of 195I represents the 50-year cme~f for consideration of National Register etigibilily: As a result, the Gronen cabin and prix?, which were built in 1956, are currently enasidered non-conffibuting to the District. The Burden Family The l,mown hlsto~- of the property of which the Four Mounds Estate now encompasses began in t847 when William Hempstead purchased this land from the government. Since that time, little of importance was recorded abuu[ tl~ prope~y until the early twenti~ centuO' when George A. and Viola R/der Burden rem/ned an architect and a landscape architect to d,esign a mansion and landscape plan for their new coumry osram. George Albert Burden was the son of George and Eliza A. (Richards) (Holmes) Burden, His hther ',vas a native of Devoashire, England, and immigra~ to the United States in 1833 settling first in wesmm New York State. In 1855, he mig~tad to Iowa where he settled permanently in the City of Dubuque. He married Eliza A. Holmes (nde Richards; prior marriage to a Holmes) on November 5, 1861. Eliza was the sister of~ Dubuque business a~iate, Benjamin B. Ri6hards. George and Eliza had one survixSng child, son George Albert Burden, who was bom on Februaxy 3, I866, in Dubuque. George Burden had a successful real estate and land business in Dubuque and was also iuvolved in t~e banking business for a time (Bowerman 200Ia). The Burden thmiIy became well knomm in Dubuque's business and social circles and began to amass a fortune that would culminate in the creation of the Four Mounds es'mm ID,- their son, Gworge A. Burdea. 'lhe obima~. for George Burden, who died April 27, 1889, at the age of 74, noted the following: United States Department of the Interior National Park Service NafiOnalRegisterofHistoric Places Continuation Sheet Section number ~ 8 Page 8 Four Mounds Estate Historic District Dubuque County, iowa /Vlr. Burd~ [i.e., the far,er George Burden], a~.m: corning to Dubuque, invested largely in lands, in which he has always been interested, in which be has ]~ge]y deat~ and in which he has made large sums of money. His ~itat is still largely in~ested in that way. He ~ always been a carefu/, far seeing a~d suc~ busine~ man, and in t~s way, accumulm~d a large fortune. He was of late interested in a dozen different banks, in many of ~*hich be was a dh'ector. At the time of his &~at~ he was a dixector in the Fh'st Nationnl and the t2~abuque National banks of this ci!y, in the later of w_kich his only child, George A. Burden, is assistant cashier (Daily Flerald ApHJ 28, / Eliza Burden lived on until Jamtmry 11, 1908, whan she passed away at the age of 79. She sxill resided in Dubuque at the time o£her death. Both George and Eliza Burden m'e buried at the Linwood Cemetery.' in Dubuqne (Bowennan 200la). It is interesting to note in the obituary for George Burden, that he ~ms characterized as a man who: was exceedingly feint of flowers; mtd c~tivated them extermively for his own pleasure mad delight. He was devoted to his home, and spent all his time ~ except when absent ou business, and there was none plemqaate~ ~ the city (Daf/y Herald April 28, 1889), Pedmps ~ love of home and lmzdscaping was instilled in his son, George A., culminating hi the son's esmblishmm~t of his eount~- retreat at Fo~ Mounds. Vv~en Eliza Burden passed aa'ay, her obituary noted that she had been prominent and influential in DuNtque society. Her particular interest w~as in educ-afion re~brms, with her backgrom~d including ~aduation ~om Carey Collegiate Sexm'nary in New York (Telegraph Herald January 12, 1908). She also tw~ght in a private school in Rockford, Illinois, und helped to establish a female seminary in that communit3' prior to moving to Dubuque (Western Historical t 880:770). Her obituary, also noted that her sm~, Gearg¢ A, Burden, lind "long Nmn prominent in business and social ~ireles in the city of ~buque'~ (TelegraphHeratdJmaua~J :[2, 1908). ~ George A. Burden married Viola S. Rider on June 25, 1890. Viola had been bom in October 1868 b~ Iowa. She and' George would have two children: &xughter Viola (Mrs. Alexander Jmes) bom k~ t893 mid son George IL ("B/liD bom in June 1899. Prior to the construction of the Four Mounds estate, George A. and Viola Burden, had built what has been termed a "mansion~ at 130 W. 11m Street in Dubuque (Bowerman 200lb). In t908, however, they decided m remove to the coun~z where the>, purchased a large tract of land on a high blufftop and having expressive vie~'s of the Mississippi River valley below. It was here on this tract of land off' Peru Road north of the city of Dubuque that the Burden's built their new home, eallcxt the Grey ~toase because of the grey color of the rough-cast sm~ceo f'mish of its walls. To this property they added a barn, ho~es for their gardener and chauffeur, several agricm~mral.outbuildin~, and man5' appurtenances associated with the operation and comf>rt of their home including a pump honse, icehouse, and a porctt ranmda perched on the bbaff overl°°tdng the river. Like his fal~er. George A. Burden, pursued a career in real estate and investment He developed several suNlivisions in the ciD' of Dubuque including the Belmont Addition and the Burden and Lawther Addition (Lyon 199t :52, 1998:48). He had also been associated with tile Rider-Wallace Company., a wholesale d~, ~goods firm in Dubuque until 1912, a~er which he resumed an associ~on with the Iowa Trust & Savin~ Bank, of which he w~s vice-president until 1915. He then engaged in the inves~nent business until his retirement (Citizens Historical Assoc~on 1940). Where George A. Burden passed aw~' on May 19, 1945, kis death re,stet listed him as a "ret/red capitalist" (Death Re~ster 1, page 546, Recorder's Office, Dubuque CounE¢ Courthouse, Dubuque, Iowa). Viola Burden died in 1962 at the great old age of 94. Both died at Four Mounds and are bur/ed at Linw~ Cemetery in Dubuque (Bowerman 200Ih). Oeorge and Viola's son, Geor~ Rider Burden, went by the name of ~Bill.' tie was bom June t5, 1899, and married Elizabeth Taylor Ad,ms on April t8, 1925 (Bowerman 20010). Upon their marriage, Bill and Elizabeth B~rrden took up residence at their uewly built home (m the Four MomlcLs e~ate very near his parents' Grey House. Their new home, built in 1924 in the Colon/al Revival Style, was called the White House bemuse it was a white-painted ~oaue house: Elizabeth Burden's tore of gardening resulted in the construction of a rock garden ou the hill below the X¥2rite House mad the United States Department of the interior National Park Service National Register of Historic Places Continuation Sheet Section number 8 Page 9 Four Mounds Estate Historic District Dubuque Counby, Iowa conslxucfion of a lovely frame garden shed b~filt in a style to match gnat of the White Hottse. Two playhouses were also built for Bill and Elizabeth's dau~j~ters, with one of tt~e playhouses surviving to the present da3,. A woodworking shop built in 1924 for Bill Bmxten completed the set ofbuildin~ accounted ~br by Bill and EIiT~beth Burden' s tenure on the propertZ Bill Burden also made his career in inves~traent and bamking. ~ly on l~e had engaged in farming in Dubuque Comity (likely on his father's country es'~mte), afterwards engaging in the m~at es~me investment business as a member of the firm, George A. and George R. Burden. He was also a director of the First National ~ sec~-treasurer and director of the Dubuque ThriR Plan, Inc., a director of the Spalm & Rose Lumber Company and Camden, Inc, and a member of various social and civic organizations including the Chamber of Conm~erce, Knife and Fork Club, Dubuque Golf Club, Dubuque Art Association, The State Historical Society of Iowa, Elks Lodge, Dubuque Chapter of the Citizens Histor/cal Association, and a member of the Episcopal Chumh. He was also the author of The WmMering Gastronaut, which is now dis~ribwred throug~ ~e Dubuque CounW Historical Socie*y. tt was also noted that his hob~' was fishing (Citizens Historical Associatim~ t940; Lyon 1991:52). His daughter, Vidie Lange, would later ~1 that: We bad a h~useboat called the Pampoo, which was the nidmame for my grandfather. My fa~er ~d mother were both avid fishermen. My mr~d~er fished in Africa~ al/over the world. We had a tot of antique fi~hing reels. We fished the Miasi~s/ppi off~ houseboat (FD~el/1983). Bill and El~beth Burden had three dau~ters: Winifred Adams Bu~en (but called by the nmne of"Frindy:' and later lx~comSng IVfrs. Jobm N. Gronen); Viola Rider Burden. or "¥idie~ (Mrs. Robert B ~ge), and Elizabeth Partridge Burden, m "Betss~" (Mm. William MacLeod). All three daughters moved out of state upou thek marriages, atthoug~h Frindy would later move back to Dubuque. G~ge R. Burden died in Rochester, Minnesota, on February 28, i974, with wSfe El~zd~eth passh~g away on October 18, 1982. Both are buried at Linwocd Cemetery in Dubuque (Bowerman 2001c)~ Upon her death, Elizabeth Burden had been the last family member to live at the Four Mounds Estate. On her beqw~ the estate was Wen to the City of Dubuque to use the property as a park. It was no*xxt that in addition to Elizabeth, there trod been two other Ion~ime residents of the estate, Mildred Hayamn and Leo Heit~man, who had served the Burden family and lived o-n the Four Mom~ds estate for 50 years. They became like members of the family. Vidie Lange noted "I'd never call them ~servanrs.' Tho"re not just l~eople who work for us. Mildred's been tike a second mother" (F~xell 1983). ~I suppose the Btm~n famiN.' was the last family in town aSth servants, pirelli," Pam/ty historian Ted Eltsworth norad later. Ettswonrh of 1492 Locust S~. ia Dubuque is Elizabeth Burden's cousin. ~1 remember mai&s in starched wtfite apro~ and black dre~--~'s recem ~es. Not too tong ago Mrs. Burden advid in the Tel~h Herald for au upsm~ maid, at a ~ime when nobody ha Dubmlu~ Md an ups~ maid. People had housekeepers, but u~ the fleet ofm~ids and grotm~keepers the Burdens ~d.' Big houses, caches of antiques cadres of scream_s--they conjure visions of life in the hig~ style of F. Scott Fi~emtd's "The Great Gatsby? Ellsworth admi~ "It had 'Great Gatsby' quarries, but it's not a good a~og~ because Gamby was a cIimber wlmre~ these peapte had made it tong ago." He went on, "It was not ~ big a social place. There was very li~le drinking, for in,~lance. Th~ were close m bethg drys. V~2ten you'd go to d{nner there'd be one dr~c bet~re dkmer, that's ali. There weren't big lawn pa~es~ big &~nces. It was t~i~ ~ciery for Dubuque but on a low-key scale. It was alwa~vs the be~ t~,mailies in town, in ~g and real-esmte~ invPuu/on to Four Moands ~os alwa~s cherished and if anyone was late r. hey never got invited back" (lb[&). It was Elizabeth Burden's d~Sng wish that the Four Mounds estate would become a pa_rk-like pla~e to be enjoyed by the people of Dubuque. While it did not become a ciW park,, it has become a property that retains its country estate took mad feel and yet serves a greater purpose as an educadenal and social programs center. Today, the Y.E.S. and ¥.E.S. Impact prog~s United States Department oft,he Interior National Park Service National Register of Historic Places Continuation Sheet Section number 8 Page t0 Four Mounds Estate Historic District Dubuque County, Iowa are at-risk youth lyrO~axns held m Four Mounds. Through these progr~,-ms~ youth develop self-esteem, communication prob[em~solving skills, set£respect and respect fbr others~ Th~~ are tangh~ re work as a team and learn valuable work ethic and skills. In addition, ~e Ropes Cc-urse and the Con3erence Center and Inn az Four Mourjds serve as s[!pport enterprises providing additional funding for the youth program. The Gentleman Farm Movement In the ~st three decades of the twentieth century, .the so-called "Gentleman Faint Mcvemem" ~ew out of a larger country life movement that resulted from the pressures of the rapid rise in urban density by the turn-of-t~e-la~century producing nostalgia ~br the countryside. Wtfile this nostalgia typically resulted in the construction of country homes, some went one s~ep further by creating whole farm complexes where one could commune with nature. The increasing availability of the automobile made cotm~ living m<~re feasible for the well-healed urban worker. Magazines such as Countts' £ife in Xmerica "promoted the idea of country living and offered detailed advice on how to ac[~ieve the ideal" (Hack 2001). In I907, the magazine reported ~at &e hll measuse of counwy living will not be realized through la] dwelling in the co~'-.the barn, chicken-house~ dair)5 [cehcmse~ site, mol-house, and pump house... [are a necessity] (ibid.)~ The Four Mounds Estate certainly fir ~his description ha~qng many o£ the same support buildings in this tis~t. The gentlem~m hrm was different fi.om the typical work~g farm h~ t~e following ways: Mcat irr~portant[y, they were not intended as profit-making activities. Wealthy lando~ put t~e st~rr~ of mcmey into hking exper~,/mpo~g purebred cows m~d raising exotic lxeeds of animats. Well-known architects were hired to design farm complexes that were not only i~mctional bur artistic showpieces as welt. Althous~h ~e farms were hobbies, owners rook their animal breedIng and crop cultivation seriou.sly~ ~lhe benefits of pure breedi;g spread fi'om gentleman farms down to wor~ng farms and the quality of herds and flocks throaghom the country vYa improved. Some gentleman ~_rmar~, such a~ Grace Durand of Crab Tree Farm, were part of a progressive Parm movemant to raise production and dis~badon standards ~rough scientific research (Hack 2001). While scientii~c research does not appear to have been part of the plan at the [our Mounds Estate, it was a thkty self- sufficient farming operation, albek small in scale. A 1934 description of the Four Mounds estate also emphasized the natural setting of the place: 'Fne Burdens have bean careful in their cultivating ofa tovc~y lawn in the midst of the wildwood, not to mar the natural bounty they must cro~ to come m theh' homes. The roadway into the estate winds deti~lly among the trees...Nor is there a~y abruFt departure from civilizmion. Clumps of tree and vmSous shor~ hedges--4umac, barberry, and other bushes rvan~te off from thee edge of the lawn in the woodlawn ue~rrby. Gardenar-~, caretakers, and servants' quarters are built away from the homes, along the drive that Ieeds m them (Telegr~vh F, eraJd & Timex Jourm~, September 9, t934)~ Wildlife also abom~de~ at the estate, with "pamfdges, pheasa~t; deer: eagles, and opossums" frequent visitors (F~xelf [ 983)~ However. it was also a working farm, albeit a small operation. Vidie Lunge, d~ughter of George R. and Elizabeth Burdem recalled Lhat '%ye had a small fhrn~, five cows" at Four Mouncks, "When I was tirr2e, my oldest si~er and i spent a lot oft/me in the barn with the cows m~d in the gardeff' (FDxall 1983)~ A [915 census, listed two milk cows and two horses, among George A. Burden's t~ animals (State of Iowa Census I915, Dubuque TewmshiB Roll 145). Hogs and chickens were also raised throu~ the years. ~e ban~ on the Pour Mounds property was used not only :for the cow's and horses but as a garage to shelter George A. Burden's beloved auromobilas. His last will and testament listed a Ford Super De Luxe t 94! model s~don wagon and a Ford United States Department of the Interior National Park Service National Register of Historic Places Continuation Sheet Section number 8 Page 11 Four Mounds Estate Historic District Dubuque County, lowa 1929 Me, tel A truck anmng Ns assets. Lawrence Buct~ Architect by Ronald Ramsay Lawrence Buck was bom in 1865 in New Orleans, where his ~hther, William H. Buck, was a re~o~ly impomant landscape pa/met. Little is lmox~m of Lawrence Buck's education or apprenticeship, except ~ New Ortem~s city tbr 1885-1886 list him as a draughtsman, lygssibly working for architect Thomas W. Carter. By 1887, La~rence had relocated to B~ingham, Alabama, where there were likely greater opporVmifies for a young architectural appremtice. Over the next five years, Buck worked with a success/on of practitioners in Birmh~mm including A.J. Armslrong. Jolm Sutctiffe, and Charles Wheetock. In 1888 William Buck died, leaving a Mdow and two daughters who then moved to B/rmingham to llve with Lawrence. now the head of the household. This new role, compounding the uncertain economic times oftbe early I890s, rrmy hav~ encottmged yet another move, this ~e to Chicago, site of the World's Colombian Expositiom Lawrence Buck first appears in the t894 LakesSde Directory. of Chicago, listed as an architect and, occasionally, in subsequent editions as an artist~ That ~e year, Buck participated in the seventh annual exhibition of the Chicago Architectural Club, Ii,ed h~ the mmlogue as an active member and contributing fi~e tmspecLfied ~Iercolor sketches. His costliest known architectural work--an errrmnce gate to Cliicago's Lincoln Park--,~as done dtrring a brief parme~hlp with John Suteliffe and appeared in the C3]icago Architeclaral Club emh~ition catalogue for 1897. Sutcliffe himself had recently relocated to Chicago from Bim]ingham. Buck's practice duZmg the late 1890s is mmlear; he seems to have delineated the wr~rk of other architec~ ms much as being the author of'his own archit~ commissions. In t902 Buck became a member of "The Crafters," a loose working relationstfip with Eleanor dL4Jcy Ceaw and Mower, W'o recent gradtmes Of Chica~'s ?a't Insfimte.'Their smdio<,ffices were located in Steinway ~t, the heart Chicago's progressive architechn~ movement where Dwight Perkins, Robert C. Spencer, A. Phelps Wym~ and Frank Lloyd Wright also maintained their professional presence hi the ci~'. Bock undoubtedly knew these men both socially and pm~ssionally; one soume even suggests that he may have been one of ,'The Eighteen,' the group of young progressiYe architects who clusn~ered around Writ. Though "The Crafters" rema/ned active for only a few years, Buck continued to maintain h/s professimml space at Steinway Hall well into the t920s; one of Buck's professional neighbors wa2 landscape arch/tect, A. Phelps W.~3nan, another fig-are connected with ~e Four Mounds project. A s~rge in Back's career occurred about the time his Charles Reeves house in O~-k Park.. Ill/tools, was published in the ~Jouse BemaTfuL The Reeves desi~ was of specifically Arts & Crofts character, stvowhig the influence ofM3t_ Baillie Scott, C.F.A. V~,s~., Wilson Eyre, and other British and American designers. With or without Buck's knowled~, copies of' the Reeves home were b~t as far away as New York and North Dakota. During the years 1909-1912 Buck entered into an ar~itecmral parmc~hip with E&vin B. Clark., though ~ir separate roles within ~ firm are not yet known. For the majority of his professional life, Buck appears to have preferred being a sole proprietor working with a minimum support st. afland forming brief associations with other archers for those commLssions. which required larger office support. For example, Buck remodeled "Walden' the Lake Forest estate of Harold Mc-Cormick~ in association with architects Schmidt, Garden & Martin, and his design for the Roycemcrre School (a National R%~ster property) in Evanston involved collubomfion with prominent Prairie School fi~mares Talmadge & Watson~ Tl~rough his entire care~, Buck also worked as an architectural delineator, provid~ presentation drawSngs for mher Chicago architectural offices. Pm/vie School architect Geo~e W. Maher was a frequent client, as were Dwight ?erkins, Holabird & Koot, and Louis Sullivan. Buck's watercolor and gouache delineations were rendered in a serf romantic sD'lc remi~tiscent of his father's Mi~*issippi delta landscapes and which also parallel the diffuse pencil and watercolor perspectives of Philadelphia architect Wilson Eyre. United States Department of the Interior National Park Service National Register of Historic Places Continuation Sheet Section number 8 Page ,,12 Four Mounds Estate Historic District Dubuque Country, iowa Pubtki~, derived from the presentation of his work in professional joumals and poptdar m' ~a~es bronght Buck a regionally diverse architectural practice, which was largely residential and e~ended beyond Chicago to include several other c(~mmurdties in ~llh~ois and at least nine other states. The popular influence of the so-called women's magazines ~ be seen in the ctc~e of the 1907 C[mrles Reeves house at Oak Park, Illinoi~ for example, which appeared in both the October 1908 isstte of the tfouse Beauti.~t and in the ~ies' Home j~nal for April 1909. As a likely resul~ of ~ national exposure, duplicates of ~he Reeves desi~ were subsequently built for other clients in Illinois, New York, Kaskqns, and North Dak~. ~ addition to the occasionsl inclusion of his work in p~'ofessional architectural periodicals, t~vo other publications sugges~ the breadth of Buck's natioltal exposare~ Herman Vou Hoist included slx of Buck's design in the 19 t3 book Modern American Homes. And another of the architect's small single-thmily homes became an instructional example in an American School of Correspondence educational manual on the topic of arctfitecmml draughfing~ Buck gmadually retired frmn acfix, e arch~ctuml practice by the mid-1920s, probably becattse of declining health. He continued to paint m~d exhibit his watercolors, however, and died al this home in the Ravlnia neighborhood of Highland Park, ~linois, in October 1929. He was s'mD.-five years old. Eleanor D'Arcy Gaw and The Crafters by Rouald Ramsay Even earlier than its ix~ttaeace in arch~re, the Arts & Crafts philosophy ~as evidenced in the decorative arts. The American auxili~y took its direc~on from William Morris, whose ~qStin~ c/xx;utated widely in the United States. Arts & Crafts sr,[eries formed in Boston~ Cincimaati, Chicago, and other large A~nerlcan cities dtwing the 1890s, wkile clubs devoted to china painting, needlework, and other small-scale decorative m.s appeared in smaller commm~ities, lmporlm~t re~mqal schools at the Art hstitute of Chicago attracted students who often took the philosophy back to thcqr home to,ms. Mary Mower of Cedar Rapids~ Iowa, and Eleanor d'Arey Gaw from Leadville, Colorado, were m'o of ~ose soadeuts drawn m the School of the Art Inset[rote of Chicago. .It is suspected that Eleanor d'Arcy Gaw; who had de~'eloped a repuUttion as an ,~s & Crafts metal worker, may have been responsible for the distinctive light fixtures at the Four Mounds estate. A. Phelps Wyman, Landscape Architect by Ronald Ramsay Ah)ut the c~r of lm~dscape architect A. Phelps Wyman, considerably less in known. Wyman was bom at Manchester ,Center, Vermont, in April 1870. He earned his under~uate degree in agricukare at Comelt University, which was ~bllowed by m.o years at Boston Tech studying both architecture mid landscape architecture. To prepa~re for indepeadent practice as a landscape architect, W}-~nan ~ned professional experience in Boston with the Okmstefl Brothers, successor firm to Frederick Law Olmstead, and then with the New 'fork amhitecmxal office of Charles A. Platt. Between 1905 and 1910, Wyman seems to have had a professional presence in both Chicago and Minneapolis. Except for the commission ~ the Foux Moands estate, aa~d a possible connection with Cusxer State Park in the Black Hills of South Dakota, however, too lithe is knoxxm about Wyman's career to characterize the nature of his landscape design, especially the degree to which he ma.v have subscribed to the 'hmtivist" dehga philosophy of Universit~~ of Illinois faculty member Wilhelm Miller or his fellow Chicago practitioner Jens Jensen. United States Deparbnent of the Interior National Park Service National Register of Historic Places Continuation Sheet Section number 8 Page t 3 Four Mounds Estate Historic District Dubuque County, Iowa Buck, Wyman and the Desi~ of the Four Mounds Estate by Ronald Ramsay How the Burden family chose Lawrence Buck as their architect is not documented either in fatty memorabilia or other published sources. F~mily legend says that Frank Lloyd ~¥5~ight was contacted ~ly, bm that the BurcLens felt the house he Flight have designed for them would be more Wright's ~ their own (J0tm Grouch, Personal cormnunication with Ronald Rmnsay). Instead, the Burdens selected a designer of solid but less extreme reputation, someone closer m the mainstream of the Ara & Crafts philosophy. The Burdens could have been exposed to Buck's work in a variety, of ~ays: George and Viola Burden were frequent visitors in the Chicago area;.' Mrs. Btraten may have seen Buck's work in the sr>-called women's mag~ne; or the archkect's other nearby Iowa work may have come to their atmntion (Buck eventually designed at lc~ast four single-family re$idances in Cedar Rapids and one other home in Dubuque). The Arts & Craf~ Movement and American Residential Architecture by Ranald Ramsay '[',he American Arts & Crafa Movement o~es much m William Morris and his many British and American followers~ Reacting m the social ev/1 and aesthe~fic corruption of the Industrial Revolution, Arts & Crofts desi~m~ers returned to a more "honest" expression derived from au appreciation for natural mat¢4als simply cmfa~ an u~mic approach m arcl:fitc~mral and decorative design which ac 'knowledged vernacular u~ition m~d regiorml variation. By I900 ArLs & Cr~J~ ~iefies had formed in Boston, Detroit, Chicago and connfless smaller communities, where the)' served to promote the movement's phil~oophy of re:[btm through lecture, instruction, and exkibifion. While no sin~e sWte of American residential architecture can be called "Arts & Crafts,' the movement did Lnflnence a number of domestic styles at the turn of the century.'~ incleding the late nineteenth century Pdchardsonian Romm~esque and Shiu~e Sg¢les, the'early ~wventicth"ceam~ry Crafksman Style, and several regional ~emacolar rexSvats (especially ~he Tudor and Mission varieties). ,as architectural historian R/chard Guy Wilson demonstrates, Arts & Crafts designers represented a specmma of attitudes, rather than adhering to any s[n~e stylistic ~im of vie~v: To idenfi~, au American Arts and Cra~ architecture is to encompass diverse -~/mdes and corm-wJ/ctions towar,d s~ lc, imag~, t~.ismry, the re~or~ the mac, b/ne, materials, nature, and how ti~ should be }ived (Kaplan t987:101). The movement's geographic d'mtn'mrtion from Boston to California compounded by its encouragement of individ~alis~ making generalization v-eD~ difficult. Despite their diversity of scale and expression, however, buildings of Arts &Crafr. s design~speciatly single-family residences--often drew from the same basic vocabulary o£ reformist ideas: I) interior planning based on n~ fimctkmal .relationships rather than abstract or arbitrary design pFmciptes; 2) expression ~f ~onstmcti~n thr~ugh the namre ~f ma~eria~s~ the ~c ~f their assemb~y~ and the simp~i~ity of their articulation; 3) orgardc incorporation ofmechan/cal ~s~ms and coordination of decorative arts; and 4) inmgmtion of the building with its site through materials and archkecmral fonus. Lawq'ence Buck's interpretation of these ideas at the Four Mounds estate idenri~, k as a remarkab~ welt-preserved example of the Arts & Crafts IViovement's influence in American architecture. Buck habitually chose rou.~.,J~-ca~ stucco as the surface covering for his houses, whether of wood frame or clay tile consmmriom Secondm-y materials included wood siding and brick. The Gr~.' Hotxse at Fear Mounds uses this familiar vocabulary, a palette which is also ctmmcteris~c of cont~raD' houses by other Arts & Craf~ architects, including Americans like George Maber and Wilson Eyre, and Brkish designers Voysey, Mackintosh, Baillie Scor~ and Bany Parker, Articles featmSng the work ofbrmh .E.we and Parker United States Department of the Interior National Park Service NafionaiRegisterofHistoric Places Continuation Sheet Section number 8 Page 14 Four Mounds Estate Historic District Dubuque Count'y, Iowa appeared in Gustav Sficktey's magazine The Craftsman, a possible influence on Buck or his clients, the Burden family. A broad fi~ont elevation appears in at least ~e of Buck's larger hous~ of the period: the L.K. ¥~mond house near Louisville, Kenmc~'; the gotm Ely residence at Cedar Rapids~ iowa; and the Grey House at the Four Mounds estate in Dubuque. While the W~maond design has more overt historical elements (smatl-paned caseme~ wirdows, multiple dormers and gables, alt suggestive of ~q'udor" influence), the Ely and Burden ho~ share other characteristics: a central porte cohere, bolc[ly as?ametrical window p 'laceanent expressive of interior room arrangement, extension of its width by memu of porches, and flared wall extensions anchoring the building visamtly to its site. But, whereas the roofs for Wymond and Ely are complex and picturesquely broken in the spirit of Wilson Eyre, the Bur~en roof appears to be one simple unifying hip, its raisers exposed atthe eaves. The *'T" plan of the Gr~, Hou~se at Four Mounds illustrates Buck's resolution of coatmdicto~ site coadifiuns: predominant view~ across the Mississippi Riv'er open to the northeast, while sma and prevailing breezes come out of the south. The broad south front addresses ~ environmental issues: (1) principal entertaining and sleeping rooms are stretched along the broad south elevation, providing solar access and throu~mh vm~tilafion; (2) the livq~g room and master suite at its east end gain access to dramatic ~5ews acrc~ss the river, while the dining room m~d second-floor ~ms ta~ adavantage of late aftemoou light and Wyman's romant/c English-style landscape: (3) the kitchen wing extends north, discreetly' om of yet cenvenient for service access. ~dl three ~ of the house offer minimum of resistance to prevailing breeT~s, a variety of view ~'pes are accessible fi~m principal moms, and servants are humanely located atthe same le~'ei requi~d by their worL ~12mt the (~rey House and Four Mounds estate have been little changed Ill, rough the years, and the landscape plan of 1908 allowed m mature and evolve, is a t~ent to the loYe and care ~br this es~ by the Burden ~anily. It was in the hope it would t~a~d use as a park fl~at Elizabeth Burden donated this property to the C~· of Dubuque. ~i~e property has found new life as an educational center tmd~ the auspices of the Four Mounds Foundation. The nomination of this property to the National RegLster of H/stori~ Places is being forwarded at t~s ~ to recogn~e the si~ficance of this property to the pe~le of Dubuque and the State of lowa and to assist in the continued restoration anti maintenance of the estme. United States Department of the Interior National Park Service National Register of Historic Places Continuation Sheet Section number 9 Page 15 Four Mounds Estate Historic District Dubuque County, Iowa Major Bibliographic References Bowermun, Biwys, compil~r 200Ia Pm One: GeoHe Burden and Eliza A. (Richards) (Holmes) Burdem Biograph/cal and genealogical inforrmrdon compiled by Biays Bowerman of Dubuque, Io~va. using pr/mary and secondary sortrces. 200tb Part ~M'o: George Albert Burden and Viola S. (Rider) Burdem Biographical and genealogical information compiled by Biays Bowerman of Dubuque, Iowa, using primal, and secondary screw, es. 200tc Part Three: George R/der ("Big") Burden and Elizabeth Taylor (Adams) Burden. Biographical and genealo~cal in~brmation compiled by- Bla.x~ Bowerman of Dubuqu~ Iowa, rtsing primary, and secondary sources. Brooks, H. Allen n.d. Steinway Hall. Journal of the Society Ri'Architectural Historians. CitiT~ns Historical Association t 940 Biographical Sketches of George A. and George R. Burden. Citizens Historical Association, Indianapolis. Copy on file Carnegie-Smut Public Librao.., Dubuque, Iowa. Four Mounds Foundmion n.d. Four Mounds Sell'Guided Tour Brochure, Copy on file Four Moonds Foundatlon, Dubuque, iowa. Fryxetl, David I983 Sunday Marks the end of an era. Tetegrafh Herald.. Dubuque, Iow~ Marcb Hac~ Janice C. 2001 Narrative from Museum Exhibit on Gentleman's Farm IVlovement. Lake Forest-Lake Bluff Historical ~iety, lake Forest, Illinois. Hawkes, Dean, edhof 1986 .~rodern Couna? Homes irt £~gta~: The Arts and Crw~ts Architecture of'Barry d~ker. Cmnbridge University Press, New York. Jackso~ Frank 1985 Sir Ray~nonf Unwin, architect, planner and visionary. In Architects in PerspectiYes, Peter Willis, editor. Zwemmer Ltd., Londou. Kaplan, We~dy 1987 "The ~4rt Ttw, t ix .Life:" The .4rts & Crafts :Movement in America. Little, Brown & Company, Boston. Komwolf. James n.d. 2D5./t~ Baillie Scott card the Arts & Crafts Movement. Johns Hopkins UniYersi~' Press, Balrlmore~ Lyon, Randolph W., compiler 1991 Dubuque: The Erx3~dopedk~. Union-Hoerrrm~m Press, Dubuque, Iowa. 1998 Faith and FOrtune& An Encyclopedia of Dub~ue County, Iov;a. FIsmn Printing and Graphics, Dubuque, iowa. Mansx~n, Grant C. t 958 Frank ~g,.cl g/rigl~ to ]910. Reinhold, New York. Telegra~oh Herald & Times Journal 1934 Three Homes at Four Motmds Enjoy River View. Telegraph l-IerMd & Times .lournat, Dubuque, Iowa, September 9, 1934, page Von Hoist, H.V. 19I 3 3dodern Americcm ~omex. Ameficem School o£ Correspondence, Chicago. Wallick, Frederick md. The Rational ,4st of Wilson Eyre, an Amhitect Who Designs t-louses to Meet the Needs and Express the Qualities of Today. The Craf~srrmn, pages 537-551. United States Department of the interior National Park Service National Register of Historic Places Continuation Sheet Section number 9 Page 16 Four Mounds Estate Historic District Dubuque County, Iowa Western Historical 1880 The History of DubuqV. e Co~mty, lo)va. We~xem ttistorical, Chicago. Other Sources: C'hicago ~rctu'tect~uw~t Club exhibition eamlo~es, 1894- t 924 Fow~ Moumts I~ark. Ret~r~ of the Fora/vlounds Task Force to the Clio' of Dubuque, Iowa, Park and Recreation Dcpartanent, September 1984 Lake.vide Director, of Chic'ago 1891-1923 W3~am-~, A. Phelps, bio~-aphical file, Northwcs~ Architectural Amhives, Universi~' of Minnesota Libraries, Minneapolis, Minnesota. W)wnan, A. Phelps: I915 application for membership in the Minnesota Chapter of the Americm} Institute of Architects. Inform~on pm¥ided by Alan Latl~x)p, Curmor of the Northwest Architectural Archives, United States Depm b~ent of the Interior National Park Service National Register of Historic Places Continuation Sheet Section number 10 Page 17 Four Mounds Estate Historic District Dubuque County, Iowa G~raphieal Dam /bTM References (Continued) 5 t5 Easling 691,032 6 15 Easting69t,027 7 15 Eamn~ 690,~5_ Northing 4,7 t 3,742 Northing 4, 713,529 NortJ~rtg 4,7 t 3,473 Verbal Boundam.' Description The boundary, of the Four Mounds Estate Historic District is shown as the dashed line on the accompanying map entitled Plat ~ {ap of Four Mounds Estate Historic District.' Boundary' Justification The boundmD, includes ali file properS' historically ~iated wifl~ the Four tMouxnds estate and includes all of the standing buitdin~ of the estate and fa.mi operation. United States Department of the Interior National Park Se~-¢ice National Register of Historic Places Continuation Sheet AddiUonal Section number Documentation_ Page 18 Four Mounds Estate Historic District Dubuque County, Iowa General Location of Four Mounds Historic District United States Deparbment of the Interior National Park Service National Register of HistoriC Places Continuation Sheet Additional Section number Documentation Page 19 Four Mounds Estate Historic District Dubuque County, Iowa Plat Map of Four Mounds Estate Historic District Showm~ Nanonal Register Boundary NATIONAL REGISTER BOUNDARY 0 300