National Register Nomination_Interstate Power BuildingCLG NATIONAL REGISTER REVIEW
CLG Name Dubuque Date of Public Meeting
Property Name Interstate Power Company Building, 1000 Main/131 West 10th Street. Dubuque, Dubuque
1. For Historic Preservation Commission:
® Recommendation of National Register eligibility
^ Recommendation,ef6 National Register ineligibility
Signature ~1~-G 4- ~^-----~' Date ~ ~ i I ~ `'~
~-
Print Name ~ Christine O 1 son
Title Cha i r~erson
Reason(s) for recommendation:
Significance under criterion A.
2. For Chief Elected Local Official:
® Recommendation of National Register eligibility
^ Recommendation of National Register ineligibility
Signature _
Print Name
Title
D. Buol
Mayor
Reason(s) for recommendation:
Significance under criterion A.
3. Professional Evaluation:
^ Recommendation of National Register eligibility
^ Recommendation of National Register ineligibility
Signature _
Print Name
Title
Reason(s) for recommendation:
Date
Date
RETURN TO: State Historical Society of Iowa, ATTN: National Register Coordinator, 600 E. Locust, Des Moines, IA
50319
THE CITY OF
DUB E
Masteryiece on the Mississippi
Planning Services Departrnent
DUbUQUB 50 West 13th Street
Dubuque, Iowa 520011805
IIIIaYnelicaClty Office (563) 589-4210
1 I I I I' Fax (563) 569-4221
TTY (563) 690-6678
planning@cityofdubuque.org
2007 www.cityofdubuque.org
January 23, 2008
The Honorable Mayor and City Council Members
City of Dubuque
City Hall-50 W. 13`" Street
Dubuque,lA 52001
RE: National Register Nomination --Interstate Power Company Buildings, 1000 Main St. and
131 W. 10`"
Dear Mayor and City Council Members:
The City of Dubuque Historic Preservation Commission has reviewed the above-cited request.
The nomination, staff memo and related materials are attached for your review.
Discussion
John Gronen, Gronen Restoration was present to answer questions about the nomination.
There were no public comments.
Staff Member Johnson reviewed the criteria for significance. He noted the nomination indicates
that the property is significant under criterion A. Criterion A is a property that is associated with
events that have made a significant contribution to the broad patterns of our history.
The Historic Preservation Commission discussed the nomination. The Commission noted the
buildings have a high level of integrity and have made a significant contribution to the broad
patterns of Dubuque's history. The Commission stated the property warrants placement on the
National Register of Historic Places.
Recommendation
By a vote of 5 to 0, the Historic Preservation Commission recommends nomination of the
Interstate Power Company Buildings to the National Register of Historic Places based on their
significance under criterion A.
A simple majority vote is needed for the City Council to concur with the request, and to forward
the nomination to the State Nominations Review Committee.
Respectfully submitted,
~~
/.~
L~-
Christine Olson, Chairperson
Historic Preservation Commission
Attachments
Service People Ntegrity Responsibility Innovation Teamwork
THE CITY OF Dubuque
DuB E
Masterpiece on the Mississippi I I I I~
2007
TO: Historic Preservation Commission
FROM: David Johnson, Assistant Planner
SUBJECT: Interstate Power Company Buildings, 1000 Main St. & 131 W. 10th
DATE: January 9, 2008
The State Nominations Review Committee plans to consider the Interstate Power
Company Buildings, 1000 Main St. & 131 W. 10th for nomination to the National
Register of Historic Places during their February 8, 2008 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 of the
nomination, photographs, and review form for this nomination.
The Commission should review this nomination at a public meeting, which is
scheduled for January 17, 2008. The State is requesting the Commission review
the nomination, and then comment on whether the Interstate Power Company
Buildings meets the significance criteria (A, B, C or D) for listing on the National
Register of Historic Places. The nomination indicates that the property is
significant under criteria A. Criteria A is a properly that is associated with events
that have made a significant contribution to the broad patterns of our history.
Please review the attached documents and be prepared to recommend to the
State Nominations Review Committee whether the Interstate Power Company
Buildings should be listed or not.
attachment
/dj
HISTORICAL
~[o~A°f
A Division of the Iowa Department of Cultural Affairs
December 12, 2007
Ms. Christine Olson
Dubuque HPC
1090 Grove Terrace
Dubuque IA 52001
RE: Interstate Power Company Building, 1000 Main/131 West 10th Street, Dubuque, Dubuque
Deaz Ms. Olson:
The State Nominations Review Committee (SNRC) plans to consider the property referenced above for
nomination to the National Register of Historic Places during their February 8, 2008 meeting. As a
participant in the Certified Local Government Program, Dubuque HPC is required to review and
comment on proposed National Register nominations of properties within its jurisdiction. The State is
required to provide you with a 60-day period for the review, unless we mutually agree to expedite the
process. I am contacting you to ask that you initiate the review process for the Historic Preservation
Commission. Enclosed aze copies of the nomination, photographs, and the review form. The review
process will require the following:
The Historic Preservation Commission should the review during one of their meetings. Send a
formal invitation to the Mayor with a copy of the nomination. Send a formal invitation to the
property owner/owners. If they aze not familiaz with the National Register, be sure to include an
explanation. Make sure that a copy of the nomination is available for public review before the
meeting. For example, leave a review copy at the courthouse or public library. Indicate in your
meeting announcement that a review copy of the nomination is available and where the review copy
can be found.
The question to answer when reviewing the nomination is whether the nominated property meets the
National Register of Historic Places significance criteria. If the Commission feels that the
nomination makes the case for meeting significance criteria, the Commission should check the box
recommending that the property be listed If the Commission feels that the property does not meet
the significance criteria, then check the box recommending that the property not be listed. The
Mayor should use the same approach when reviewing the nomination.
You might want to invite the individual who prepared the nomination to attend the public meeting
and present the nomination. Keep a record of the meeting (copy of notice, agenda, minutes, list of
attendees). At the conclusion of the meeting, the Commission should make a motion regarding their
recommendation. The Chairman of the Commission will complete Item #1, the Commission's
portion of the review form. Be sure to fill in the date of the public meeting, sign the signature line
and record any comments that were made. If the Mayor attended the public meeting, inquire if
he/she is prepared to complete Item #2 on the review form.
600 EAST LOCUST SrnaeT, Des Mowes, IA 50319-0290 P: (515) 281-5111
• In the event that the Mayor was unable to attend the meeting. The Commission Chairman should
forward the Review form to the Mayor for review and comment. Have the Mayor sign the form and
return them to the Historic Preservation Commission.
• Item #3 on the Review form asks for the review and comment of a preservation professional. If your
commission does not have a professionally qualified historian or architectural historian who can
complete this part of the form, you may leave Item #3 blank and I will an-ange to have a State staff
member complete that part of the form.
• Afrer you have completed Items #1 through #2 (through #3 if a preservation professional is
available), please make a copy of the completed review forms for your file and send the original
copies of the completed fonns to me.
• The Commission should keep the nomination and photographs. File them together in your inventory,
as you will need the information for future reference. If a State preservation professional was
needed to complete Item #3 on the review form, I will return a copy to the commission for filing.
If the Historic Preservation Commission and the Mayor disagree with one another on the property's
National Register eligibility, both views will be presented to SNRC for their consideration during review
of the nomination. If both the Historic Preservation Commission (by Commission majority) and the
Mayor do not consider the property eligible for National Register listing, we must halt the nomination.
Be advised that when a nomination is halted, the property owner, the person who prepared the
nomination or any interested party may appeal the decision. In addition, the nomination will still go
forward to the National Pazk Service for an official "Determination of Eligibility."
Please contact Lowell Soike at 515/281-3306 with any questions or concerns regarding the CLG
program or the process for this review.
Sincerely,
~~~
Elizabeth Foster Hill
Tax Incentive Programs Manager/
National Register Coordinator
i~lOV 0 ~ 'l..OQ7
NPS Form 10-900 OMB No. 10024-0018
IDCt, 79901
United States 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 Complete fire National
Register al Historic Places Registration Form (National Register Bulletin 7 6A1• Complete each item by marking "x" in the appropriate box or 6y entering
the information requested. It an item dces not apply to the property being documented, enter "N/A" for "not applicable." Far functions, architectural
classification, materials and areas of significance, enter only categories end subcategorise from the instructions. Place additional entries and narrative
items on continuation sheets (NPS Form 10-900e1. Uae a typewriter, word processor, or computer, to complete alt items.
1. Name of Property
historic name Interstate Power Company Buildinfa
other names/site number Masonic Hall Dubuque Electric Comoany
2. Location
street & number 1000 Main/131 West 10th Street [N/A] not for publication
city or town
[N/A] vicinity
state Iowa code IA county Dubuque code 067 zip code 52004
3. State/Federal ARencY Certification
As the designated authority under the National Historic Preservation Act, as amended, I hereby certify that this [XJ nomination(.]
request for determination of eligibility meets the documentation standards far registering properties in the National Register of
Historic Places and meets the procedural and professional requirements set forth in 36 CFR Part 80. In my opinion, the property
[X] meets [xJ does not meet the National Register criteria. I recommend that this property 6a considered significant
[_,.] nationally (_] statewide [Xi locally. ([~ see continuation sheet for additional commentsl.
Signature of certifying official/Title Date
State or Federal agency and bureau
in my opinion, the property [~ meets [, does not meet the National Register criteria. ((_] See continuation sheet for additional
camments.l
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
(_] entered in the National Register.
[J See continuation sheet.
[, determined eligible for the
National Register.
[] See continuation sheet.
iJ determined not eligible for the
National Register.
[~ removed from the National
Register.
U other, (explain:)
Interstate Power Comoanv Buildina
Name of Property
S. Classification
Ownership of Property
(Check as many boxes as apply)
(_j private
(~ public-local
(~ public-State
[~ public-Federal
Dubuque County. IOwa
County end State
Category of Property Number of Resources within Property
(Check only one box) IDo not include previously listed resources In the count.)
[Xj building(s) Contributing Noncontributing
(~ district 2 0 buildings
[~ site
(_] structure sites
(~ object
structures
objects
Total
Name of related multiple property listing
(Enter "N/A" if property is not part of a multiple property listing.)
Number of contributing resources previously Itsted
in the Nations[ Register
The Arch & Historical Resources of Dubuque Iowa 1837-1955
6. Function or Use
Historic Functions
(Enter categories from instructions)
Commerce/Tradel Specialty Store
Social//Meeting Hell
Commerce/Trade/Office Buildina
7. Description
Architectural Classiftcatlon
(Enter categories from Instructlonsl
Late Victorian/Queen Anne
Modern Movement
Current Eunctlons
(Enter categories from instructions)
Commerce/Trade/Office Buildina
VacantlNot in use
Materials
(Enter categories from instructions)
foundation stone
walls brick
roof asphalt
other
Narrative Description
(Describe the historic and current condition of the property on one or more continuation sheets.)
Interstate Power COmoanv Bulldina
Name of Property
8. Statement of Significance
Applicable National Register Criteria Areas of Significance
(Mark "x" in one or more boxes for the criteria qualifying the property (Enter categories from instructional
for National Reglater listing.)
[X] A Property is associated with events that have made Commerce
a significant contribution to the broad patterns of
our history.
[, B 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 Period of Significance
individual distinction. 1924-1962
(_] D Property has yielded, or is likely to yield,
information important in prehistory or history.
Criteria Consideratimts Significant Dates
(Mark "x" in all the boxes that apply.) 1 894
1956
Dubuque County. Iowa.
County and State
Property is:
[_] A owned by a religious institution or used for
religious purposes.
Significant Person
[~ B removed from its original location. (complete If criterion a is marked above)
(_] C a birthplace or grave.
Cultural Affiliation
[~ D a cemetery.
L] E a reconstructed building, object, or structure.
L] F a commemorative property.
[ ]G less than b0 years of age or achieved significance Architect/Builder
within the past 50 years. Carkeek, Thomas
Durrant, Joe
Narrative Statement of Significance
(Explain the significance of the property on one or more continuation sheets.)
9. Motor Bibliographical References
Bibliography
(Cite the books, articles, and other sources used in preparing this farm on ono or more continuation ahaets.l
Previous documentation on file (NPS): Primary location of addittonal data:
L] preliminary determination of individual listing [X] State Historic Preservation Office
(36 CFR 67) has been requested [_] Other State agency
(_] previously listed in the National Register [_] Pederal agency
L] previously determined eligible by the National [~ Local government
Register [, University
[~ designated a National Historic Landmark [~ Other
[~ recorded by Historic American Buildings Survey Name of repository: #
L] recorded by Historic American Engineering Record #
Interstate Power Comoanv Buildinc Dubuque County. Iowa
Name of Property County and State
10. Geot;raahical Data
Acreage of Property Less than one acre
U"fM References
(Place additional U7M references on a continuation sheet.)
1 15 [6]9)1]6]810] [4]7]0]8]0]0]0] z[ l ] [ ] ] l ] ] ] [ 1 1 1 1 l l ]
Zone Eesting Northing Zane Easting Northing
3r ] ] [ ] ] ] ] ] ] 1 ] ] ] ] ] ] ] 4 ~~1 [ ] ] ] ] ] ] [ ] ] ] ] ] ] ]
U See continuation sheet
Verbal Boundary Description
(Describe the boundaries of the property on a continuation sheet.)
Boundary Justification
(Explain why the boundaries were selected on a continuation sheet.)
it. Form Prepared By
name/title James E. Jacobsen
organization History Pavsl Historic Preservation Consultincl Firm date -November 4. 2007
street & number 441 1 Ingersoll Avenue telephone _515-274-3625
city or town Des Moines state IA zip code 50312-2415
Additional Documentation
Submit the following items with the complete form:
Continuation Sheets
Maps
A USGS map (7.5 or 15 minute series) indicating the property's location.
A Sketch map for historic districts and properties having large acreage or numerous resources.
Photographs
Representative black and white photographs of the property.
Additional items
(Check with the SHPO or FPO for any additional items)
Property Owner
(Complete this item at the request of SHPO or FP0.1
name Interstate Power Company. clo Tax Department
street & number P. O. Box 77007 telephone
city or town Madison state WI zip code 53707
Paperwork Reduction Act Statement: This information is being collected for applications to the National Register of Historic Places to nominate
properties for Ilsling or determine eligibility for Ilsting, to Ilst properties, and to amend existing listings. Response to this request is required to obtain a
benefit in accordance with the National Historic Preservation Act, as amended 118 U.S.C. 470 et aeq.l.
ESthnated Burden Statement: Public reporting burden for this form Is estimated to average 18.1 hours per response including lima for reviewing
instructions, pothering and maintaining date, and completing and reviewing the form. Direct comments regarding this burden estimate or any aspect of
this form to the Chief, Administrative Services Division, National Park Service, P.O. sox 37127, Washington, DC 20013-7127; and the Office of
Management end Budget, Paperwork Reductions Protects 11 0 2 4-0 0 1 81, Washington, OC 20603.
NPS Form f 0.900•e OMB Approve! No. f024-0018
18.881
United States Department of the Interior
National Park Service
National Register of Historic Places
Continuation Sheet
Section number 8 Page 21
Interstate Power Company Office Building Dubuque County, Iowa
8. Architect/t3uilder Continued:
Barquist, Ray
8. Significance Stateinent:
These buildings are historically significant on the local level for their direct association with the history of
electric power service in Dubuque (Criterion A, history, commerce) and the evolution of the municipal power
company into regional energy entities. The claimed period of significance is that of 1924-1962, the time period that
marks initial association with the Dubuque Electric Company and the last enlargement of the 1956 building addition.
Two historical themes make these buildings significant. They are directly associated with the history of the Dubuque
Electric Company/Interstate Power Company and they, particularly the 1955 building, represent the onset and
inattuation of the use of computers in the energy industry. The Dubuque Electric Company, organized in 1916,
represented the consolidation of numerous local power and streetcar companies that had served the city from its
earliest years with various degrees of success. The Dubuque Electric Company acquired this building in 1924 and this
was the fast building to have a sustained connection with the energy service business, one that continues to the
present day. The company was reorganized as the Interstate Power Company in 1925 and this building was
headquarters for the emergence of a regional electrical utility that, at its height, would serve parts of four states.
Shaken by the Great Depression and downsized by anti-trust court rulings, the company barely survived into the post-
World War II years. A separate three-story adjacent Moderne style building was designed and built in 1956 to house
the earliest mammoth computers and their associated air conditioned environments. This second building, in fact a
free-standing addition, also represented a second phase of extensive company growth and expansion, Subsequent
additions to both the 1894 and 1956 buildings in 1962, 1981 and 1989 similarly reflected this exponential regional
growth. The building(s) continued to house the corporate headquarters unti11996 when Ailiant Energy purchased and
absorbed the company.
The design and construction of the building at 131 West 10th Street was directly related to the introduction of
the computer to operating a regional energy company. These early computers were massive behemoths that used so
many vacuum hibes that air conditioning was mandatory to keep the system from melting itself. Thus au conditioning
on a major scale came hand in hand with employing these early large computers. The initial computer system filled
the entire ground floor. In 1962 it was moved to the new fourth floor and then in 1981, it vas relocated to the
building to the north of 131 West 10`h, where it remains today. Consequently the 131 West 10th Street building played
ail integral role in the history of the Interstate Power Company.
Criterion Consideration G does not apply in this instance because each of the successive additions, including
the ostensibly separate 1956 building, simply enlarged or unproved the original 1894 building as the company grew.
Luilcage to the Multiple Property Document:
The applicable multiple property documentation form is James E. Jacobsen's, Dubc,'ytre-Tlie Key City: The
Af•chitectirral Acid Historical Resources ofDttbirgue, Iowa, 1837-1955. This MPDF was first developed in June 2002.
and has been sequentially expanded and refined over each of the successive five survey, re-survey and district
NPS form 10.900-a OMBAppiova/No. 1024-OO1B
(8.881
United States Department of the Interior
National Park Service
Natrona[ Register of Historic Places
Continuation Sheet
Section number S Page 22
Interstate Power Company Office Building Dubuque County, Iowa
nomination phases tlu-ough 2004. This document defines a series of chronological historical contexts, establishes
z-egistration requirements for commercial and indusri7al buildings, and made recommendations of National Register
eligibility.
Power generation per se was not researched or discussed in this document, although it was indirectly treated
from the standpoint of the history and improvement of mass transit in Dubuque under the contexts titled "The Key
City, 1859-1893;" {p. E-57}, "Fitful Growth and Maturation, 1894-1911," (pp. E-88-E-92). Consequently any
National Register eligibility recommendations focused on the streetcar and streetcar labor history components of the
local energy history. Under architectural recommendations, 1000 Main was recommended as being eligible. The
buildiztg at 137 West 10`h Street was not surveyed at all due to its post-dating the time period covered by the multiple
property document.
Power Company History:
The history of electrical power in Dubuque, in the fozxn of a municipal franchise dates back to early 1883. As
early as 1890 the provision of electricity was combined with that of streetcar service. A rapid succession of
acquisitions and failrrres witnessed the rise and fall of the Dubuque Light and Traction Company (1893), Home
Electric Company (1899), Union Electric Company (1900), and finally the Dubuque Electric Company in 1916. By
the time that Dubuque Electric was purchased by the Utilities Development Corporation in 1924, it was providing
power and streetcar service to all of Dubuque, East Dubuque, and electricity to Dyersville (Lyon, pp. 137, 220;
Teleg~•aplt-He~•ald, July 21, 1916).
The Dubuque Electric Company was aChicago-based cozporation and such "outside" ownership reflected the
realities of the emergence of the large-scale utility company. On September 26, 1924 the company established its
offices in 1000 Main, orr the noztheast corner of West 10`h and Main streets. Just six months later it was purchased by
Interstate Power Company, a new utility company that had incorporated under the laws of the State of Delaware, on
April 18, 1925. This new utility company lead started servicing customers in Iowa and Wisconsin but quickly added
Minnesota, Illinois, North and South Dakota, Nebraska, Oklahoma and Manitoba, Canada service areas (Teleg~•apli-
Herald, Apri120, 1975; A History, pp. 1-6).
The company represented the emergence of what was termed the "utility holding company." It started in
Chicago as the "Utilities Development Corporation," and was re-titled the "Utilities Power and Light Company"
previous to its 1925 reincarnation. It expanded rapidly in the years 1913-1925. The company was first headquartered
at McGregor, Iowa, and then at Albeit Lea, Minnesota, prior to the acquisition of the Dubuque market. Reflective of
its rapid growth was the purchase, in early May 1926, often other public utility companies. These new acquisitions
serviced 171 towns in the Dakotas, Nebraska, Oklahoma and Canada. This increase alone promised to bring 15-25
new employees to the central offices in Dubuque. At the time of this expansion the company was providing power to
Dubuque, Clizrton and Albert Lea (Minnesota) and its holdings in those urban areas amounted to $40 million. But this
enlargement substantially increased the tezzitory that the company served. The company built Iowa's first all-steel
tower transmission line between Clinton and Dubuque in 1926. Most of its expansion was accomplished by 1927.
The Great Depression was hard on utility companies because they were overvalued. Federal law changes (the