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Disposition of Buettell Brothers Building at 821-845 Central Avenue Planning Services Department 50 West 13th Street Dubuque, Iowa 52001-4864 Phone (319) 589-4210 Fax (319) 589-4221 DUB~JE ~<k~ October 31, 2000 The Honorable Mayor and City Council Members City of Dubuque City Hall - 50 W. 13th Street Dubuque IA 52001 RE: Disposition of Buettell Brothers Building at 821-845 Central Avenue Dear Mayor and City Council Members: The Historic Preservation Commission was established by the City Council in 1979 to assist in the review, retention and promotion of historically significant properties and districts in the city of Dubuque. In carrying out this responsibility, the Historic Preservation Commission has discussed the disposition of the Buettell Brothers Building at 821-845 Central Avenue. This building currently houses Discount House Furniture and Bedding, Inc. and Tri-State Blueprint and Framing Company. The building is included in the site plan for the proposed expansion of the Dubuque County Jail. The Historic Preservation Commission does not have a position on the jail expansion. The Commission has concerns with the potential for demolition of the Buettell Brothers Building as part of the jail expansion, however, due to the building's historical significance. Buettell Brothers Company, Importers and Jobbers, was a five-story brick structure built prior to 1912 for housing the ever-expanding importing and jobbing business of the Buettell Brothers. The face of the building includes an inordinate number and style of windows, from which a variety of wares (stationery, holiday decorations, fireworks, books, toys, among others) could be displayed. This business was considered the most progressive wholesale house in Dubuque, and one of the strongest houses in the west in their line. Dubuque had a prominent standing in the jobbing industry, and many retailers traveled from all parts of the territory to place their orders at the house. This popularity was evidenced as, since their incorporation in 1892, the Buettell Brothers expanded twice to larger spaces. Service People Integrity Responsibility Innovation Teamwork Letter to The Honorable Mayor and City Council Members Buettell Brothers Building Page 2 The present building is in excellent condition although, at some point in its history, three stories from the south end were removed. The majority of the windows have been covered and the storefront modified from its original design. Enclosed is an excerpt from the book, Dubuque 1912, which provides an artist's rendering of the facade and a testimonial to the historic significance of the Buettell Brothers Company. Due to its significance to the history of the city of Dubuque and Dubuque County, the Historic Preservation Commission believes that the Buettell Brothers Building should be preserved. The Historic Preservation Commission respectfully requests that the Mayor and City Council members work with the Dubuque County Board of Supervisors to preserve this building, if the jail is expanded to this block. The Commission believes that adaptive and creative reuse and rehabilitation of the Buettell Brothers Building can accommodate expansion of the jail. The Commission is available to assist the City Council and Board of Supervisors with this project. Sincerely, I ~ (\'lo~ I*-, Terry Mozena, Chairperson Historic Preservation Commission enclosures TM/mkr cc: Michael C. Van Milligen, City Manager Terry Lambert, Acting Police Chief ~ . ~ --.. ..- = \.;..:. . ~~~.' .~:<. .~~ ~~~. .~~ \.\." ~~' ~\'~' \:S:' , ;\ .~. -... .- - -~ -:-=- - - - ---:-:.-=- ~ Buettell Bros. Company, Importers and Jobbers One of the substantial and most progressive wholesale houses of Dubuque is that of Buettell Brothers' Company. The firm was established and incorporated in 1892, since which time the business has steadily increased in volume and extent. Twice within the time of its existence the company has moved into larger quaners. At present the office and the warerooms occupy a splendid five-story building located at 819-859 Clay Street, conveniently arranged for handling an immense amount of business. The company began doing business with three traveling men ."" and have branched out and extended its territory so that ten salesmen are now steadily employed to look after their interests. In addition comprehensive catalogs of the various depanmenrs are issued frequently for the benefit of the trade and a large mail order business is constantly carried on by this house. The active mernebers of the firm are: E.A. Buettell, President: W.A. Buettell, Vice President, and A.C. Bueuell, Secretary and Treasurer. These three men give personal attention to the various departments and supervise all details of the work. The large trade and the confidence that BuetteU Brothers. company enjoys is due largely to this personal supervision. The firm conducts an exclusive wholesale business. There is no retail department. While a business with so many lines demands much detail work, the long experience and the thorough organization of this firm enables it to enlarge these various lines and extend its entire business over a vast territory. They are the only exclusive wholesale stationery house in the state and the northwest, and slo import from European markets many articles in fancy goods and drug sundry line. The special lines carried for the different seasons of the year are valentines and sporting goods for spring, fireworks for midsummer, school goods for fall, holiday goods for winter season. (n each of these lines a full and complete stock is carried and none but goods of a standard quality are handled. For the spring season sporting goods of every description are supplied. including a strong baseball line, even to uniforms, also tennis goods, hammocks, in fact, most everything that is used in the way of sporting articles. The spring line also includes valentines and Easter novelties of an endless variety of designs, many of which are imported. The strong line for mid-summer is the Fourth of July, goods on which they do an extensive business, especially on the fancy fireworks and special pieces for city celebrations, flags and other appropriate decorations. The first fall line is the general line of school supplies, which consists of everything that is used in schools in the daily routine of work such as tablets, composition books, note books, lead pencils, pens, inks and a great variety of other material on which line they are one of the largest distributors in the west. The heaviest is the fall holiday line consisting of a complete line of goods for the holiday business, such as books, dolls, toys, toilet articles, leather goods, bric a brae, fancy goods, in fact everything kept in an up-to-date store soliciting for the holiday trade. This large line is selected with the greatest of care and a large portion of it is from the best European factories. which goods the firm imports direct. As the holiday line is so numerous, accommodations to display it properly can only be had at the largest cities in the territory, so that dwing the months of Aug., Sept., and Oct., special displays of samples are made at the largest centers, such as Cedar Rapids, Des Moines, Sioux City, Omaha, Mitchell. S;D., and other cities, for the convenience of their customers to place the orders at these openings. A large number of customers from all parts of the territory also come to Dubuque and place their orders at the house. Dubuque is rapidly gaining supremacy amongst western jobbing centers and Buettell Brothers! Company are one of the strongest houses in the west in their line. .- . r;:...;-~'