Locust Street 1124IOWA STATE HISTORICAL DEPARTMENT, DIVISION OF HISTORIC PRESERVATION
DUBUQUE, IOWA 1978
'Architectural survey 1979
Inventory
STREET ADDRESS
BUILDING NAME
PRESENT OWNER
Address
Photograph ~o~ ~
Frame
LEGAL DESCRIPTION
DATE OF CONSTRUCTION
Source
ARCHITECT/BUILDER
Source
PRESENT USE
DESIGNED USE
Source
ACCESSIBILITY
STATUS
BUILDING MATERIALS
RES/UNlt/~
~/UNO/WP
CONDITION
Foundation ~ ~?~ i~3 4
Walls ~~% ~~, 1~3 4
~3 4
Trim
Porch/Storefront
Eaves/Cornice
Chimney(s)
DESIGN FEATURES
Style ~ %~f~%~
1~34
34
1234
1234
1234
Details of Note:
Facade N/S/E/W By Date
MODIFICATIONS/ADDITIONS:
COMMENT:
Interior Features:
Site Features:
Evaluation
I QUALITY Aesthetic 1 2 3~
Historical 1 2 3 4
Rarity 1 2 3 4
II ENVIRONMENTAL STATURE 1 2 3~
III CONTEXT Immediate (~234
Broad ql) 234
IV INTEGRITY OF FABRIC 12~4
Architectural Significance
PROBABLE ADDITIONAL AREAS OF SIGNIFICANCE
REPRESENTATION IN EXISTING SURVEYS
COMMENT:
HABS/NRHP
H
SURVEY CONSULTANT: Bruce M. KriviSkey, AICP Date
Site Inventory Form
State Inventory No. 31-01390
New Supplemental
State Historical Society of Iowa
Part of a district with known boundaries (enter inventory no.)
Relationship:ContributingNoncontributing
(December 1, 1999)
Contributes to a potential district with yet unknown boundaries
National Register Status:(any that apply) Listed De-listed NHL DOE
9-Digit SHPO Review & Compliance Number
Non-Extant (enter year)
1. Name of Property
historic name Michael O'Brien Rowhouse Block
other names/site number
2. Location
street & number 1124 Locust
city or town Dubuque vicinity, county Dubuque
Legal Description: (If Rural) Township Name Township No. Range No. Section Quarter of Quarter
(If Urban) Subdivision Block(s) Lot(s) see below
3. State/Federal Agency Certification []
Skip this Section
4. National Park Service Certification []
Skip this Section
5. Classification
Category of Property Number of Resources within Property
(Check only one box)
building(s) If Non-Eligible Property If Eligible Property, enter number of:
district Enter number of: Contributing Noncontributing
site 0 buildings 1 0 buildings
structure sites sites
object structures structures
objects objects
0 Total 1 0 Total
Name of related project report or multiple property study
(Enter “N/A” if the property is not part of a multiple property examination).
Title Historical Architectural Data Base Number
The Architectural and Historical Resources of Dubuque, 1833-1955N/A
6. Function or Use
Historic Functions Current Functions
(Enter categories from instructions)(Enter categories from instructions)
01-Domestic/01A01single dwelling residence 01-Domestic/01A01single dwelling residence
7. Description
Architectural Classification Materials
(Enter categories from instructions)(Enter categories from instructions)
03-Early Republic/03B-Federal (rowhouse) foundation Stone
walls brick
roof Asphalt
other
Narrative Description
( SEE CONTINUATION SHEETS, WHICH MUST BE COMPLETED)
8. Statement of Significance
Applicable National Register Criteria
(Mark “x” representing your opinion of eligibility after applying relevant National Register criteria)
Yes No More Research Recommended A
Property is associated with significant events.
Yes No More Research Recommended B
Property is associated with the lives of significant persons.
Yes No More Research Recommended C
Property has distinctive architectural characteristics.
Yes No More Research Recommended D
Property yields significant information in archaeology or history.
31-01390
Dubuque1124 Locust
County Address Site Number
Dubuque
City District Number
Criteria Considerations
A Owned by a religious institution or used E A reconstructed building, object, or structure.
for religious purposes. F A commemorative property.
B Removed from its original location. G Less than 50 years of age or achieved significance within the past
C A birthplace or grave. 50 years.
D A cemetery
Areas of Significance Significant Dates
(Enter categories from instructions)
Construction date
Architecture1856
check if circa or estimated date
Other dates
Significant Person Architect/Builder
(Complete if National Register Criterion B is marked above)
Architect
N/A Unknown
Builder
Gaffney, John
Narrative Statement of Significance
( SEE CONTINUATION SHEETS, WHICH MUST BE COMPLETED)
9. Major Bibliographical References
Bibliography
See continuation sheet for citations of the books, articles, and other sources used in preparing this form
10. Geographic Data
UTM References
(OPTIONAL)
Zone Easting Northing Zone Easting Northing
1 2
3 4
See continuation sheet for additional UTM references or comments
11. Form Prepared By
name/title James E. Jacobsen
organization History Pays! Historic Preservation Consulting Firm date June 15, 2004
street & number 4411 Ingersoll Avenue telephone 515-274-3625
city or town Des Moines state IA zip code 50312
ADDITIONAL DOCUMENTATION
(Submit the following items with the completed form)
FOR ALL PROPERTIES
1. Map: showing the property’s location in a town/city or township.
2. Site plan: showing position of buildings and structures on the site in relation to public road(s).
3. Photographs: representative black and white photos. If the photos are taken as part of a survey for which the Society is to be
curator of the negatives or color slides, a photo/catalog sheet needs to be included with the negatives/slides and the following
needs to be provided below on this particular inventory site:
Roll/slide sheet # 7466 Frame/slot # 8 Date Taken Sept. 2003
Roll/slide sheet # Frame/slot # Date Taken
Roll/slide sheet # Frame/slot # Date Taken
photo & slide catalog sheet
See continuation sheet or attached for list of photo roll or slide entries.
Photos/illustrations without negatives are also in this site inventory file.
FOR CERTAIN KINDS OF PROPERTIES, INCLUDE THE FOLLOWING AS WELL
1. Farmstead & District:
(List of structures and buildings, known or estimated year built, and contributing or non-contributing status)
2. Barn:
a. A sketch of the frame/truss configuration in the form of drawing a typical middle bent of the barn.
b. A photograph of the loft showing the frame configuration along one side.
c. A sketch floor plan of the interior space arrangements along with the barn’s exterior dimensions in feet.
State Historic Preservation Office (SHPO) Use Only Below This Line
Concur with above survey opinion on National Register eligibility: Yes No More Research Recommended
This is a locally designated property or part of a locally designated district.
Comments:
Evaluated by (name/title): Date:
Iowa Department of Cultural Affairs
State Historical Society of Iowa
31-01390
Site Number
Iowa Site Inventory Form
Related District Number
Continuation Sheet
Page 1
Michael O'Brien Rowhouse Block Dubuque
Name of Property County
1124 Locust Dubuque
Address City
7. Narrative Description:
This property is located in the Jackson Park Historic District. Style/Year: 1856, one of five identical
three-story brick side gable row houses, Adams/Federal style with high stepped end walls
Physical Description: rectangular core (41x20) with offset rear wing (22x14), rear porch 5’6”x15, left
hand entry (right hand on northernmost unit) with recessed paneled sidewalls, transom, and very early
bracketed and pedimented hood, plain stone lintels and sills, stone foundation and water table, attic
end light, two-story rear wing. Higher ground level ceiling height is unusually visible in plain wall
between lower and second floors. Nice broad denticulated cornice with massive end brackets wraps
around to north wall and distinguishes these from the other units. A two-story rear wing to the
northwest has a north bay and single story built in porch. North sidewall stairs reach roof of this wing.
Alterations: windows replaced, permastone cladding (being removed or failing as of 1986). Double-
decker rear porch present on 1124 as of 1891. Two-story rear brick wing present 1909. Two-story
square addition without north bay present on 1134 (1891), bay and frame single-story wraparound
present 1909. Additional elements to east added thereafter. Permits note re-roofing in 1943 (half),
1962, repair fire damage 1943 ($1,300), exterior alterations 1955 ($55).
8. Narrative Statement of Significance:
Special Significance; Senator William B. Allison lived and died here in 1908, his funeral was held at the
house (photo, Times –Journal, August 6, 1908).
According to city directories Allison lived at 1134 Locust.
Original Owner/Builder: O’Brien built this three-story, 102x34 residential block in 1856 (Daily
Republican, October 10, 1856).
Building History: these two houses were combined for much of their history. The W. E. Lull Estate
owned the parcel when it was sewered. L. A. Lull, music professor and musical instrument dealer,
occupied 1124 as of 1872 and spent $1,000 in improvements that year, employing builder John McCoy
to do the work (Herald, November 24, 1872). Senator William B. Allison occupied 1134 as early as
1869, a year when he spent $60 in improvements. Improvements made during 1870 totaled $700
(Herald, December 18, 1870). He employed builder Thomas Connolly to add a brick addition to his
three-story house, for $2,000, in 1872. He made $4,000 in improvements in 1877 using architects Heer
& Naesher (Times, April 17, 1877) and finally in 1899, he employed architect Spencer to design
“Colonial style improvements” presumably on both units (Herald, November 24, 1872; December 14,
1877; Telegraph, May 28, 1899; Times, December 18, 1870). Five-plex as of 1971.
9. Major Bibliographical References:
Sanborn Fire Insurance Maps, 1884, 1891, 1909/36
Dubuque City Directories, 1902, 1915, 1925, 1934
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Michael O'Brien Rowhouse Block Dubuque
Name of Property County
1124 Locust Dubuque
Address City
Bruce Kriviskey, Dubuque, Iowa--Architectural Survey 1978/1979, Atlas of City Wide and District
Survey Maps, Dubuque; n.p., c.1979
Dubuque County Assessor’s Data
Newspapers and other primary sources as noted in the text above.
Historical photographs, Center For Dubuque History, Loras College
10. Additional Documentation:
Legal Description: Middle 1/5 of S 2/5 of Lot 478.
Map: