17th Street 0260-280
Site Inventory Form
State Historical Society of Iowa
(December 1, 1999)
State Inventory No. 31-00752 D New rgJ Supplemental
rgJ Part of a district with known boundaries (enter inventory no.) _
Relationship: rgJ Contributing D Noncontributing
D Contributes to a potential district with yet unknown boundaries
National Register Status:(any that apply) D Listed D De-listed D NHL D DOE
9-Digit SHPO Review & Compliance Number _
D Non-Extant (enter year) _
1. Name of Property
historic name James Howie Block
other names/site number
2. Location
street & number 260-280 West 17th
city or town Dubuque
Legal Description: (If Rural) Township Name
D vicinity, county Dubuque
Township No. Range No. Section Quarter of Quarter
(If Urban) Subdivision_
3. State/Federal Agency Certification [Skip this Section]
4. National Park Service Certification [Skip this Section]
5. Classification
Category of Property (Check only one box)
IZI building(s)
D district
D site
D structure
D object
Block(s) _
Lot(s) see below
Number of Resources within Pro ert
If Non-Eligible Property If Eligible Property, enter number of:
Enter number of: Contributin Noncontributin
Q buildings 1 Q buildings
sites sites
structures structures
o~ects o~ects
Total 1 Q Total
Q
Name of related project report or multiple property study (Enter "N/A" if the property is not part of a multiple property examination).
Title Historical Architectural Data Base Number
The Architectural and Historical Resources of Dubuque. 1833-1955 fiffi
6. Function or Use
Historic Functions (Enter categories from instructions) Current Functions (Enter categories from instructions)
01 B-multiple Dwellinq
01 B-multipleDwellinq
7. Description
Architectural Classification (Enter categories from instructions)
Materials (Enter categories from instructions)
foundation Stone
06-Late 19th & 20th Century Revivals/06E-Late Gothic Revival walls brick
roof Asphalt
other
Narrative Description (IZI SEE CONTINUATION SHEETS, WHICH MUST BE COMPLETED)
8. Statement of Significance
Applicable National Register Criteria (Mark "x" representing your opinion of eligibility after applying relevant National Register criteria)
DYes D No IZI More Research Recommended A Property is associated with significant events.
DYes D No IZI More Research Recommended B Property is associated with the lives of significant persons.
IZI Yes D No D More Research Recommended C Property has distinctive architectural characteristics.
DYes D No IZI More Research Recommended D Property yields significant information in archaeology or history.
County Dubuque
City Dubuque
Criteria Considerations
D A Owned by a religious institution or used
for religious purposes.
D B Removed from its original location.
DCA birthplace or grave.
D D A cemetery
Address 260-280 West 17th
Site Number 31-00752
District Number
D E A reconstructed building, object, or structure.
D F A commemorative property.
D G Less than 50 years of age or achieved significance within the past
50 years.
Areas of Significance (Enter categories from instructions)
Significant Dates
Construction date
1884 IZI check if circa or estimated date
Other dates
Arch itectu re
Significant Person
(Complete if National Register Criterion B is marked above)
N/A
Architect/Builder
Architect
Hvde. F. D.
Builder
Howie. James
Narrative Statement of Significance (IZI SEE CONTINUATION SHEETS, WHICH MUST BE COMPLETED)
9. Major Bibliographical References
Bibliography IZI See continuation sheet for citations of the books, articles, and other sources used in preparing this form
10. Geographic Data
11. Form Prepared By
name/title James E. Jacobsen
organization History Pays! Historic Preservation Consultinq Firm
street & number 4411 Inqersoll Avenue
city or town Des Moines
state IA
date June 15. 2004
telephone 515-274-3625
zip code 50312
ADDITIONAL DOCUMENTATION (Submit the following items with the completed form)
FOR ALL PROPERTIES
1. Map: showing the property's location in a town/city or township.
2. Site plan: showing position of buildings and structures on the site in relation to public road(s).
3. Photographs: representative black and white photos. If the photos are taken as part of a survey for which the Society is to be
curator of the negatives or color slides, a photo/catalog sheet needs to be included with the negatives/slides and the following
needs to be provided below on this particular inventory site:
Roll/slide sheet # 7466 Frame/slot # 32.35 Date Taken Sept. 2003
Roll/slide sheet # Frame/slot # Date Taken
Roll/slide sheet # Frame/slot # Date Taken
D See continuation sheet or attached photo & slide catalog sheet for list of photo roll or slide entries.
D Photos/illustrations without negatives are also in this site inventory file.
FOR CERTAIN KINDS OF PROPERTIES, INCLUDE THE FOLLOWING AS WELL
1. Farmstead & District: (List of structures and buildings, known or estimated year built, and contributing or non-contributing status)
2. Barn:
a. A sketch of the frame/truss configuration in the form of drawing a typical middle bent of the barn.
b. A photograph of the loft showing the frame configuration along one side.
c. A sketch floor plan of the interior space arrangements along with the barn's exterior dimensions in feet.
State Historic Preservation Office (SHPO) Use Only Below This Line
Iowa Department of Cultural Affairs
State Historical Society of Iowa
Iowa Site Inventory Form
Continuation Sheet
Site Number 31-00752
Related District Number
Paqe 1
James Howie Block
Name of Property
260-280 West 17th
Address
Dubuque
County
Dubuque
City
7. Narrative Description:
This property is located in the Jackson Park Historic District. StyleNear: 1884, Gothic Revival (dormer
pointed lights), Second Empire (fayade only Mansard roof with dormers); Queen Anne (polychromatic
pattern of contrasting materials) six-unit row house. This is a singular Dubuque example in terms of its
style, date and number of units.
Designer/Builder: F. D. Hyde, architect.
Physical Description: two-story brick row house design on raised stone foundation, symmetrical fayade
composition with three gable roof through cornice dormers (bracketed at their bases); six gable roof
dormers on a single-plane Mansard front, vertically aligned windows on basement and upper stories
(with attic dormers centered above and between the paired window sets), paired entrances with
transoms. A strong horizontal effect is produced by the pattern of spring stone level twin parallel belt
courses, two sill level stone belt courses, the cornice line and the foundation cap. Basement windows
have double rowlock brick arches set below the foundation cap level. An unusual feature is the use of
a lighter colored brick for the tracery work on the fayade, the brick soldier voussoir arches with actual
key stone inserts, are also of this lighter color. Each window arch is outlined with a raised lighter brick
band. Each unit has a two-story rear brick wing and these are paired across the rear of the plan.
Alterations: dormer lights covered, original short and shallow shared porches removed, replaced with
concrete stoops, steps and metal railings. See 375-77 West 1ih which is almost identical, note the
decorative trusses that likely infilled the gabled dormers on this plan. Permits note following changes:
278; re-roof 1948, 1961, new door 1967, for 276; re-roof 1962, repairs to exterior 1951, 266; re-roof
1948,264; re-roof 1948, 254; re-roof 1948, 1971 (part), 252; minor alterations 1942, screen porch
1942, roof repair 1943, re-roof 1948, open porch repairs 1953, 1971 (part), 260-270-280, re-roof 1998
($18,000), repair fire damage 2000 ($17,000).
Landscaping/Setting: level corner parcel, fronts north.
8. Narrative Statement of Significance:
Special Significance; James Howie Block
Original Owner/Builder: Howie built this 114x1 02 row house, three stories with Mansard, described as
"modified Gothic" style (Dubuque Trade Journal, October 10, 1884).
Building History: demo permit for 260-270-280 West 1ih, no date.
The Jackson Park Walking Tour indicates that there were originally 12 apartments, each with six rooms
and shaded rear court yards. The complex was vacant for some years and was boarded up. No sewer
data found.
Howie's Block:
Iowa Department of Cultural Affairs
State Historical Society of Iowa
Iowa Site Inventory Form
Continuation Sheet
Site Number 31-00752
Related District Number
Paqe 2
James Howie Block
Name of Property
260-280 West 17th
Address
Dubuque
County
Dubuque
City
The best improvement on Seventeenth Street this year has been the block of dwelling houses erected for himself by James
Howie the builder and contractor. He has great faith in Dubuque and while having done much in the way of erecting
structures for others has thus invested some of the earnings of years of useful labor in this beautiful and promising city. The
block occupies a lot fronting 114 feet on 17th street, running back to a depth of 102 and consists of six dwellings. Each has
ten rooms besides cellars, halls, closets and other conveniences with all the modem improvements and facilities necessary for
comfort and luxury in housekeeping. In the rear a tramway runs by means of which fuel is conveyed with ease and dispatch
to each residence. Front yards are enclosed within a neat and substantial wood and iron fence, the ornamented posts of which
are made of oiled cedar. The internal arrangement of parlors, living and other rooms is such as to meet the wants and comfort
of a family in the most approved way. F. D. Hyde was the architect and the designs and working plans were prepared with
great care. No convenience has been omitted while the spirit and substance of taste and beauty have been thrown over the
whole. The height is three stories above ground covered by a Mansard roof. In style the architecture is modified Gothic
combined with features of the other orders the whole rendering the building imposing, pleasing, and admirably adapted to its
situation and locality. As soon as completed entire occupancy was the immediate result and by a class of tenants the very
best, thus showing that demand for residences which is an indication of growth and prosperity in any city. While such homes
would readily command a rental of from $30 to $33 a month there is also a great demand for good tenements by those who
can only afford to pay from $10 to $20. Mr. Howie is to be commended for the excellent manner in which he has set an
example much needed in this city; and which it is to be hoped he may further continue and be imitated by others (Dubuque
Trade Journal, October 10, 1884).
9. Major Sibliographical References:
Sanborn Fire Insurance Maps, 1884, 1891, 1909/36
Dubuque City Directories, 1902, 1915, 1925, 1934
Bruce Kriviskey, Dubuque, lowa--Architectural Survey 1978/1979, Atlas of City Wide and District
Survey Maps, Dubuque; n.p., c.1979
Dubuque County Assessor's Data
Newspapers and other primary sources as noted in the text above.
Historical photographs, Center For Dubuque History, Loras College
Iowa Department of Cultural Affairs
State Historical Society of Iowa
Iowa Site Inventory Form
Continuation Sheet
Site Number 31-00752
Related District Number
Paqe 3
James Howie Block
Name of Property
260-280 West 17th
Address
Dubuque
County
Dubuque
City
10. Additional Documentation:
Legal Description:
Map:
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