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Town Cllock Bldg NominatePlanning Services Department City Hall 50 West 13th Street Dubuque, Iowa 520014864 (563) 5894210 office (563) 589-4221 fax plant ting~cityofdubuque.org August 28, 2001 The Honorable Mayor and City Council Members City of Dubuque City Hall - 50 W. 13th Street Dubuque IA 52001 RE: To place the Town Clock Building (823/825 Main Street) on the National Register of Historic Places. Cottingham and Butler 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 Mary Lou Baal, Cottingham and Butler, spoke in favor of the request. She explained that the Town Clock building was significant due to its architect. She noted other local historic properties designed by the same architect included the Courthouse and Behr Funeral Home. There were no public comments. Staff reviewed the nomination, and the cdteria for significance for architecture. 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 Historic Preservation Commission recommends nomination to the National Register of Histodc Places for its significance due to association with and master architect. A simple majority vote is needed for the City Council to concur with the request. Respectfully submitted, ' Terry Mozena, Chairperson Historic Preservation Commission Attachments CITY OF DUBUQUE,, IOWA MEMORANDUM August 21, 2001 TO: Historic Preservation Commission FROM: Wally Wemimont, Assistant Plarmer'~)c~') SUBJECT: National Register Nomination for the Town Clock Building at 823-825 Main Street The State Nominations Review Committee plans to consider the Town Clock Building at 823-825 Main Street for nomination to the National Register o£Histor/c Places during their October 12, 2001} meeting. As a participant of the Certified Local Government Program, the City of Dubuque is required to review and comment on the proposed National Register nominations of properties within its jurisdiction. The State has provided copies o£the nomination, photographs, and review form for this application. The Commission should review this nomination at a public meeting, which is slated for August 27, 2001. The State is requesting the Conunission 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 o£Historic Places. The application indicates that the property is significant under criteria C. Please review'the attached documents and be prepared to recommend whether the property in question should be listed or not. enclosures NPS Form 10-900 ~ ~ ~ 2001 OMB No. lO024-0018{PRIVATE } (Oct. 1990j United SCares Department of the Interior National Park Service National Register of Historic Places Registration Form This form is for use in nominating or requesting determinations for individual properties and districts. See instructions in How to Comp/ere the Nat~cna~ Rog~stet of Hiszor/c Places Registration Form (National Register Bulletin 16A}. Compiete each item by marking "x" in the appropriate box or by entering the information requested, if an item does not apply to the property being documented, enter "N/A" for "not applicable." For functions, architectural classification, materials and areas of significance, enter only categories and subcategories from the instructions. Place additional entries and narrative items on continuation sheets (NPS Form t0-900a). Use a typewriter, word processor, or computer, to complete all items. 1. Name of Property historic name The Town Clock Buildinq other names/site number Spensley Buildinq, 31-04014 2. Location street & number 823-25 Main Street [~/^] not for publication city or town Dubuque [~/A] v;icinity' state Iowa code IA county Dubuque code 061 zip code 52004~0389 3. State/Federal Agency Certification As the designated authority under the National Historic Preservation Act, as amended, I hereby certify that this ~ nomination [ ] request for determination of eligibility meets the documentation standards for registering properties in the National Register of' Historic Places and meets the procedural and professional requirements set forth in 36 CFR Part 60. In my opinion, the property ~ meets [_] does not meet the National Register criteria. I recommend that this property be considered significant [_] nationally [_] statewide [~:~'locally. ([_] see continuation sheet for additional comments). Signature of certifying official/Title Date State or Federal agency and bureau tn my opinion, the property [_] meets [_] does not meet the National Register criteria, (~] See continuation sheet for additional comments.) Signature of certifying official/Title Date State or Federal agency and bureau 4. National Park Service Certification hereby certify that the property is: Signature of the Keeper Date of Action L] entered in the National Register. [_] See continuation sheet. [_] determined eligible for the National Register. [_~ See continuation sheet. [~] determined not eligible for the National Register. [_] removed from the National Register. [_] other, (explain:) Town Clock Buiidinq Dubuque, Iowa Name of Property County and State 5. Classification Ownership of Property (Check as many boxes as apply) [)4,~ private [_~ public-local [_] public-State [_] public-Federal Category of Property Number of Resources within Property (Check only one box) (Do not include previously listed resources in the count.) CAI building(s) Contributing Noncontributing [_] district 1 0 [_] site [_~ structure [_] object buildings sites structures objects 1 0 Total Name of related multiple property listing (Enter "N/A" if properly is not par~ of a multiple proper~y listing.) N/A Number of contributing resources previously listed in the National Register 0 6. Function or Use Historic Functions Current Functions (Enter categories from instructions) Commerce/Trade/business/office buildinq (Enter categories [rom instructions) Commerce/Trade/business/office buildlnq 7. Description Architectural Classification (Enter categories from instructions) Late Victorian/Italianate Materials foundation stone walls Brick roof Asphalt Narrative Description To~vn Clock Buiidinq Dubuque, Iowa Name of Property County and State 8. Statement of Significance Applicable National Res;~er Criteria Areas of Significance (Mark "x" in one or more boxes for the criteria qualifying the property for National Register listing.} [_; A Property is associated with events that have made a significant contribution to the broad patterns of our history. Property is associated with the lives of persons significant in our past. C Property embodies the distinctive characteristics of a type, period, or method of construction or represents the work of a master, or possesses high artistic values, or represents a significant and distinguishable entity whose components lack individual distinction. E_] D Property has yielded, or is likely to yield, information important in prehistory or history. Architecture Period of Significance 1873-1945 Period of Significance 1873 1945 1970 Significant Person N/A Criteria Considerations (Mark "x" in ail the boxes that apply.) Property is: [_] A owned by a religious institution or used for religious purposes. [_] B removed from its original location. (Complete if Criterion B is marked above) [_] C a birthplace or grave. Cultural Affiliati0P ~_] D a cemetery. N/A ~._] E a reconstructed building, object, or structure. [_] F a commemorative property. [_] G tess than 50 years of age or achieved significance within the past 50 years. Narrative Statement of Significance (Explain the significance of the property on one or more continuation sheets.) Architect/Builder Heer, Fridolin J., Sr., and Naescher, Edward Farwell, L. T., General Contractor 9. F4aior Bibliographical References Bibliography (Cite the books, articles, and other sources used in preparing this form on one or more continuation sheets.) Previous documentation on file (NPS): Primary location of additional data: '[_] preliminary determination of individual listing (36 CFR 67) has been requested [._] previously listed in the National Register [_] previously determined eligible by the National Register [_] designated a National Historic Landmark ~_~ recorded by Historic Amer can Bu dings Survey # [_] recorded by Historic American Engineering Record # [~.X] State Historic Preservation Office [_] Other State agency [_] Federal agency [_] Local government [_~ University [_] Other Name of repository: Dubuque. Iowa Town Clock Buiidinq County and State Name of Property 10. Geographical Data Acreage of Property less than one acre UTH References (Place additional UTM references on a continuation sheet.) rl]5] f61911161810] [417]017181410] Zone Easting Northing 3f1][1111]][111111 2f]]f1111]][1 ]'1111] Zone Easting Nortbing 411][1111]][111111] Verbal Boundary Description :Describe the bounaaries of the oroperty on a continuation sheet.) Boundary Justification ~xu ain why the boundaries were selecteo on a continuation sheet.) I 1. 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 oa~e July 5, 2001 telephone 515-274-325 state IA zip code 50312 Additional Documentation Submit the following terns with the complete form: Continuation Sheets Haps A USGS map ,7.5 or 15 minute series) indicating the property's Iocauon. A Sketch map for historic districts and aroperties having large acreage or numerous resources. Photographs Representative black and white photographs of the orooerty. Additional items Check with the SHP0 or FPO for a~v additional items) ~Owner (Comp:e~e this ~em at the reauest of SHPO or FPO.) qame Clock Tower Buildinq Company street & number 823-25 Main Street m~y c' Town Dubug_~ (563) 587-5183 zip code _$2004-002g :his form to the Chief, Administrative Services Division, Nationa Park Service, P.O. Box 3712'7, Washington, DC 20013-7127; and ~ne Office of Vlanagement and Budget, Paperwork Reductions Projects (1024-00t8), Washington, DC 20503. United States Department of the Interior National Park Service National Register of Historic Places Continuation Sheet Section number 7 Page Town Clock Building Dubuque County, Iowa 7. Narrative Description: The nominated property, known as the "Town Clock Building," supported Dubuque's landmark town clock and tower from 1873 until the removal of the tower in 1970. The clock tower today is a feature of Clock Tower Plaza, located a block south of this building, on Main Street. The nomination includes only the commercial block that was formerly and intimately linked with the clock tower. The City of Dubuque is now reopening that portion of Main Street that was turned into a pedestrian mall in the early 1970s. The fate of the relocated clock is under consideration and one option,/cortically, is to return it to this building. Private funds moved the clock in the 1970s and similar support w~?uld be necessary to bring it back: Absent a relocation, the clock and its concrete tower will be relegated to a role of centerpiece within a traffic circle. The National Register eli~bitity of the Town Clock Building must be determined by its integTity as a commercial block. At the same time, the building cannot be divorced from its structural role of having long supported the clock and tower, and some considerable discuss/on treats the impact of the clock on the buildmg's structural design. Figure 1: Detail, orig4mal appearance, view to northwest (courtesy Dubuque County Historical Society) The Town Clock Building is a very welt preserved and early example of the Italianate cormnerciaI style of architecture, h~ its origSnal configuration, with its'Second Empire style clock tower in place, the overall design embodied the best aspects of both the Second Empire and Italianate styles. With the removal of the clock and tower, the design is Italianate in style. The then-traditional Italianate style is represented by the elongated triple-window set United States Department of the Interior National ·Park Service National Register of Historic Places Continuation Sheet Section number 7 Page 2 Town Clock BuDding Dubuque County, Iowa ~oupings, while the then-progressive Second Empire style is more strongly represented by the clock tower, the faux central pavilion and the large combination paired window set and ocular window which is capped with a flamboyant stone semi-circular arch and keystone. Contemporary accounts classify the design as "Renaissance" and there is good reason for this classification. Architectural historian Lester Walker dates the origin of the Rermissance Revival to the mid-1850s. It is represented in this design by the alterSng window arch forms on each floor, the inte~ation of the successive and intensive network of stone belt coursei into the fagade design, and the Classically-inspired balustrade that originally flanked the clock tower base. John Barnes terms the style the Italian Renaissance and dates its popularity to 1845-60. The style was best adapted to row houses federal buildings and its use in this instance perhaps bespeaks a conscious effort to visually proclaim the public role to be played out by the Town Clock Building (Walker, pp. 144-4.5; McA/ester, pp. 210-229, 240-53; Baker, pp. 76-77, 80-81', 84-5).. The Facade: The fagade of the building is symmetrical but the internal plan is not. The two storefronts are separated by a stone support wall in the basement and brick party walls above that level. The southern storefront has an 18-feet wide bay width, while the larger northern one is 30 feet in width. This arrangement allowed for the inclusion of the tower support system in the front center of the plan and completely within the larger storefront area. It also meant that the smaller storefront would have a centered entry way, and the larger one an offset one (to the south side). The fagade design ignores this hidden structural arrangement and the only admission of the underlying scheme is the alignment of the internal structural wall with the southern pilaster on the fagade. Figure 2: Circus parade, mid-1870s, view northwest (note three large street number signs, which read 831,833 and 835, on the Town Clock storefront) United States Department of the Interior National Park Service National Register of Historic Places Continuation Sheet Section number Page 3 Town Clock Building Dubuque County, Iowa The fagade is divided into three bays, the two outermost 18 feet in width, the center one 15 feet wide. Brick pilasters define the three bays. The fa,cade wall has a single vertical plane despite the architect's effort to create the illusion of a central pavilion. This pavilion effect is created by the use of paired window sets, the larger third floor window, and a projecting cornice line. Originally the clock tower base was set flush with this cornice line, further enhancing the tower or pavilion feel. In truth, the architect was recognizing the ground to rooftop support system for the clock tower in his pavilion design work. The original image of the storefi'ont (see Figure 1) indicates that a cast iron storefront with French plate glass windows (see historical account below) infilled that part of the fi:ont. The flat riveted plates of the structural cast iron work survive in the present storefront (see detail image below). There was no transom window line and the historical image indicates that transom windows per se were found only above the two entrances. A broad cast iron beam capped the storefront and it was supported by a series of projecting column capitals. FulI-len~h hail-round classical iron columns were af/Lxed to the stmctaral iron storefront and the plate glass ran from ground to ceiling level. The decorative columns had intermediate decorative elements. An inspection of the inner basement wall indicates that the or/~nal storefi:ont had an open cellar front, with a range of half-kigh windows. These have been blocked in. It is possible that there was a basement level recessed entrance. The detail photo above shows ttmt a solid row of stone beams which topped the cast iron work. Th/s use ora structural stone lintel is found on three other Dubuque storefronts, all of which date from th/s same period. Projecting stone belt courses and heavy sills, supported by stone brackets formed a row of box-like voids mediately above the storefront. Slightly recessed brick panels were centered beneath each window along this line. The stone pattern at this level mirrored the corbelled brick design work wh/ch ran beneath the cornice line. Figure 3: Transom, main floor si//level detail, damage to stonework due to the metal covering (the damage is being repaired) (view west, photo by Jim Jacobsen, April 23, 2001) On the second stoW level the windows are topped with flattened stone arches. Each arch has an elongated "T" shaped keystone. A colunm like stone form separates the windows in each double or triple opening set. Rectangular stone "capitals" at the spring stone level are al/gned with a smooth stone belt course that runs the length of the fagade. This belt course appears to weave across the fagade, following the arch lines around each window. A matching parallel stra/ghi belt course runs along the division Iine between the floor levels and is aligned with the afore- mentioned keystone caps. The brickwork on the facade is a brown colored face brick, set in nmning bond. The historical photo and physical inspection of the apparently original window sash indicate that the original window lights were one over one. United States Department of the Interior National Park Service National Register of Historic Places Continuation Sheet Section number 7 Page 4 Town Clock Building Dubuque County~ Iowa Figure 4: Riveted cast ~ron center column, c.1970s photo Figure 5: Fagade and cornice detail (view north west, photo by Jim Jacobsen, April 23, 2001) The third floor fenestration employs semi-elliptical stone arches with urn-shaped keystones and incised :osettes at the spring stone points. A broad stone panel belt course underscores a broadly projecting stone sill line belt :ourse. The panel wraps around the pilasters and is inscribed 'with elongated rectangles across the two outer bays, and :hree shorter rectangles which alternate with two circles beneath the main window on this level. The two circles are ~et above the two keystones on the floor below. In contrast to the second floor, a single smooth surfaced stone belt :ourse is used at the spring stone level on the third floor front. The line also wraps around the two pilasters but stops et either outer edge o£the central bay. The key feature of this level is the window set which is centered on this level. l'wo narrow semi-elliptical window's are grouped with a centered oculus set above and between them. The broad ;tone arch is an enlarged version of those which flank it on this level. Above the windows, fanciful corbelled )rickwork form bracketed recessed crosses in projecting panels which cap each of the outer bays. Two shallowly United States Department of the Interior National Park Service National Register of Historic Places Continuation Sheet Section number 7 Page Town Clock Building Dubuque County, Iowa recessed crosses flank the window arch in the central bay. A line of brick boxes (painted white), unaligned with the corbel work below it, mirrors 'the stone boxes described above the transom i/ne below, and underscores the metal corrfice line above it. This line does not continue across middle bay. The metal cornice projects boldly and offers fairly simple desig~ lines. A broad plain frieze is capped with a row of dentils. Single (on each side wall) and paired (at each pilaster cap) brackets with pendants support the cornice and parapet. The cornice line projects as noted across the central bay at which point it bore the clock tower set above it. The earliest known historic photographs (see Figures 1, 29, and 30) indicate that two projecting horizontal elements, composed either of wood or brick, are missing. Other elements are likely absent from the cornice line above this point. There is a curious semi-circular recessed void with a matching brick arch that is centered above the keystone of the main central whidow. Its origZmal appearance remains unclear at this time. Figure 6: Front and Rear elevation drawings, Je£fi:ey Morton, Architect The Rear (West) Wall: The back wall features symmetrical fenestration, each window being defined by a simple projecting stone sill and a projecting smooth surfaced plain stone lintel. The brickwork is of sof~-fired red brick set in running bond. The ground level windows are half-length. There were two ori~nal rear operfings. The side wails are party walls and are not available for inspection, both were originally party walls with no fenestration. The south wall is presently ~l'~ited States Department of the Interior National Park Service National Register of Historic Places Continuation Sheet Section number 7 Page 6 Town Clock Building Dubuque County, Iowa exposed and has been stuccoed. There is a tile parapet wall cap. Historical images indicate the presence of two in- wail flues on the south side wall and three or more on the north wall. Figure 7: West or rear wall (view northe~t, photo by Jim Jacobsen, April 23, 2001) The Overall Bnildin~ System and Dimensions: This three-story brick commercial block has a stone foundation and a full-sized basement. The internal elevations between floor levels are 10, 14, 13 and 13 feet respectively, from the basement up. The overall building footprint measures 5 lx114 feet and each level contains 5,814 square feet of space. The interior load-bearing system :onsists of stone columns with wood lateral beams, in the basement (north bay only), and cast iron columns on the >ther levels (again, northern bay only, smaller dimension colurrms are doubled up in the center of the second floor plan) with wood joists and a flat roof form. The r0of actually has a very good pitch downward to the rear of the plan and there is an attic level that diminishes in height: The need to provide a heavy timber base for the clock tower United States Department of the Interior National Park Service National Register of Historic Places Continuation Sheet Section number Town Clock Building 7 Page 7 Dubuque County, Iowa appears to have mandated the allowance of a full-height attic in the front of the plan. The freight elevator penthouse, visible in the aerial photo below, is of recent ori~mka and has been removed since the photo was taken. Figure 8: Aerial view (view northeast, photo by Jim Jacobsen, April 23,200t) The limestone is of the typical Dubuque variety, yellow in color, and it is laid up without regard for coursing or the size of stones. The stonework is set in ashlar fashion and there is no indication that larger stones were used quoimlike in the corners as is sometimes seen with stone buildings. An internal dividing wall separates the plan into an 18-feet w/de south storefront and a northern double storefront of 30 feet. Continuous joists (2x10) set 12 inches on center span the south bay while overlapping joists are supported by the stone or cast iron piers and columns. ~l~ited States Department of the Interior National Park Service National Register of Historic Places Continuation Sheet Section number 8 The Town Clock Building Page 19 Dubuque County, Iowa 8. Significance Statement: This commercial block represents a welt-designed and well preserved example of an early 1870s Italianate style commercial block. It is locally sigrfificant mxder Criterion C, for listing on the National Reg/ster of Historic Places. Relatively few commercial blocks from this decade survive in downtown Dubuque and this is the only survivor of 19~ Century commercial arch/tecture in what was once the heart of that city's dox~mtown. Built as one of the first "skyscrapers" in ~vhat was a Iow-profile downtown dominated only by church steeples and the surrounding bluff lines, this building was specifically designed to bear its clock tower prominently so that all persons, whether on the river or ashore, could knoW the time· Devoid of its clock and tower, the building can still be readily recognized and interpreted for its special swacmral role, that of successfully supporting a massive tower and clock. As such it represents a later 19m Century architectural engineering solution, one that was particularly challenged to avoid the structural failure that doomed the first town clock and its host building. This building is of historical interest for its long-term association with the Dubuque tradition of prov/ding a publicly visible town clock for its residents. This unusual service was apparently restricted to river valley cities where the fiat terrace based downtowns tended to have lower building profiles and where the ground level was set jnst above the river level. A prominent clock tower could be readily seen from all directions, and if out of sight, the sounding of the bells was sufficient to announce the hour's arrival for miles around. This uncotmuon combination of private and public interests represents the union of local scientific, philanthropic and promotional interests. A town clock was functional, but it also advertised the "wide-awake" and progressive energy of a growing modem city. clock was placed on a prominent commercial block for civic public service. This building'also attests to the prominence of leading merchant George D. Wood (1829-90) and Dr. Asa Horr, the m'o principals who were the leaders in the local town clock project. George Wood owned and built the two clock tower buildings and forced the city's hand in replacing the lost first town clock. The Origins of Dubuque's Clock Tower; Mid-nineteenth century urban American merchants habitually relied upon the local newspaper to keep local time in the days before the adoption of standard time zones by the railroads in 1883. In Waterloo, Iowa, for example a · T ' ' the arrival of high noon. Merchants and other watch ~ilver ball descended m New Year s Day fashion to announce >whets would gather in front of their businesses, and wait with watch covers open, for the telegraphed time nmouncement to cause the sphere to plummet. Watches adjusted, conversation ceased and work was resumed. Some aaaj or cities like New Orleans boasted a muhicipal town clock that served the same function, with its multiple clock ~'aces being visible in every direction. Such an arrangement worked particularly well in cities where high-level :onstruction was lhuited by the absence of supportive bedrock. Town clocks appear to have been particularly favored aa towns along the Mississippi River. Even Ln diminutive German Guttenberg, just north of Dubuque, local mbscribers urged the local Lutheran pastor to place a town clock in a prominent church steeple. This was during the ,~arly summer of 1859. In the later 1890s the ground-level comer clock became popular. In Des Moines the Postal l'elegraph and Cable Company installed eight 11-feet high comer clocks complete with barometers and thermometers ?alley Register, June 23, 1859; Des Moines Daily News, May 25, 1897, p. 4, colurrm 3).