Upper Central Avenue Commercial Historic District Nomination CriteriaPlanning Services Department
City Hall
50 West 13th Street
Dubuque, IA 52001 -4864
(563) 589 -4210 phone
(563) 589 -4221 fax
(563) 589 -6678 TDD
planning@citvofdubuoue.org
The Honorable Mayor and City Council Members
City of Dubuque
City Hall -50 W. 13th Street
Dubuque, IA 52001
Masterpiece on the Mississippi
May 23, 2012
RE: Upper Central Avenue Commercial Historic District National Register of Historic
Places (NRHP) Nomination
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.
Introduction
The State Nominations Review Committee plans to consider the Upper Central Avenue
Commercial Historic District, 1460 -1965 Central Avenue, for nomination to the National
Register of Historic Places (NRHP) during their June 8, 2012 meeting. As a participant of
the Certified Local Government Program, the City of Dubuque is required to review and
comment on National Register nominations of properties within its jurisdiction.
Discussion
Property Owners in the district were notified. Harold Koppes, 3472 Crestwood Drive;
David Rafoth, 11875 Rupp Hollow Road; and David Witter, 2591 Old Country Lane asked
questions and offered their support for the district nomination.
Four written comments were submitted. The written comments are enclosed with the
related materials. Terry Mozena offered his support of the district. Mary Pat Breitfelder,
Fausto Gardini, and Joseph Rapp provided letters supporting the district nomination and
requested the nomination more clearly explain and delineate the contributions
Luxembourgers and their descendants have made to the district.
The Commission reviewed the nomination and criteria for significance. The nomination
indicates the property is locally significant under criteria A and C. Criterion A is a property
that is associated with events that have made a significant contribution to the broad
patterns of our history. Criterion C is a property that 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. The Commission also believes
properties within the district may be significant under Criterion B, or properties that are
associated with the lives of persons significant in our past.
Recommendation
By a vote of 6 to 0, the Historic Preservation Commission recommends approval of the
Upper Central Avenue Commercial Historic District as it meets Significance Criteria A
and C, recommend the consultant further explore the opportunity to include Significance
Criteria B as well as further consider the contributions of Luxembourgers and other ethnic
groups in the district.
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. Attached is the CLG
National Register Review form for the Mayor's signature.
Respectfully submitted,
David Klavitter, Chairperson
Historic Preservation Commission
Attachments
CLG NATIONAL REGISTER REVIEW
CLG Name Dubuque Date of Public Meeting
Property Name Upper Central Avenue Commercial Historic District, 1460 -1965 Central Avenue, Dubuque,
Dubuque County
1. For Historic Preservation Commission:
Recommendation of National gister eligibility
❑ Recommendation of National Register ineligibility
Signat
Print Name
DA vi D 7. / L A ✓I --
Title C-74A"11J11V11\
Reason(s) for recommendation:
The nomination meets Significance Criteria A and C.
2. For Chief Elected Local Official:
® Recommendation of National Register eligibility
❑ Recommendation o National Register ineligibility
Signature
Print Name
Title
-,v
Roy D. Buol
Mayor
Reason(s) for recommendation:
The nomination meets Significance Criteria.A and C.
3. Professional Evaluation:
❑ Recommendation of National Register eligibility
❑ Recommendation of National Register ineligibility
Date S~ 1.2/_
Date June 4, 2012
Signature Date
Print Name
Title
Reason(s) for recommendation:
RETURN TO: State Historical Society of Iowa, ATTN: National Register Coordinator, 600 E. Locust, Des Moines,
IA 50319
THE CITY OF
DUB
Masterpiece on the Mississippi
Dubuque
AII•AmencaCity
f`.
2007
9
TO: Historic Preservation Commission
PROM: David Johnson, Assistant Planner
SUBJECT: Upper Central Avenue Commercial Historic District NRHP Nomination
DATE: May 7, 2012
The State Nominations Review Committee plans to consider the Upper Central Avenue
Commercial Historic District, 1460 -1965 Central Avenue, for nomination to the National
Register of Historic Places (NRHP) during their June 8, 2012 meeting. As aparticipant
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 the enclosed copy of the nomination, photographs,
and review form for this nomination.
The Commission will review the enclosed nomination at the May 17, 2012 meeting. The
State is requesting the Commission comment on whether the Upper Central Avenue
Commercial Historic District meets significance criteria (A, B, C or D) for listing on the
National Register of Historic Places. The nomination indicates that the district is locally
significant under criteria A and C. Criterion A is a property that is associated with
events that have made a significant contribution to the broad patterns of our history.
Criterion C is a property that embodies the distinctive characteristics of a type, period,
or method of construction of represents the work of a master, or possesses high artistic
values, or represents a significant and distinguishable entity whose components lack
individual distinction.
Please review the attached documents and be prepared to recommend to the State
Nominations Review Committee whether the Upper Central Avenue Commercial
Historic District is eligible for listing on the National Register of Historic Places.
Enclosure
NPS Form 10 -900
United States Department of the Interior
National Park Service
OMB No. 1024 -0018 (Expires 5/31/2012)
National Register of Historic Places
Registration Form
NAR 0 8 2012
This form is for use in nominating or requesting determinations for Individual properties and districts. See Instructions In National Register Bulletin, How
to Complete the National Register of Historic Places Registration Form. If any 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 certification comments, entries, and narrative items on continuation sheets if needed (NPS Form 10- 900a).
1. Name of Property
historic name Upper Central Avenue Commercial Historic District
other names /site number
2. Location
street & number 1460 -1965 Central Avenue
city or town Dubuque
state Iowa
code 073 county Dubuque
N/A not for publication
N/A vicinity
code 061 zip code 52003
3. State /Federal Agency Certification
As the designated authority under the National Historic Preservation Act, as amended,
I hereby certify that this X 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 X meets does not meet the National Register Criteria. I recommend that this property
_
be considered significant at the following level(s) of significance:
national statewide X local
_ _
Signature of certifying official/Title Date
State Historical Society of Iowa
State or Federal agency /bureau or Tribal Government
In my opinion, the property _ meets _ does not meet the National Register criteria.
Signature of commenting official Date
Title State or Federal agency /bureau or Tribal Government
4. National Park Service Certification
I hereby certify that this property Is:
entered in the National Register _ determined eligible for the National Register
_ determined not eligible for the National Register _ removed from the National Register
other (explain:)
Signature of the Keeper Date of Action
United States Department of the Interior
NPS Form 10 -900 OMB No. 1024 -0018
Upper Central Avenue Commercial Historic District
Name of Property
National Park Service / National Register of Historic Places Registration Form
(Expires 5/31/2012)
Dubuque County, Iowa
County and State
5. Classification
Ownership of Property Category of Property
(Check as many boxes as apply.) (Check only one box.)
X
X
private
public - Local
public - State
public - Federal
X
building(s)
district
site
structure
object
Name of related multiple property listing
(Enter "N /A" if property is not part of a multiple property listing)
The Arch. & Hist: Resources of Dubuque, 1837-
1955
Number of Resources within Property
(Do not include previously listed resources in the count.)
Contributing
56
Noncontributing
8
1
57 8
buildings
district
site
structure
object
Total
Number of contributing resources previously
listed in the National Register
0
6. Function or Use
Historic Functions
(Enter categories from instructions.)
Commerce/Trade /Specialty Store
Commerce/Trade/Financial Institution
Commerce/Trade/Restaurant
Commerce/Trade /Professional
Domestic /multiple dwelling
Domestic /single dwelling .
Government /Fire Station
Current Functions
(Enter categories from instructions.)
Commerce/Trade/Specialty Store
Commerce/Trade /Restaurant
Domestic /multiple dwelling
Domestic /single dwelling
7. Description
Architectural Classification
(Enter categories from instructions.)
Late Victorian /Italianate
Late Victorian /Second Empire
Late Victorian /Rennaisance
Late 191h and Early 20th Century American
Movements /Commercial
Materials
(Enter categories from instructions.)
foundation: stone
walls: brick
stucco
roof: asphalt
other:
United States Department of the Interior
NPS Form 10 -900 OMB No. 1024 -0018
Upper Central Avenue Commercial Historic District
Name of Property
National Park Service / National Register of Historic Places Registration Form
(Expires 5/31/2012)
Dubuque County, Iowa
County and State
8. Statement of Significance
Applicable National Register Criteria
(Mark "x" in one or more boxes for the criteria qualifying the property for National
Register listing.)
IXI
X
A Property is associated with events that have made 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
individual distinction.
D Property has yielded, or is likely to yield, information
important in prehistory or history.
Criteria Considerations
(Mark "x" in all the boxes that apply.)
Property is:
A Owned by a religious institution or used for religious
purposes.
B removed from its original location.
C a birthplace or grave.
D a cemetery.
E a reconstructed building, object, or structure.
F a commemorative property.
G less than 50 years old or achieving significance
within the past 50 years.
Areas of Significance
Architecture
Commerce
Period of Significance
Ca. 1858 -1962
Significant Dates
1868
1896
Significant Person
(Complete only if Criterion B is marked above.)
N/A
Cultural Affiliation
Architect/Builder
Heer, Fridolin Joseph
Howie, James
Hyde, Franklin
9. Major Bibliographical References
Bibliography (Cite the books, articles, and other sources used in preparing
Previous documentation on file (NPS):
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 American Buildings Survey #
_recorded by Historic American Engineering Record #
recorded by Historic American Landscape Survey #
this form.)
Primary location of additional data:
X State Historic Preservation Office
Other State agency
Federal agency
Local government
University
X Other
Name of repository:
Certified Local Government, Dubuque
Historic Resources Survey Number (if assigned):
United States Department of the Interior
NPS Form 10 -900
Upper Central Avenue Commercial Historic District
OMB No. 1024-0015
Name of Property
National Park Service / National Register of Historic Places Registration Form
(Expires 5/31/2012)
Dubuque County, Iowa
County and State
10. Geographical Data
Acreage of Property 10.81
UTM References
(Place additional UTM references on a
1 15 691420
Zone Easting
2 15 691510
Zone Easting
continuation sheet)
4708920
Northing
4708900
Northing
3 15 691630
4708490
Zone Easting Northing
4 15 691560
4708470
Zone Easting Northing
11. Form Prepared By
name /title James E. Jacobsen
organization History Pays!
street & number 4411 Ingersoll Avenue
city or town Des Moines
e -mail hp@raccoon.com
date February 29, 2012
telephone 515 - 274 -3625
state Iowa zip code 50312
Additional Documentation
Submit the following items with the completed form:
o Maps:
o A USGS map (7.5 or 15 minute series) indicating the property's location.
o A Sketch map for historic districts and properties having large acreage or numerous resources. Key all
photographs to this map.
o Continuation Sheets
o Photographs.
• Additional items: (Check with the SHPO or FPO for any additional items.)
Property Owner:
(Complete this item at the request of the SHPO or FPO.)
name (refer to attached list)
street & number telephone
city or town state Iowa zip code
Paperwork Reduction Act Statement: This information is being collected for applications to the National Register of Historic Places to nominate
properties for listing or determine eligibility for listing, to list 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 (16 U.S.CA.460 et seq.).
Estimated Burden Statement: Public reporting burden for this form is estimated to average 18 hours per response including time for reviewing
instructions, gathering and maintaining data, and completing and reviewing the form. Direct comments regarding this burden estimate or any aspect of
this form to the Office of Planning and Performance Management. U.S. Dept. of the Intetior, 1849 CA. Street, NW, Washington, DCA.
OMB No. 1024 -001
NPS Form 10 -900
(Expires 5/31/2012)
United States Department of the Interior
National Park Service
National Register of Historic Places
Continuation Sheet
Section number 7 Page 1 Upper Central Avenue Commercial Historic District
Dubuque County, Iowa
The Upper Central Avenue [originally Clay Street and Couler Avenue, the latter north of
18th Street) Commercial Historic District consists of all or parts of six city blocks that front onto
the avenue between a point south of 14th Street, and 20th Street. The district (Figure 1) is
located in the northern part of the Dubuque downtown proper, and extends into the southern
part of the Couler Valley. Both parts of the district consist of raised terraces that are bordered
to the west by steep bluff lines. The Couler Valley is bounded along its east and west sides by
higher ground. The City of Dubuque is one of the state's major urban centers and is located in
the northeast corner of the state with the Mississippi River as its eastern boundary. One of
Iowa's earliest cities, Dubuque's original downtown developed along Main Street (parallel to
Central Avenue and two blocks west), nearly a mile to the south of the south end of this district.
While the downtown proper is broader in its scale, this is an arterial commercial district.
Residential areas flank it both to the east and the west. Central Avenue was always an
important farm -to- market route and streetcar route, and the district developed as a "gateway"
entrance for travelers coming south into Dubuque.
While the district is essentially a linear one, a key distinctive feature is the half -block
long eastward jog in Central Avenue that occurs at 18th Street. That jog was substantial
enough that it marked the break in street names, with then Clay Street running south from the
jog, and Couler Avenue extending north of it. Today all is termed Central Avenue. While the
district and city as a whole was fundamentally ethnic German in its character, this jog serves to
mark the transition point where the commercial life of the district became almost exclusively
German. The two blocks that comprise this northern section consist of rows of buildings that
front on just one side of the avenue. The 1800's block fronts west while the 1900's do the
opposite. While it is preferred to have a building stock on both sides of a street, these buildings
are included because they are significant, exemplify in a few instances excellent late vernacular
architectural examples, and include numerous substantial buildings. While the 1900's block
represents the loss of comparable buildings to the east of the avenue, the 18005 block never
had comparables to the west. That block front consisted principally of a south - facing fire
engine house (1805 Central Avenue) and frame residences.
Commercial Architectural Context:
Figure 19 maps the locations of six National Register of Historic Places listed districts
and this district. Large sections of the city's historic core have been successively listed in the
form of residential and commercial districts and these district boundaries are frequently
juxtaposed on one another. The majority of these districts and the same proportion of district
total acreage is committed to residential historic districts. The West 11th and Langworthy
districts are bluff top districts so the shared boundary with Jackson Park and the West 11th
districts is more apparent than real inasmuch as the elevated district (West 11) looks down
upon the lower one. The Jackson Park and Cathedral residential districts are earlier in date
and are oriented to early city churches and public parks. These are on the lower terrace upon
which the original city and its downtown rests. There are two listed commercial districts, both of
which are located along Main Street (Upper and Old Main). There is also an unmapped
Millworking District that is largely off of the map to the east and which is centered between the
NPS Form 10 -900
(Expires 5/31/2012)
United States Department of the Interior
National Park Service
National Register of Historic Places
Continuation Sheet
OMB No. 1024 -001
Section number 7 Page 2 Upper Central Avenue Commercial Historic District
Dubuque County, Iowa
two commercial districts. The subject district shares its western boundary with that of the
Jackson Park district.
The other two listed commercial districts are also linear in their configurations and
district boundaries. The Upper Main district has a period of significance of 1856 -1919 but its
historic commercial development was during the 1870s and 1880s. Its commercial architectural
mix is consequently earlier than the other districts. Its buildings are lower in profile and larger
and more monumental blocks serve as "bookends" on each corner. Historically it represents
the development of a neighborhood commercial node to the north of the original downtown (Old
Main district). Over time the two commercial areas merged, displacing residential buildings.
The Old Main district period of significance is less helpful (1800 -1899) but the district does
include buildings that pre -date the Civil War. Its commercial architecture is historically much
older although the majority of its buildings have been refronted over time. It has a higher
degree of later building replacements than do the other two districts.
Building Chronology:
While the term "key building" is no longer used in National Register district nominations,
this district's buildings include nine major commercial blocks. Nearly two dozen district
buildings are so architecturally prominent and distinctive that they serve the function of being
key or landmark buildings within the district. This is a high proportion and they are generally
distributed across the district. Twenty -eight district buildings retain their original cast iron
storefront structural components. These include square or rounded columns, many of which
are fluted with ornamental bases and capitals; beams with decorative rosettes or other
ornamentation (see 1706 Central Avenue) and cast iron thresholds. Many buildings retain their
stone thresholds and a number of examples have stone lintels within their storefronts. Stone
columns are used in a few instances while brick pilasters, usually in the form of projecting
sidewalls, are commonly intermixed with the cast iron components. Several storefronts retain
original doors, transoms, a number have prism glass transoms. All in all the district storefronts
collectively represent an excellent range of cast iron and stone storefront examples.
Address:
Historic Name:
1460 Central Avenue
1496 Central Avenue
1497 Central Avenue
1501 -15 Central Avenue
1527 Central Avenue
1540 Central Avenue
1543 Central Avenue
1572 Central Avenue
1603 Central Avenue
1618 Central Avenue
1643 Central Avenue
1706 Central Avenue
Chas. W. Bittman Block
R. W. Lacy Block
Mathias M. Hoffman Block
H. Richter Block
J. Simones Block
J. P. Schroeder Block
R. H. Heller Block
Rider -Lacy Block
Date:
1869
1866, 1896
1890
1885,
1892 -1909
1887
1899
1884
1882
1887
-1866
1891
Style:
Italianate
Italianate
Queen Anne
Queen Anne
Italianate
Italianate
Italianate
Italianate
Italianate
Italianate
Queen Anne
NPS Form 10 -900
(Expires 5/31/2012)
United States Department of the Interior
National Park Service
National Register of Historic Places
Continuation Sheet
OMB No. 1024 -001
Section number 7 Page 3 Upper Central Avenue Commercial Historic District
Dubuque County, Iowa
Date: Style:
1888 Queen Anne
1892 Queen Anne
1888 Italianate
1892 -1908 Queen Anne/
1887 Queen Anne
1895 Italianate
-1891 2nd Empire
1905 Queen Anne
-1884 Italianate
+1891 Queen Anne
-1884, +1891 Italianate/
vernacular
1890 Italianate /
Italianate
Address:
1715 Central Avenue
1736 Central Avenue
1735 -37 Central Avenue
1763 Central Avenue
1798 Central Avenue
1812 Central Avenue
1838 Central Avenue
1842 Central Avenue
1876 Central Avenue
1879 Central Avenue
1885 Central Avenue
Historic Name:
Fred Nester Block
Edward Muntz Block
G. F. Thorman Block
N. Palen Block
German Savings Bank
Northern Hotel
1913 Central Avenue J. Ostdorf Block
The great majority of these examples date from the early 1880s through the early
1890s. Not surprisingly, nearly half of these buildings occupy prominent corner locations and
most of this subset are very substantial and ornamented blocks. Just one example of the
Second Empire Style, in the form of a mansard roof, is located within the district and is included
on this list of exceptional buildings.
The district is composed of nearly equal numbers to two and three story commercial
buildings, along with a small number of single and four -story examples. Similarly the majority of
buildings contained multiple storefronts, as many as four tenant spaces in the largest example.
The Multiple Property Documentation Form Dubuque —The Key City: The Architectural
and Historical Resources of Dubuque, Iowa, 1837 -1955 relied principally upon Virginia and Lee
McAlester's A Field Guide to American Houses as an architectural guide. While less useful for
non - residential architecture, the document generally defines the Italianate style as dating to
1840 -85, being two or more stories high, with narrow windows having arched and stylized
hoods. The residential hip roof form with its broad bracketed eaves was replaced in
commercial uses with an elaborate straight cornice, with either a flat roof or a side -gable form in
earlier examples. The Queen Anne style is dated to 1880 -1910 and was defined by the very
busy exterior shell, replete with patterned or molded masonry, undulations in the forms of
turrets, towers, bays, and decorative inserts. The style is very vertical, meaning that it favored
cornice level extensions, including crestings, pediments, finials, and chimney extensions
(Jacobsen, 2000, p. F -195, 216).
The Phase III Architectural and Historical Survey Report- Downtown Dubuque applied
both styles to the commercial form. The Italianate commercial form was closely associated with
the emergence of cast iron structural and design components, and were applied in this city in
quantity by the early 1870s. Such fronts arrived as a complete design, in pre -cast form and all
were certainly designed by architects or major builders. As glass- making technology evolved,
the resulting storefronts were virtually all glass, with minimal kick plates. Multi -paned display
NPS Form 10 -900
(Expires 5/31/2012)
United States Department of the Interior
National Park Service
National Register of Historic Places
Continuation Sheet
OMB No. 1024 -001
Section number 7 Page 4 Upper Central Avenue Commercial Historic District
Dubuque County, Iowa
windows were replaced with very heavy single light glass. Most early commercial fronts were
single -store fronts, which also suited the style and its vertical emphasis. These earliest
buildings utilized low- profile hip roofs and their parapet walls were minimized, and often used as
signage panels. In local contradiction to the style, flat stone lintels squared off many upper
level window openings. Another favored roof -top level feature in the city, beginning in the
middle 1880s was the use of a centered pediment that either capped the cornice or interrupted
its line. The latter is found at 1842, 1603, 1715, 1739, and 1961 Central Avenue. The former,
always in a triangular form occurs at 1572, 1812 and 1763 Central Avenue. The 1603 Central
Avenue example is very unusual in that a pendant or circular pediment intrudes into the cornice
line below it. Seven buildings have date stones and names inscribed on their pediments. A
number of examples have recessed wall panels, set behind the pilasters that define their facade
bays. This treatment is very common in pre -Civil War stylistic examples but continued in use in
Dubuque into the late 1880s. Good examples of this wall plane treatment are found at 1643,
1739 and 1812 Central Avenue. Later examples, such as 1572 Central Avenue added vertical
bay elements. The same design is notable for its undulating cornice line, with triangulated
cornice profiles on its outer bays (Jacobsen, 2003, pp. 110, 121 -33).
The same source also utilized Richard Longstreth's commercial historical typology. All
of the district examples, apart from the residential inclusions, are two -part commercial blocks.
This means that the building is less than five stories in height and its facade(s) can be divided
into two components, the ground level storefront and two to three stories that comprise a
separate zone. While the building likely has a cornice, there is no extraordinary third or
uppermost zone that caps the whole (Jacobsen, 2003, pp. 110 -113).
The same source focuses upon the commercial variation of the Queen Anne style.
Again, examples are so categorized on the basis of their extreme facade elaborations. This is
clearly a style that is most commonly applied to prominent corner settings, with seven such
examples in the district. An extensive use of decorative stone occurs in two examples. A stone
arch and stone columns is used in the storefront at 1706 Central Avenue. An entire bay is
faced with a polished stone surround on 1497 Central Avenue. The former example has
Romanesque style arches and a rather unusual square -cut hip roof tower on its outer upper
corner. A two -bay wide pressed metal oriel fills the upper facade of 1736 Central Avenue. The
Richter Block, at 1543 Central Avenue has a three -sided upper level oriel. A square cut two -
story oriel on the north sidewall of 1497 Central Avenue extends well above the parapet line
and is capped with a gable pediment and stone finial. Full- height bays are also prominent on
1715 and 1763 Central Avenue (Jacobsen, 2003, pp. 137 -43).
A number of buildings feature solid stone lintels, set above the storefronts. There are
also a number of plans that combine cast ironwork with stone footings, all of these being on the
west side of Central, between 16111 and 18`h streets.
There are a number of gaps in the district but most of these represent historic voids, or
spaces where late- surviving frame houses or storefronts were lost. Despite some minor losses,
the district retains a strong sense of time and place.
NPS Form 10 -900
(Expires 5/31/2012)
United States Department of the Interior
National Park Service
OMB No. 1024 -001
National Register of Historic Places
Continuation Sheet
Section number 7 Page 5 Upper Central Avenue Commercial Historic District
Dubuque County, Iowa
Block by block streetscapes:
1400's block of Central Avenue:
Five buildings located south of 15th Street are included. Those on the east side
represent a contiguous group and there are no contiguous historic buildings to the south (in fact
there are no buildings, rather several vacant lots). The two west side buildings are adjacent to
a massive former livery building (1473 Central Avenue). This building, five stories high and
equivalent to two large buildings, has been completely refronted as a result of catastrophic fire
damage during the mid- 1890's. The removal of what might be a brick "slip screen" might well
reveal the original fagade. Upon re- evaluation, this building might be deemed to be a
contributing building. The five included buildings as a group are among the oldest in the
district, save for 1497 Central Avenue (1890), which is a very ornate Queen Anne style design.
The five buildings are, with the latter exception (four stories high), all two or three -story
buildings.
1500s block of Central Avenue (east side):
Nine buildings compose this block front, and with two substantial exceptions, these are
two -story brick buildings. The architecture reflects the belated and somewhat incremental
evolution of this block and two frame buildings and several small -scale ones are the best
examples of this. The block's commercial buildings first infilled the center and south end of the
block, and the massive Simone's Block (1572 Central Avenue, built 1884) was the last
commercial installment. The Italianate style almost exclusively typifies the block's architecture.
1500s block of Central Avenue (west side):
The block front is composed of more recent commercial buildings, with 1527 Central
Avenue (1887) being the oldest. The southern two - thirds of the block is infilled with two
impressive three -story blocks and 1543 Central Avenue, which is two - stories high and is of the
Queen Anne style. The northern third of the block contains two more modern facades, on
earlier building cores.
1600s block of Central Avenue (east side):
This block first developed commercially on its north half, and the surviving buildings
within that range are of a very early date (1867 -72). The south half was built up ca. 1885 -87.
The block's buildings as a whole are lower in height, with just two buildings that are three -
stories high. A prominent corner building, 1602 Central Avenue, has a fagade that is almost
completely covered with slip screens. That building has the potential to be contributing upon
their removal and with a re- evaluation of its integrity. Demolition, some very recent in
occurrence, has removed three buildings and shortened another to just a single -story remnant.
The most substantial and most recent loss was that of 1672 Central Avenue (pre- 1884), a side -
gable Italianate style plan that always housed the Lenz Monument Works. A portion of the
now -open area, a part of that company, was always an open lot.
NPS Form 10 -900
(Expires 5/31/2012)
United States Department of the Interior
National Park Service
National Register of Historic Places
Continuation Sheet
OMB No. 1024 -001
Section number 7 Page 6 Upper Central Avenue Commercial Historic District
Dubuque County, Iowa
1600s block of Central Avenue (west side):
The architecture of this block reflects its later and never - completed commercial
development. Two buildings, a side - gabled residence at 1627 Central Avenue (pre -1884) and
1643 Central Avenue (pre -1866) survive from the earliest years. The latter, an Italianate style
three -story block, resembles the Dubuque City Hall (1857) with its prominent pattern of semi-
circular brick arches and pilasters with deeply recessed brick wall panels. There are two three -
story buildings on the south half of the block but there are gaps that were never built -up. The
north half of the block was never built up at all, and contained a few frame residences. A more
recent store building and parking now occupies that part of the block.
1700s block of Central Avenue (east side):
This block front is the youngest architecturally within the district, all of its buildings
having been built between 1887 and 1892. A substantial vacant lot in the middle of the block
was never built up and was last occupied by several frame houses on the south half of the void.
Apart from the two smaller buildings north of this opening, the block is solidly three - stories in
height and is Queen Anne style in its architecture. The bookend corner buildings featured
corner turrets (that on 1798 Central Avenue being removed). The jog in the avenue at 18`h
Street allowed 1798 Central Avenue to front north onto 18th Street.
1700s block of Central Avenue (west side):
Reflective of its more recent and more substantial counterpart to the east, this side of
the avenue consists of four (counted as five properties) three -story business blocks. This group
of commercial buildings was built from the south north. Only 1701 Central Avenue was extant
prior to 1884. The next three buildings north were all built in 1888 and the last, 1763 Central
Avenue, post -dates 1892. The isolated three -story side gable residence at 1791 Central
Avenue is an early survivor of a row of similar residences, but it was the tallest. Given the later
building dates, the Queen Anne style predominates on this block front.
1800s block of Central Avenue (east side):
This very substantial and architecturally elaborate block front dates mostly from 1885 to
1908 with four buildings dating 1885 -90. The block is an even mix of two and three -story
buildings. The dominance of the Italianate style is due to the relatively early range of
construction dates. While the block front is intact, storefronts tend to be more modified.
1900s block of Central Avenue (east side):
There is just one surviving three -story building on the south end of this block front. 1902
Central Avenue (1900) is a Renaissance Revival style design.
NPS Form 10 -900
(Expires 5/31/2012)
United States Department of the Interior
National Park Service
OMB No. 1024 -001
National Register of Historic Places
Continuation Sheet
Section number 7 Page 7 Upper Central Avenue Commercial Historic District
Dubuque County, Iowa
1900s block of Central Avenue (west side):
The two building complexes having open covered passageways within their plans have
long been recognized as exemplifying vernacular architecture. This entails the provision of
drive - through passages through buildings. In this instance these are German -built examples.
While vernacular buildings are often associated with the earliest periods of construction, these
examples are neither very early nor were they built simultaneously. Rather in both cases, the
composite designs date to ca. 1890 -91, and each incorporates pre -1884 buildings. A third
example, 1961 Central Avenue, dating to 1887, has had its passageway infilled. Save for the
latter, these are all two -story buildings and are evaluated as combining Italianate and
vernacular design influences. The southernmost, 1879 (post -1891) alone is of the Queen Anne
design.
Property Architectural and Historical Notes:
1460 Central Avenue, Chas. W. Bittman Block: (1869; contributing, Italianate style)
This is a triple- storefront, three -story two -part brick commercial block. The plan is that
of a parapet front. The front is plainly wrought with a raised parapet wall, a thin denticulated
cornice, and a terra -cotta frieze beneath it. There are two smaller storefronts on the south end
of the front, with a broader one to the north of an off- center upstairs entrance. The facade is a
plain one with straight cut and unelaborated window caps. The metal cornice is denticulated
and projects from the parapet front base. The storefront is protected by a straight -cut metal
canopy and the transoms are covered with metal. Figure 9 indicates that this block was
originally a two -story side gable Italianate style plan. It gained a third floor and a parapet front
with flat roof.
1486 Central Avenue: (pre -1866, pre -1866; contributing, Italianate style)
This brick, two -story two -part commercial block pre -dates 1884 and has a side gable
residential plan. There is a bracketed cornice. It is a shorter plan, originally with back porches
and stairway. There was a single -story rear extension present by 1891, running beneath the
porch. The side -gable roof form indicates an early construction date. City building permits
document the replacement of the storefront with two smaller windows in 1990, a rear roof deck
the same year, a rear deck in 1992 and two frame rear additions in 1991.
1487 Central Avenue, Thomas Kelly Building: (1886, contributing, Italianate style)
This is a two -part commercial block, two stories high. The plan is that of a parapet front
with broad overhang, and a denticulated and bracketed parapet.
1496 Central Avenue, R. W. Lacy Block: (1896; contributing, Italianate style)
This is a three -story brick two -part commercial block. The plan is that of a parapet front
with a simple metal cornice and flat stone lintels and sills. It had its origin as a two -story corner
NPS Form 10 -900
(Expires 5/31/2012)
United States Department of the Interior
National Park Service
National Register of Historic Places
Continuation Sheet
OMB No. 1024 -001
Section number 7 Page 8 Upper Central Avenue Commercial Historic District
Dubuque County, Iowa
brick storefront that pre -dated 1884. The building was extended south and enlarged to a
double storefront. The cut in the brickwork addition is apparent on the fagade. The building
has plain straight stone lintels and sills, a cast iron storefront, and a simple denticulated brick
cornice. City building permits document the present storefront infill to 1978 and 1986. There is
a non - contributing garage on this parcel (pre- 1950).
1497 Central Avenue: (1886, 1890, contributing, Queen Anne style)
The fagade combines a most usual two -story window bay on a three -story plan, with a
stone surround and spandrel, with a second window bay that is deeply recessed into the
facade- usually one of these would be a projecting bay. The parapet mimics the Bishop's Block
with corner turret, a combination gable roof pavilion front that is set beneath a raised flat
parapet front, and a splendid bracketed metal cornice /parapet. On the sidewall windows are
paired and there is a splendid square -cut oriel with gable roof and finial cap. There is a north
side external metal stairway. This is a three -part commercial block, three stories high. The
plan measures 25M feet by 52 feet with a 25.6 feet by 10 feet rear frame addition. Floor
elevations measure six feet in the basement, 12 feet on the first floor, and ten feet on the upper
floors. City building permits document the repair of minor fire damage (1985), new external
stairs (1993) and the rebuilding of concrete block walls (1988). (see Figure 18).
28 -30 East 15th Street: (1896, contributing, Queen Anne style)
This is a two -story brick side - gabled duplex. The brick is painted white. There is a
raised basement. The two entrances are paired at the center of the north front. The building is
symmetrically fenestrated on its fagade and sidewalis. There is a large attached gable roof
garage, and the south first floor is continued out about four feet to serve as a base for a
second -story open porch. While not a commercial property, it is located on the same lot as
1496 Central Avenue. It is a contributing property.
27 East 15th Street: (1937 -1961, contributing, Commercial style)
This is a single story concrete block/tile storefront. It consists of two parts, a west end
narrow storefront and a larger eastern unit, likely a warehouse /garage. The fagade's parapet
wall with tile coping steps down in stages across the facade from west to east. The west
storefront has an angled entry. That storefront has a buff brick kick plate and surround, a wrap-
around flat canopy and its main display window is covered with plywood sheeting. There are
two lesser display windows and two other single -door south entrances on the facade. The
building exterior is stuccoed.
25 -27 West 15th Street: (1892 -1908, contributing, Renaissance Revival style)
This is a two -story brick duplex with raised stone foundation, matching outside three -
sided full height front bays and a Neo- Classical Revival style cornice front. The plan measures
34 feet by 37 feet. Stone lintels are broad but plain cut, and the stone sills are thin and plain.
OMB No. 1024 -001
NPS Form 10 -900
(Expires 5/31/2012)
United States Department of the Interior
National Park Service
National Register of Historic Places
Continuation Sheet
Section number 7 Page 9 Upper Central Avenue Commercial Historic District
Dubuque County, Iowa
There is a stone water table. The porch foundation is of later date. This building is located on
the same parcel as 1501 Central Avenue.
1500 Central Avenue: (pre -1866, contributing, Italianate style)
This is the south half of a two -story double storefront, a stuccoed side gable two -part
commercial type plan. A two -story rear addition was present by 1891. City building permits
document the repair of second -story fire damage in 1985 ($2,000). See Figures 8, 9.
1501 Central Avenue, Mathias M. Hoffman Block: (1896, contributing, Queen Anne style)
This is a two -part commercial block, three stories high with a double storefront. The
plan has a large octagonal turret/oriole, a high raised parapet front with a raised cross
decorative pattern, a denticulated cornice and paired window sets. The building occupies a
prominent northwest corner and features a rounded corner turret and a two -story bay window.
The plan measures 51 feet by 54 feet (a 4 feet by 24 feet light well is recessed into the
northwest side wall). The floor elevations measure seven feet in the basement, 14 feet on the
ground floor, and ten feet on the upper two floors. There are four three - bedroom apartments
on the upper levels. City building permits document a new north storefront (1957).
1504 Central Avenue: (pre -1884, contributing, Italianate style)
This is the north half of a two -story double storefront plan with a stuccoed side gable
two -part commercial type plan. This is a shorter plan than 1500 to the south.
1516 Central Avenue: (1945, non- contributing, Commercial style)
This is a single -story brick storefront. A chalet roof obscures the pediment and the
storefront is covered with permastone. It is of recent date and requires additional investigation.
It is a one -part commercial type plan. City building permits document the original construction
(permit dated May 3, 1947, $1,500) and a new storefront in 1969.
1524 Central Avenue: (pre -1884, non - contributing, Commercial style)
This is an early two -story side -gable two -part commercial type plan. It pre -dates 1884
(saloon) and there is a one -story rear addition. A two -door concrete block garage is behind that
addition but does not extend to the alley. The formerly stuccoed building has been re -clad with
a vertical board but it retains its upper fenestration pattern, massing and has a well preserved
storefront. City building permits document the construction of the south -side stairs (1945) and
a new storefront in 1949. The cedar siding was added in 1990. The latest rear addition dates
to 1985 ($10,000). The covered front renders the building non - contributing but if that material
was removed and the original cladding exposed if present, that status would be subject to re-
evaluation.
NPS Form 10 -900
(Expires 5/31/2012)
United States Department of the Interior
National Park Service
National Register of Historic Places
Continuation Sheet
OMB No. 1024 -001
Section number 7 Page 10 Upper Central Avenue Commercial Historic District
Dubuque County, Iowa
1527 Central Avenue: (1887, contributing, Italianate style)
The plan combines a rounded pediment with a parapet front, the pediment being formed
by the parapet/cornice. The cornice features elongated brackets. The brick window arches
feature spring stones. This two -part commercial block, three stories high, first appears on the
1891 Sanborn map as a double front with a rear porch system. The plan Central Avenue,
measures 51 feet by 65 feet, with a single -story brick rear wing 51 feet by 35 feet. Floor
elevations are seven feet in the basement, 14 feet on the ground floor, and ten feet on the
upper levels. There are nine apartments on the upper levels.
1534 Central Avenue: (pre- 1884 ?; contributing, commercial false front type)
This is a two -story frame two -part commercial type building. The south wall is exposed,
has a stairway and porch, and there is a single story rear addition, which runs halfway to the
alley. City building permits document a 1972 rear addition.
1538 Central Avenue: (pre -1884, contributing, Italianate style)
This two -story brick two -part commercial type plan has a prominent projecting metal
cornice, elaborate stone window lintels, and an I -beam support above the storefronts.
Originally a single storefront, it was divided into two small storefronts between 1936 and 1962.
There is a single -story attached concrete block garage behind the store, but it reaches Just
halfway to the alley. City building permits document the construction of a rear addition in 1996.
See Figure 12.
1540 Central Avenue: (pre -1884, 1885 -90, contributing, Italianate style)
This is brick three -story double storefront block, a two -part commercial type plan. The
plan is that of a parapet front and features a high parapet with a simple metal cornice at the top.
The windows have stone lintels and sills. A third floor was added by 1891. City building
permits document the construction of a storefront canopy in 1973. See Figure 12.
1543 Central Avenue, H. Richter Block: (ca.1899, Assessor dates to 1894 + / -, contributing,
Italianate style)
The storefront is an elaborate and well - preserved one and this is a key building within
the district. The enlarged plan then featured a rooftop porch or frame penthouse. There is a
fine projecting metal cornice with a pediment ( "H. Richter "), a three - corner second story bay.
There is a singular carved stone belt course, an elaborately carved second floor window arch
with a shield keystone and an oriel with cornice. There are stone bases on the sidewall
pilasters. There is an exposed I -beam support above the storefronts. There are rosettes on
the beam and these match rosettes on the cornice. The plan measures 24.6 feet by 60 feet
with a 1.75 story brick rear wing (11 feet by 35 feet). Floor elevations measure seven feet on
the basement level, 12 feet on the ground, and nine feet on the second floor. There are two
apartments in the plan. The current front represents the re- fronting of a pre -1884 two -story
NPS Form 10 -900
(Expires 5/31/2012)
United States Department of the Interior
National Park Service
National Register of Historic Places
Continuation Sheet
OMB No. 1024 -001
Section number 7 Page 11 Upper Central Avenue Commercial Historic District
Dubuque County, Iowa
brick residence. The house plan featured a back stairway and a north - facing second floor
porch on the back of the north sidewall.
1555 Central Avenue, John Drehouse Building: (1887, contributing, Italianate style)
This two -story narrow plan replaced a single -story frame carpenter's shop post -1884.
There is a high denticulated brick cornice on a narrow plan. Lintels are rounded. The
storefront has been sided in. The presence of a gap between it and the house /store to the
south allowed for a south - facing upper level side porch, along with front and rear exterior
stairways. There is a single -story rear addition that runs to the alley. City building permits
document new exterior stairs (1999), a new storefront (1936), and a new open side porch
(1970). There are two non- contributing garages (1955, 1981).
1564 Central Avenue: (1870, contributing, Italianate style)
This is an elaborate, early brick two -story two -part commercial type plan. This is a
parapet front plan. The brick window arches have keystones, and the storefront features a
continuous stone lintel. It pre -dates 1884, at which time it housed a boots and shoes shop. At
that time there were no buildings located immediately north. This is a shorter plan with full -
height rear porches and stairs. There is a partial width concrete block garage (1920,
contributing building) across the north part of the back lot. The plan is L- shaped, the core
measures 18 feet by 56 feet, the south rear wing 7.5 feet by 12 feet. There is a square frame
rear addition (15 feet by 14 feet) with rear porch (12 feet by 6 feet). City building permits
document the construction of a new masonry garage in 1957 and a new storefront in 1963.
See Figure 12.
1572 Central Avenue, J. Simones Block: (1884, 1897, contributing, Italianate style)
This is a splendid three -story brick Italianate style block, with four storefronts. It was
deemed to be individually eligible for the National Register as a part of the Phase III survey and
it is a key contributing building within the district. It is a two -part commercial type plan. The
singular plan features an elaborate pressed metal cornice that has twin flanking open gables at
each corner and a centered pedimented pediment on the fagade. There is a second centered
triangular pediment on the fronts and both pediments are inscribed with the date "1884." There
is a narrow two -story square cut centered oriel on the central bay. The cornice is unusual with
a two -layer effect. The core plan measures 81 feet by 56 feet. There are porches on the north
and northeast sides. The storefront with ca.1920s prism glass transoms is intact. There is a
metal stairway and porch on the north sidewall. The windows have cast stone lintels and plain
lintels. A single -story rear wing that includes an attached garage and carport measures 40 feet
by 44 feet. Excavation work was underway for a rear addition to this block in May 1897 when
workers found a gravestone dated to 1847 (Dubuque Daily Telegraph, May 7, 1897). City
building permits document a substantial remodeling of the upper -level apartments in January
1945. See Figure 12.
NPS Form 10 -900
(Expires 5/31/2012)
United States Department of the Interior
National Park Service
National Register of Historic Places
Continuation Sheet
OMB No. 1024 -001
Section number 7 Page 12 Upper Central Avenue Commercial Historic District
Dubuque County, Iowa
1563 -85 Central Avenue: (1885 -1890, 1941, 1974, contributing, Commercial style)
This building originated as a single -story plan with two small storefronts. It gained a
second story in 1945 and its west rear was remodeled in 1962 to house a paint store. A two -
story warehouse addition (1974) is set perpendicular to the south rear wall of the building and
measures 40 feet by 50 feet. It is considered to be an addition to this building. A small loading
dock door on the east front is the only opening. A parking lot is to the east of the addition and
that parcel is addressed as 1563 Central Avenue.
1599 Central Avenue: (1909 -1936, contributing, Commercial style)
This is a single -story double storefront. This is a single- story, one -part commercial
block type plan. The plan is a short one. It was a photo studio with a rear north -side skylight or
window as of 1909/36.
40 East 17th Street: (ca. 1858, Assessor, contributing, Italianate style).
This is a very early two -story brick duplex, side gable in plan with a unified centered
entryway and short porch. If the 1858 date is anywhere close, then this one of the city's earlier
surviving buildings. The plan measures 34 feet by 38 feet with rear porches (25 feet by 4 feet).
The duplex is divided vertically. The building is set close to the rear porch system of the
commercial block to the west and it physically connects with a curtain wall on the ground level.
There is a single story brick wing set immediately behind (south) of this house, it has an L -plan
and there is a carport in the void. This is a contributing property. See Figure 8.
1602 Central Avenue, Henry Hoffman's Palace Saloon: (1885, non- contributing, Italianate
style).
This is a brick, three -story two -part commercial type plan. A solid fagade covering
disguises the fact that this building is actually three stories high. The cornice is apparently lost
and the second floor slipcover might disguise other damage or losses. The storefront is
covered with a Carrara glass front. Metal slipcovers obscure both the transom and parapet
fronts and this is a close call to call it contributing, but the exposed sidewall indicates that very
exceptional and elaborate brick and stone trim work is found beneath it. This is a single
storefront design. There is a south side metal exterior fire escape. Sanborn maps show a
completely vacant corner as of 1884 (post- fire ?) and this building, extending nearly to the alley,
was present as of 1891. City building permits document the present storefront to 1971. See
Figure 12.
1603 Central Avenue, J. P. Schroeder Block: (1882, contributing, Italianate style)
This is a key contributing building within the district. This is an early and well- preserved
two -story brick block, a two -part commercial block type design. An ornate semi - circular
pediment and rounded end finials are the outstanding features of the parapet front. The
pediment is superimposed on the cornice which is unusual. Stone lintels are ornate and stone
NPS Form 10 -900
(Expires 5/31/2012)
United States Department of the Interior
National Park Service
OMB No. 1024 -001
National Register of Historic Places
Continuation Sheet
Section number 7 Page 13 Upper Central Avenue Commercial Historic District
Dubuque County, Iowa
sills have brackets. An I -beam supports the storefront. The storefront is obscured but is likely
well preserved. Round metal support columns are visible. There is a south side metal fire
escape. City building permits document a new storefront (1971). Its brick exterior was painted
prior to 1938 at which time it was repainted.
1618 Central Avenue: R. H. Heller Cigar Factory: (1887, contributing, Italianate style)
This is a brick three -story two -part commercial type plan. This is a parapet front plan
but the cornice has been lost. The fenestration is asymmetrical. Pilasters are boldly projected
from the third floor level, which is also unusual. Elaborate stone belt courses and polychromatic
arches make the design special. Its elaborate combinations of decorative brick and stonework
is apparently identical to the building to the immediate south. The latter building was built in
1885 and was designed by architect Fridolin Heer. The plan measures 25.5 feet by 60 feet,
elevations are seven feet in the basement, 12 feet on the upper floors. City building permits
document a new front door in 1972, dropped ceilings for a tavern (1981), and the addition of
another apartment (1950). There is a 1931 single -story concrete block addition that extends to
the alley. See Figure 12.
1626 Central Avenue: (1886, contributing, Italianate style)
This is a two -story brick double storefront, a two -part commercial type plan (25.5 feet by
34 feet). This is a parapet front plan with an exquisite metal cornice. There is a continuous
stone lintel that caps the storefront. The storefront is cast iron. Lintels are elaborate. The
parapet has likely lost a centered pediment. A rear brick wing measures 13 feet by 10 feet and
there are two smaller rear frame extensions (7 feet by 20 feet, 6 feet by 10 feet). There is an
elaborate denticulated metal cornice, carved or cast stone lintels, plain stone sills, and a solid
stone lintel set atop a cast iron storefront. The stone lintel usually identifies an early building
but this one occupied a lot that was vacant as of 1884. There is a partial rear wing on the north
side of the plan. City building permits document a new storefront in 1971. See Figure 12.
1627 Central Avenue: (pre -1884, contributing, Italianate style)
This is a very well preserved two -story brick side gable residence with stepped
sidewalls, a survivor from the street's residential past. The plan measures 25 feet by 35 feet,
the porch 7 feet by 5 feet, and a rear centered frame addition 19 feet by 16 feet. Elevations are
seven feet in the basement, 10 feet on the ground floor, and eight feet on the second floor.
The facade has slightly rounded stone lintels and an original double door side entry. A concrete
block shed 11.6 feet by 12 feet (1963) is non - contributing.
1633 Central Avenue (1892 -1904, Assessor dates to 1900 + / -, contributing, Queen Anne style)
This three -story brick building is a two -part commercial block type design. This is a
parapet front plan with a plain metal cornice and raised sidewalls. Fenestration is
asymmetrical. The storefront has been enclosed. An I -beam with rosettes caps the storefront
level. The plan measures 25.6 feet by 58 feet; floor elevations are seven feet in the basement,
NPS Form 10 -900
(Expires 5/31/2012)
United States Department of the Interior
National Park Service
National Register of Historic Places
Continuation Sheet
OMB No. 1024 -001
Section number 7 Page 14 Upper Central Avenue Commercial Historic District
Dubuque County, Iowa
12 feet on the ground floor, and 12 feet on the upper levels. There is a cast iron front and a
front fire escape. There is a full- height rear porch system and two and one -story rear additions
which carry the plan to the alley (24 feet by 28 feet, and 24 feet by 14 feet including an attached
garage). City building permits document the replacement of the upper level windows (1983).
1638 Central Avenue: (1884, 2000, non - contributing, Commercial style, altered)
A two -story double dwelling was on this property in 1884 and its south sidewall imprint
remains visible on the north sidewall of 1626 Central. The present single -story brick building
with a cast iron storefront is the south half of the lower story of this earlier building. It has been
re -clad with faux rounded logs. The upper level was destroyed by fire in 2000 and that level
was removed and a new roof was constructed. See Figure 12.
1643 Central Avenue: (pre -1866, 1868, contributing, Italianate style)
This is a double storefront, three -story brick block, and a two -part commercial type
design. This is a parapet front plan with a brick paneled parapet. The facade is solidly
fenestrated with deeply set window openings. The storefront is capped with an exposed I -beam
with decorative rosettes. The ironwork is based on stone footings or steps. The plan is L-
shaped; the front core measures 32 feet by 31 feet, the rear three -story wing 19 feet by 19 feet,
and the two-story infill 13 feet by 19 feet. A three -story rear porch measures 10 feet by 7.5
feet, the two -story rear porch 13 feet by 7.6 feet. A frame garage (18 feet by 20 feet) dates to
1981 and is non - contributing. A second garage (concrete block, 20 feet by 30 feet) dates to
1955 and is also non- contributing. See Figures 8 -9, 12.
1654 Central Avenue (vacant lot):
A two -story brick building on this site was demolished in 2001 due to fire damage.
1671 Central Avenue:(1977, non - contributing)
This single -story one -part commercial building with a full basement is of recent date. It
infilled a previously open and underutilized area.
1672 -76 Central Avenue, Frank Lenz Marble Works: (1933, 2008, non - contributing building,
contributing site)
A very early two -story side -gable brick shop /residence was demolished in 2008. The
metal shed (1933) at the rear was re- veneered following fire damage in 1988. A monuments
firm has been on this site for generations and an open display area now occupies the front of
the lot. The site, which still displays funerary monuments, is counted as a contributing site,
while the altered out building is non - contributing.
NPS Form 10 -900
(Expires 5/31/2012)
United States Department of the Interior
National Park Service
National Register of Historic Places
Continuation Sheet
Section number 7 Page 15
OMB No. 1024 -001
Upper Central Avenue Commercial Historic District
Dubuque County, Iowa
1690 Central Avenue: (1869, contributing, Italianate style)
This is a two -story frame storefront, a two -part commercial block, with a commercial
false front. It is a double storefront that pre -dates 1884, and as such is a very early frame
commercial building. The upper level is covered with metal siding and cannot be evaluated.
The storefronts are replacements and evidence no historical materials. City building permits
document the repair of 1988 fire damage and the construction of a small concrete block rear
addition in 1998. The storefront area was infilled in 1998. See Figure 12.
1696 Central Avenue, Joseph Reinfreid Grocery: (1880, contributing, Italianate style)
This three -story scoured stucco two -part commercial plan has straight stone lintels and
sills and star bolts on its south wall. There is no intact storefront. The flat roof projects with a
broad overhand. Sills and lintels are of a straight cut. The building was present as of 1884 and
had a cupola centered on its rooftop (see 1889 lithograph which depicts same). It's held a
grocery and there was a two -story rear addition at that time. By 1891 there was a stairway and
balcony on the north side. The marks remain on the exterior wall. The rear addition held a
saloon. Today there is a frame garage at the back of the property. City building permits
document the infilling of the storefront in 1992. A brick gable roof rear addition reads like a
half - duplex. Historically this has functioned as a single building under unified ownership so the
whole is counted as one building (Photo #19). A frame carriage house appears extant as of
1909 (1909 Sanborn map, Photo #30) and is counted as a contributing building. See Figure 12.
1701 Central Avenue, Adam Vogel Building: (1873, 1890, contributing, Italianate style)
This is a two -part commercial type design. This is a three -story parapet front plan with
denticulatdd cornice. The side windows have semi - circular brick arches; the fagade has
straight stone lintels. There is a metal cornice and a stone belt course across the third floor
lintel level. There is a south side external fire escape. The third floor was present by 1887.
The rear south porch system is new, constructed out of pressure- treated lumber. A formerly
separate single -story residence has been incorporated into the back of this plan. Its raised
stone foundation is depicted in Photo #35. See Figure 12.
1706 Central Avenue, Rider & Lacy Block: (1892, contributing, Queen Anne style)
This key contributing corner building is three stories, of brick construction, and is a two -
part commercial type design. This design features a tower, hip roof, a stone entry surround,
and bays formed by pilasters. The windows are Romanesque in style. The plan measures 65
feet by 64 feet with a 26 feet by 30 feet rear wing on the north half of the plan. Floor level
elevations measure eight feet (basement), 14 feet (first floor), and 10 feet each on the upper
floors. There is a square -cut corner tower with hip steeple roof. There is a large stone
entryway with flanking twin stone columns. The cast iron work is uniquely ornamented with
Corinthian capitals, rosettes, hinge -like ornaments, raised scrollwork and a very unusual
patterning using recessed square holes. The brickwork on the pediment and tower is
NPS Form 10 -900
(Expires 5/31/2012)
United States Department of the Interior
National Park Service
National Register of Historic Places
Continuation Sheet
OMB No. 1024 -001
Section number 7 Page 16 Upper Central Avenue Commercial Historic District
Dubuque County, Iowa
exceptionally fine and ornamental. Stone capitals served as bases for the tower corner and
cap. Very unusual elongated straight stone lintels are continued across separated window sets
on the second floor. The parapet front is highly ornamented with terra cotta bands and
corbelled brickwork. There is a two -story rear wing that has a raised entrance on 17th Street. It
has the same brick and stone decorative pattern as well as twin parapet level gable roof
dormers. The whole forms an "L" and there is a full- height wrap around rear porch behind the
building. The south sidewall has a raised stone foundation with stone water table. The builder
and building date have yet to be found.
1715 Central Avenue; (ca.1888, contributing, Queen Anne style)
This is a two -part commercial block, three stories high, and the plan measures 37 feet
by 51 feet. Floor level elevations measure seven feet (basement), 12 feet (first floor), and 10
feet each on the upper floors. The two storefronts are of different depths, the southern one
being shorter. This design closely resembles 1732 -36 in that it features a central three -sided
oriel that covers the fronts of the upper floors and that carries the parapet front forward. This is
a narrower bay in section however. Heavy stone lintels surmount window bands on the second
floor on either side of the bay. On the third floor, huge stone lintels with rounded undersides
are set above twin window sets in the same manner. The metal parapet front is quite elaborate.
This is one of a number of major buildings on this block that have cast iron storefronts (National
Iron Works) set on stone steps or footings. The columns on this building are identical to those
to the north on the Muntz Block, but the rosettes are different. There is a rear porch system on
1713 as well as a single story rear addition. The lack of directory listings for 1890 and 1899
imply a post -1899, pre -1909 building date.
1735 Central Avenue, Edward Muntz Block: (1888, contributing, Queen Anne style)
This is the south half of the Muntz Block. The Muntz Block is an example of the
Italianate style (rounded pediment). This is a two -part commercial block, three stories high, and
the plan measures 38 feet by 46 feet. Floor level elevations measure seven feet (basement),
12 feet (first floor), and 12 feet each on the upper floors. City building permits document the
reframing of the storefront windows (2001).
1736 Central Avenue, Fred A. Nesler Block: (1892, contributing, Queen Anne style)
This is a two -part commercial block, three stories high, and the plan measures 37 feet
by 64 feet. The style is Queen Anne given the presence of a broad flattened oriel /pavilion that
nearly covers the upper facade. There is a three -story rear porch system on the plan. The
special feature of this building is a unique two -story pavilion /bay that covers most of the upper
two floors. The parapet steps out as well and bears the name and date of the building. The
storefront and side walls of the facade have been covered with metal but this is still an
exceptional commercial building.
OMB No. 1024 -001
NPS Form 10 -900
(Expires 5/31/2012)
United States Department of the Interior
National Park Service
National Register of Historic Places
Continuation Sheet
Section number 7 Page 17 Upper Central Avenue Commercial D County, Iowa
Historic Di rict
1739 Central Avenue, Edward Muntz Block: (1888, contributing, Queen Anne style)
This is the north half of the Muntz Block. The Muntz Block is an example of the
Italianate style (rounded pediment). This is a two -part commercial block, four stories high, and
the plan measures 37 feet by 46 feet. A broad semi - circular pediment proclaims the block
name and building year. The brickwork on the facade is highly ornamental and the parapet
front is corbelled. The cast iron storefronts remain intact and are placed on stone steps or
footings. The iron columns match those on the building to the south. Floor level elevations
measure seven feet (basement), and 12 feet on the first and other floors. The rear porches
were removed in 1996 and the upper three floors are unheated and vacant. The Assessor
dates this building to 1888.
1746 Central Avenue: (vacant lot)
1763 Central Avenue: (1905 -07, contributing, Queen Anne style)
This is a two -part commercial block, four stories high, and the plan measures 23 feet by
50. This is a Queen Anne style design given the presence of a three -story oriel on the left half
of the facade. It's spandrels feature Neo- Classical detailing, indicative of a later building date.
Floor level elevations measure eight feet (basement), 12 feet (first floor), and 10 feet each on
the upper floors. This is a tall, narrow plan with a three -story bay set to the south side of the
facade. The cast iron storefront has round columns set atop stone footings or steps.
1766 Central Avenue: (1899, non - contributing, Italianate style)
This two -story brick two -part commercial type design retains a combination corbelled
brick and pressed metal cornice /parapet and stone lintels and sills. The storefront is completely
modern and the windows have been replaced with casement openings. City building permits
document a rear addition (1947) and a remodeled storefront (1981). The Assessor notes 1945
addition, two - stories, 890 square feet.
1770 Central Avenue: (1897, non - contributing, Commercial style) •
This is a single -story brick storefront, apparently built as a tin shop. This is a one -part
commercial type plan. A second story frame level penthouse aligns with the south sidewall.
There is a two -story rear addition that runs to the alley. The storefront materials on the parapet
front appear to be metal panels and might be associated with the tenant firm. City building
permits document a remodeled storefront in 1981.
1791 Central Avenue: (1869, contributing, Italianate style /vernacular type)
This is the last surviving of five houses, which lined this north end of the block as of
1884. This one housed a carpet weaving shop at that time. There was a second row of houses
northwest of this house, on the east side of Heeb Street, none of which survive. This is three-
NPS Form 10 -900
(Expires 5/31/2012)
United States Department of the Interior
National Park Service
National Register of Historic Places
Continuation Sheet
OMB No. 1024 -001
Section number 7 Page 18 Upper Central Avenue Commercial Historic District
Dubuque County, Iowa
story brick side gable residence with a reduced - height uppermost floor. The half -sized attic
level windows reflect a vernacular influence.
1798 Central Avenue, G. F. Thorman Block: (1887 -88, contributing, Queen Anne style)
This is a Queen Anne style design given the prominent placement of a rounded corner
bay or turret on the northwest corner. This building served as a gateway to the district from the
north given the turn in the road to the west and the high visibility of the corner tower. This is a
three -story brick block with two storefronts fronting on 181h Street. The wall bays are defined by
pilasters. Terra cotta panels and bands and art glass transoms on the second floor windows
appear to date this building to post -1884. The 1891 Sanborn map shows that the east half was
built after that year. The building is a two -part commercial type design. See Figure 12.
1805 Central, Fire Engine House Number 1: (1884, contributing, Italianate style)
Fire Engine House Number 1 is located at 181h Street and Central Avenue, at a
prominent eastward jog in the latter avenue. The building fronts to the southwest and is aligned
with Central Avenue. This location places it at the "gateway" into the Couler Valley that
comprises the historic north bottomland residential extension of Dubuque proper. This is a two -
story double bay brick building that is rectangular on plan. There is no basement. The
perimeter walls are load bearing. There is a raised parapet on three sides of the roof. The roof
is flat in form and angled for drainage, to the north.
The design is categorized as of the Commercial style. The narrow dimensions of the
windows might represent an Italianate style influence. The design if some particular interest
given the specific function of the building. There was a simple triangular pediment inscribed
"The City of Dubuque" and, save for a wooden belfry and metal flagpole, there was no other
rooftop element, such as a projecting hose tower. The design integrated the building stable
within its plan (across the back of the building, and occupying the rearmost bay. The two
vehicular entrances were separated by twin front entry doors, one of which communicated
upstairs. So the building is structurally two bays in width, while design wise its fagade is a
three -bay arrangement. Six upper level windows are clustered in three separated sets. The
outermost sets are centered above the garage doors below them, while the central set is
centered above and aligned with the twin single door entrances.
1812 Central Avenue, N. Palen Block: (1878, 1895, contributing, Italianate style)
This is a two -part commercial plan, a three -story brick building measuring 51 feet by 61
feet, with a south rear wing. There are apartments on the upper floors. The fagade consists of
a central pavilion with two flanking side bays of equal width. Cast or carved stone lintels vary
by each of the upper floor levels and consist of semi elliptical forms with keystones on the
uppermost. The parapet projects forward by means of corbelled brick brackets and the whole
is surmounted by a raised pediment and decorative finials, three atop the pediment and one at
each corner. The brick work beneath the corner caps projects outward turret -like, reflecting a
Dubuque building custom. The name of the owner /builder and date appear in the pediment.
NPS Form 10 -900
(Expires 5/31/2012)
United States Department of the Interior
National Park Service
OMB No. 1024 -001
National Register of Historic Places
Continuation Sheet
Section number 7 Page 19 Upper Central Avenue Commercial Historic District
Dubuque County, Iowa
1824 Central Avenue: (1885 -1890, contributing, Italianate style)
This is a two -story commercial building with a flat parapet line. This is a two -part
commercial building that measures 25 feet by 68 feet. There are apartments upstairs. The
interior support system includes timber beams and iron columns. There is a two -story rear tile
office addition that dates to 1926, which is separately addressed as 1827 White. The use of
semi - elliptical brick window arches argues for an earlier building date (assessor says + -1900,
Sanborn shows as of 1891, frame building 1884). Plain projecting stone lintels underscore the
upper window line. The parapet is ornamented with a projecting corbelled brick treatment.
There was apparently a centered dormer on the roof front and it is probable that the building
employs a side gable roof form. The permastone storefront and that of 1826/28 has been
unified by means of a modern storefront and this alteration has greatly impacted this buildings
integrity despite the high level of preservation of the upper level.
1828 Central Avenue: (1878, contributing, Italianate style)
This is a front gable two -story brick residence /storefront. This is a two -part commercial
building that measures 24 feet by 33 feet. The permastone storefront has been substantially
altered. Window arches are brick, semi - elliptical in form, with flat stone lintels. The Assessor
dates to 1878. City building permits document a new storefront in 1968.
1838 Central Avenue: (1885 -90, contributing, Second Empire design)
This narrow plan features a barely perceivable mansard attic treatment on this third
floor. This is a three -part vertical block. The core measures 20 feet by 45 feet. There are two
rear additions and three apartments upstairs. Sanborn shows 1891 it in use as a meat market.
The Manhattan Meat Market was here 1915. A modern storefront obscures the first floor level.
Second floor windows feature flat- topped wrap- around stone lintels (painted a dark color) while
the upper level windows have unusual classical surrounds with Corinthian columns and temple
caps.
1842 Central Avenue, German Savings Bank: (1905, contributing, Queen Anne style)
This is a two -part commercial building type that measures 25 feet by 70 feet.
The Assessor dates this building to ca. 1900, but the likely date is 1905 when the branch bank
was established here. This three -story brick commercial building with apartments upstairs
features classical- inspired broad carved stone lintels set above paired windows. There is a
three -sided bay on the second floor and a very distinctive projecting bracketed parapet with a
decorative pediment. The whole front is enframed by side pilasters and the pediment and might
be said to represent a minimal version of Longstreth's vault facade classification, which
commonly was used by banks of this period. The storefront has been obscured but might
survive to some extent beneath the covering. City building permits document a new storefront
(1954) and a backlit awning (1994).
NPS Form 10 -900
(Expires 5/31/2012)
United States Department of the Interior
National Park Service
National Register of Historic Places
Continuation Sheet
OMB No. 1024 -001
Section number 7 Page 20 Upper Central Avenue Commercial Historic District
Dubuque County, Iowa
1850 Central Avenue: (1898, contributing, Italianate style)
This is a two -part commercial type building that measures 40 feet by 41 feet. The plan
is irregular with the facade being 10 feet wider than the core. A single story rear addition
extends the plan to the alley. This two -story brick commercial building has a replacement
storefront. Its second floor window hoods are unusual in that they combine a stone keystone
and stone shoulder spring stones, with semi - elliptical brick infilling between these. The parapet
is nicely ornamented with an arcade of rounded corbelled brick columns and arches. A
projecting copper cornice, gutter line surmounts the whole. A plain tile capped parapet wall
rises above the cornice. The Assessor dates ca. 1890, but the 1891 Sanborn map fails to show
the building as being present. The plan contains a double storefront. City building permits
document a new storefront (1962).
1858 Central Avenue: (ca. 1884 -90, contributing, Italianate style)
This two -story brick double storefront is a two part commercial building that measures
37 feet by 58 feet. The upper level windows are elongated and are topped with semi - elliptical
brick arches. Sills are of flat stone. The pediment front is ornamented with two horizontal belt
course lines of corbelled brick. There is a separate single story rear garage (37 feet by 35
feet). Sanborn maps indicate that the building postdates 1884, but is present as of 1891, with
an internal link to the Northern Hotel to the north. There is a non - contributing garage of recent
date.
1865 Central Avenue: (1977, non - contributing, no style)
This single -story veterinary clinic has a three - staged parapet elevation from south to
north. The southernmost section is two- stories high or nearly so, and its facade is slightly
recessed. This is a former filling station that was built in 1959 (building permit dated December
30, 1958). The building was enlarged in 1975 -76.
1876 Central Avenue, Northern Hotel: (pre -1873, contributing, Italianate style)
This three -story brick commercial front is dated to 1896 by Assessor but is surely
present in same form as of 1884 (grocery /saloon) and certainly as of 1891 when is Northern
Hotel. It is a two -part commercial type measures 26.5 feet by 58 feet, and there is a single -
story rear addition. The rear (east) half has enclosed two -story full -width porches. There is
painted signage on south sidewall. Cut flat- topped stone lintels are typical of 1890s
construction. Storefront now covered with permastone. The building is built of soft red brick. It
is possible that the sills are replacements of original semi - elliptical brick arches. City building
permits document the conversion of two apartments to four in 2000, and a new storefront
(1939).
1879 Central Avenue: (1895, contributing, Queen Anne style)
This two -story brick two -part commercial type measures 34 feet by 50 feet.
NPS Form 10 -900
(Expires 5/31/2012)
United States Department of the Interior
National Park Service
National Register of Historic Places
Continuation Sheet
OMB No. 1024 -001
Section number 7 Page 21 Upper Central Avenue Commercial Historic District
Dubuque County, Iowa
This block presents a distinctive octagonal corner turret and steeple as if was a corner building.
This detailing was likely due to the fronting of the building onto the head of 19th Street to the
east. Reflective of later -date construction the upper floors feature broad semi - elliptical brick
arches with stone top border trim set above paired window sets. The cast iron storefront is well
preserved. The cornice line is bracketed and straight -cut. The Assessor dates it "18 - -." This
building fails to appear on either the 1884 or 1891 Sanborn maps. The turret and facade
design make it probable that at a minimum the facade was made over ca. 1905. A detached
concrete block garage (1978) is non - contributing.
1889 Central Avenue: (north half 1885, south half 1890, contributing, Italianate
style /vernacular type)
This combination storefront/residence was cited by Lawrence Summer as one of two city
examples of a German vernacular architecture that utilized a central drive pass- through to a
rear core area. The two -story building has been little changed save for the elimination of four
roof dormers and the infilling of the storefront. Semi - elliptical brick arches indicate an early
date for this building. Even the replacement windows replicated this arch form. Note also the
massive stone beam that forms the pass- through opening. The Assessor dates ca. 1880.
Sanborn maps indicate that the two halves developed separately and the pass through appears
as an alleyway. The 1884 map shows the north half in place as a hardware store. By 1891 the
south half is still absent. This building complex is individually eligible for the National Register
due to its vernacular architecture
This is a two -part commercial type. The south half measures 16.6 feet by 50 feet with a
pass- through (6.6 feet by 29 feet). The north half measures 19.6 feet by 30 feet, with a 16 feet
by 24 feet rear addition. The pass- through has a bead board ceiling and its walls have signs of
extensive wear by passing vehicles. There is a cellar trap door in rear of south part of building.
It was an eight -plex through 1992 and now has half that many units. It has a stone foundation.
See Figure 17.
1902 Central Avenue: (pre -1884, 1885 -1890, contributing, Italianate style)
This is a narrow (21 feet by 102 feet original, 21 feet by 64 feet two -story rear addition,
full basement) two -story brick two -part commercial type building. The building has a steeply
pitched flat roof (to the east) with high tile- capped side parapet walls. The facade consists of a
bracketed pressed metal cornice, three upper level windows with lunette transoms and side
pilasters that flank a paneled over storefront with reduced windows. The upper transoms have
been covered with panels. The brick is a dark brown in color. City building permits document a
masonry rear addition (1974) and the addition of a second apartment (1986).
1913 Central Avenue, J. Ostdorf: (1890, contributing, Italianate style /vernacular type)
This is a two -part commercial type. The south half measures 18 feet by 36 feet, while
the north half measures 24 by 66 feet, with an 8 -foot wide drive - through passage. This two -part
building mimics that to the south, the difference being that the pass - through is simply a brick
NPS Form 10 -900
(Expires 5/31/2012)
United States Department of the Interior
National Park Service
National Register of Historic Places
Continuation Sheet
OMB No. 1024 -001
Section number 7 Page 22 Upper Central Avenue Commercial Historic District
Dubuque County, Iowa
arched gateway with a wooden deck added above the driveway. Otherwise two buildings have
been linked into a single complex. Number 1913 is a two -story brick store building. This half of
the building bears the Ostdorf -1890 inscription. The 1884 Sanborn map shows the north half
present as a saloon. The unusual feature of 1913 is the use of brick to mimic carved stone
window lintels. The storefront's central entry has been filled in. Number 1915 is also a two -
story brick but has a gable front plan. Its windows also employ semi - elliptical brick window
arches. Of interest is the rounded attic light. The 1891 map shows both buildings, the
southernmost as a store, with a driveway and a broad south - facing side porch along the side of
the north half. This building complex is individually eligible for the National Register due to its
vernacular architecture. City building permits document the infilling of the front wall (1982).
1919 Central Avenue: (1885 -1890, contributing, Italianate style/ vernacular type)
This is a two -story brick gable -front residence type that measures 19 feet by 44 feet.
There is a rounded and centered attic window. The stone lintels are plain, with cap window
openings. There is a side hall entry to south with a stoop. The assessor dates to 1898. There
is a frame two -car garage to the northwest rear of the building. apparently an enclosed 1975
detached carport (non- contributing). There is a non - contributing frame garage on this parcel
(1975).
1959 Central Avenue: (pre -1884, contributing, Italianate style)
This is a two -story brick side gable vernacular residence type that measures in its core
28 feet by 32 feet. A rear centered addition makes the footprint a "T" plan. The "I-house"-like
facade has an offset entry. Angled rubbed bricks form flat arches over the windows, and there
are stone sills. Sanborn maps show the building present as early as 1884. City building
permits document the building of an attached two -car frame garage (1994).
1961 Central Avenue, P. Mersh: (1887, contributing, Queen Anne style)
This is a two -part commercial type that measures 50 feet square in plan. Twin rear
frame additions are located at each end. This remarkable and well - preserved three -story
commercial block nicely underscores the early and substantial commercial development of
Central Avenue. Originally this building was similar to the (later) buildings to the south with their
central passages. The 1891 Sanborn map shows such a passageway with the note that the
interior flanking walls went up to the third floor. A broad carved stone archway appears to
locate the dimensions of this open hallway. Despite the bricking in of the store window
openings, the square -cut massive cast iron beams remain exposed. The storefront terminates
in a broad solid stone belt course. A line of connected plain stone sills, supported by projecting
stone brackets, underscores the second floor windows. Carved stone wrap- around stone lintels
with pediments cap those windows. The third floor windows have the same continuous stone
belt course /still decorative treatment. The windows are connected at the lintel spring point level
by a darker row of soldier course bricks. Square stone inserts are placed at the spring points
and five -sided stone keystones are centered in the semi - elliptical brick arches. A massive
projecting pressed metal cornice with a prominent centered pediment (with the builder's /owner's
OMB No. 1024 -001
NPS Form 10 -900
(Expires 5/31/2012)
United States Department of the Interior
National Park Service
National Register of Historic Places
Continuation Sheet
Section number 7 Page 23 Upper Central Avenue Commercial Historic District
Dubuque County, Iowa
name and date) caps the whole. Few of these cornice types are found in the survey area. City
building permits document the rebuilding of the rear porches (1955).
IYAAJCCI LIOytfl- Mtfl ....}, -� -.
#
Year
Style
Main Bldgs.
Outbuildings
Cont.
Site
Notes
Con Non
Con Non
Central
Avenue:
1460
1869
Italianate
1
1486
-1866
Italianate
2
1487
1886
Italianate
3
1496
1896
Italianate
4
1497
1886,
1890
Queen
Anne
5
1500
-1866
Italianate
6
1501
1896
Queen
Anne
7
1504
-1884
Italianate
8
1516
1945
Commercial
9
1524
-1884
Italianate
10
1527
1887
Italianate
11
1534
-1884
False Front
12
1538
-1884
Italianate
13
1540
pre-
1884,
1895-
90
Italianate
14
1543
1899
Italianate
15
1555
1887
Italianate
16
1564
1870
Italianate
17
1572
1897
Italianate
18
1563-
1585
1885-
90,
1945
Italianate
19
Includes single lot
parking area to south
and 1974 south
addition at the west
end of the lot
1599
1902-
08
Commercial
1
1602
1885
Italianate
2
1603
1882
Italianate
20
1618
1887
Italianate
21
1626
1886
Italianate
22
1627
-1884
Italianate
23
1633
1892-
1904
Queen
Anne
24
1638
1884.
2000
Commercial
3
1643
1868
Italianate
25
1654
Vacant lot
NPS Form 10 -900
(Expires 5/31/2012)
United States Department of the Interior
National Park Service
National Register of Historic Places
Continuation Sheet
OMB No. 1024 -001
Section number 7 Page 24 Upper Central Avenue Commercial Historic District
Dubuque County, Iowa
#
Year
Style
Main Bldgs
Outbuildings
Con.
Non
Cont.
Site
Notes
Con.
Non
1671
1977
Commercial
4
1672-
1933,
N/A
5
1
Counts as a
76
1988
contributing
1690
1869
Italianate
26
1696
1880
Italianate
1696
Pre-
Commercial
27
1909
1701
1873,
Italianate
28
1890
1706
1892
Queen
29
Anne
1715
1888
Queen
30
Anne
1736
1892
Queen
31
Anne
1735
1888
Queen
32
Anne
1746
Vacant lot
1739
1888
Queen
33
Anne
1763
1905-
Queen
34
1907
Anne
1766
1899
Italianate
6
1770
1897
Commercial
7
1791
1869
Queen
35
Anne
1798
1887-
Queen
36
1888
Anne
1805
1884
Italianate
37
1812
1878,
Italianate
38
1895
1824
1885-
Italianate
39
90
1828
1878
Italianate
40
1838
1885-
Second
41
90
Empire
1842
1892-
Queen
42
1897
Anne
1850
1898
Italianate
43
1858
1884-
Italianate
44
1890
1865
1977
Commercial
8
1876
-1873
Italianate
45
1879
1895
Queen
46
Anne
NPS Form 10 -900
(Expires 5/31/2012)
United States Department of the Interior
National Park Service
OMB No. 1024-001
National Register of Historic Places
Continuation Sheet
Section number 7 Page 25 Upper Central Avenue Commercial Historic District
Dubuque County, Iowa
#
Year
Style
Main Bldgs
Outbuildings
Con.
Non
Cont.
Site
Notes
Con.
Non
1889
1885,
1890
Italianate/
vernacular
47
1902
-1884,
1885-
90
Italianate
48
1913
-1884,
1890
Italianate/
vernacular
49
1919
1885-
1890
Italianate
50
1919
1975
N/A
1
1959
-1884
Italianate
51
1961
1887
Queen
Anne
52
15u' Street
28 -30
East
1896
Queen
Anne
53
27
East
1931-
61
Commercial
54
25 -27
West
1892-
1908
Renaissance
55
17th Street
40
1858
Italianate
56
Totals:
56
8
1
1
1
Contributing 56, non-
contributing 8,
contributing site 1,
total contributing 57
District Physical Alterations and Integrity:
The district as a whole has remained virtually unchanged in terms of its topography and
its nearby land uses. Street widths have remained the same. One important change was the
removal of double streetcar tracks on Central Avenue. The district continues to function as a
gateway between north Dubuque (the Couler Valley) and the downtown proper. This gateway
function was originally caused by impeding bluffs to the west of the avenue. As a result the
avenue jogs abruptly east at 18t Street. Buildings at 1805 (the fire station) and 1798 Central
Avenue oriented south and north at this jog, departing from the district's east -west orientation
norm.
The upper facades of the district buildings are very well preserved and the presence of
so many three and four -story buildings makes this all the more impressive. Virtually every
building retains its original cornice or parapet front. Details such as pediments, turrets and bay
windows all survive save for one instance. No substantial building has been reduced in height
or breadth by demolition. Since 1950 15 buildings have been demolished, and one, 1638
Central Avenue, lost its upper floor. Eight of these buildings were dwellings. A filling station
(site of 1865 Central Avenue), a fire alarm station (1950s, associated with the fire station), and
NPS Form 10 -900
(Expires 5/31/2012)
United States Department of the Interior
National Park Service
National Register of Historic Places
Continuation Sheet
OMB No. 1024 -001
Section number 7 Page 26 Upper Central Avenue Commercial Historic District
Dubuque County, Iowa
a frame two -story building were demolished along the west side of Central Avenue, north of 18th
Street. Two two -story buildings were demolished in the 1500s block (west side) of Central
Avenue. A small house and small frame shop were demolished on the north end (west side) of
the 1600s block of Central Avenue. Three brick row houses were demolished at the north end
(west side) of the 1700s block of Central Avenue. Two small attached frame dwellings were
demolished in the 1700s block (east side) of Central Avenue, and three two -story buildings,
including 1672, were taken down in the 1600s block (east side) of Central Avenue.
Dubuque buildings commonly used a semi - circular upper window sash that fit the arches
of the same shape. In this district the majority of windows are flat- topped with straight lintels,
although a sizeable proportion of the windows are rounded or flat with rounded upper corners.
The difficulty of replicating these sash or more to point the glass in them results in the infilling of
the upper window area and the use of regular rectangular sash. This trend has played out
within the district. Otherwise a good proportion of the upper level windows are either original or
faithful replications of 1/1 sash. Commonly metal storm windows obscure the condition of the
windows. Only one example of covered or reduced upper windows occurs at 1603 Central
Avenue. A few windows are paneled over at 1701 Central Avenue.
The evaluative factors used in evaluating the overall fagade were materials (visibility,
integrity), its windows (original cadence, openings, and infill) and its cornice (materials, visibility,
ornamentation, integrity). Each of these components was evenly weighed in evaluating the
integrity of the upper fagade. Massing was also an evaluating factor, with the number of floor
levels being present being included as a factor. Thus a taller building with an intact upper
fagade could outweigh a much - altered storefront. Crediting massing in this district application
made particular sense given that these buildings play a stronger defining role due to their large
number and considerable scale. Storefronts (meaning the actual ground level component)
were evaluated using the components of the overall opening, its key segments (transom, entry,
display windows), and each of these factors was evenly weighed. Storefronts having reduced
display windows, or substantial coverings using modern materials were rated as having a
negative impact on integrity. Storefronts were more critical on shorter buildings in terms of an
integrity analysis. Buildings that post -date the period of significance were not evaluated, being
automatically non - contributing. Non - commercial buildings were not penalized for lacking
storefronts.
Summary: Seven Measures of Historical Integrity:
Location: The district occupies its original physical location and retains its important
relationship with nearby bluff lines. The district continues to be a thin arterial that is otherwise a
part of a broader residential area, with a good number of churches and religious school
properties.
Design: The impressive scale of many of the district buildings and the generally high level of
individual building historical integrity collectively make this district distinctly recognizable in
terms of its boundaries and composition. No major building has been lost since 1950.
NPS Form 10 -900
(Expires 5/31/2012)
United States Department of the Interior
National Park Service
National Register of Historic Places
Continuation Sheet
OMB No. 1024 -001
Section number 7 Page 27 Upper Central Avenue Commercial Historic District
Dubuque County, Iowa
Setting: The district is bordered on both sides (east and west) by residential neighborhoods
that to the west being more commercialized due to its proximity to Main Street and the Upper
Main Street Commercial Historic District. The district occupies the "gap" that marks the south
end of the Couler Valley and serves as the entry point into the city proper from that
northernmost residential neighborhood.
Materials: The district, again due to its scale, remains impressive with its unobstructed brick
fronts. There is but one slipcover within the district on an important building. Storefronts are
well preserved and a good many cast iron storefronts present columns and lintels.
Workmanship: The district is composed of a mix principally of the Italianate and Queen Anne
styles, applied to commercial buildings. Many buildings are very early and well preserved
architectural examples. Both styles utilize a very visible proportion of ornamental overlay
(window surrounds, cornices, bay windows, turrets), and these features are very well preserved.
The storefronts with their cast iron components also contribute to this retention of original
craftsmanship. Many stores retain their raised entrances and cast iron doorplates.
Feeling: Feeling is imparted by the continued mix of commercial and upper -level residential
use. The buildings are very fully utilized and the human scale feeling of their function is
retained.
Association: The district retains its physical and functional associations with the larger
community and within its own internal function.
NPS Form 10-900
(Expires 5/31/2012)
United States Department of the Interior
National Park Service
National Register of Historic Places
Continuation Sheet
OMB No. 1024 -001
Section number 8 Page 28 Upper Central Avenue Commercial Historic District
Dubuque County, Iowa
Builders, Continued:
Coates, F. W.
Jones, B. W.
Historical Significance:
The Upper Central Avenue Commercial District is locally historically significant on the
basis of its architecture (Criterion C) and its association with the economic and commercial
history of Dubuque (Criterion A). The district is a well preserved and excellent example of
Dubuque's commercial architecture, dating from the latter half of the Nineteenth and the first
decade of the Twentieth centuries (Criterion C, architecture). Collectively, this range of
architectural examples represents the largest, the most ornate and best preserved commercial
buildings in downtown Dubuque. They are also the most unified in terms of period of
development and design cohesion. The district is stylistically dominated by substantial and
ornate examples of the commercial designs of the Italianate and Queen Anne styles. This
district includes many of the best Dubuque examples of substantial Tate -19th Century
commercial designs. Many of the more ornate design examples could very likely be deemed to
be individually eligible for National Register of Historic Places listing, to be found in downtown
Dubuque. The north portion of the district, including several vernacular architectural designs, is
more directly associated with the commercial role played by the city's German population.
Architecturally this was Dubuque's "uptown" commercial center. The period of significance is
ca. 1858 to 1962. The architectural features of the district were virtually all in place by 1910.
The beginning date within the period of significance is the earliest known building date for an
extant building. A sprinkling of residential buildings are included and these reflect the earliest
mixed land -use origins of the district. Significant dates are 1868, and 1896, the dates when
streetcar service was first established, and when that service was doubled in capacity and
became modern in terms of electrification and other measures of efficiency and capacity.
Main Street, north to 13th, and Central (Clay), north of 131h Street, were the principal
commercial streets of Dubuque. This configuration assumes the form of a "z" with 13th Street
serving as the principal streetcar connector between the two parallel streets, these being
separated by a single block. Main Street was the premier commercial street and was the locale
of the city's finest commercial buildings and its most substantial retailers. The Upper Central
Avenue portion of the district matched its Main Street counterpart in scale, but its tenant firms
tended to be smaller in scale and the intermixing of other functions, including some light
industry, distinguished its commercial history. This district also differed markedly from Main
Street by virtue of its much more substantial downtown housing. The Main Street blocks
tended to house professional offices on their upper floors but those on Upper Central Avenue
were almost exclusively residential in use. There were some fraternal and public halls in both
parts of the downtown. The commercial significance claim posits that the very substantial,
contiguous and well designed buildings of the district attest to the commercial vibrancy of the
district. While not attempting to claim a Criterion C justification for a Criterion A significance,
the long -term commercial role played by the fast and early developing district reflected the
nexus of transportation, a local and regional commercial market, and the presence of a highly
NPS Form 10 -900
(Expires 5/31/2012)
United States Department of the Interior
National Park Service
OMB No. 1024 -001
National Register of Historic Places
Continuation Sheet
Section number 8 Page 29 Upper Central Avenue Commercial Historic District
Dubuque County, Iowa
urban residential population that represented one large purchasing power for commercial
services within the district.
The city's administrative center was at 13th Street, where the 1857 Italianate style City
Hall still serves in that capacity. The town markets were initially clustered in this area. To the
north the Couler Valley plank road provided the only near -level grade approach into the city and
most of the city's supplies reached the city using that thoroughfare. The same approach
ushered in travelers from a broad area that included southwest Wisconsin. Necessarily, a
commercial node developed along this much -used approach. When the city's streetcar system
was first established in 1868, it was natural that the key trunk line would trace the Main Street -
13th Street and Clay Street route, continuing northward along Couler Avenue. This commercial
node, while most impressive in its architecture today, never housed the city's largest
commercial firms, nor was it the location of any substantial industrial firms. The buildings were
massive due to the need to provide residential space. There are but few examples of
commercial use on the upper floors of the larger buildings, as these were built for residential
use. Owners commonly lived above their stores, particularly in the smaller buildings. The
range of commercial services within the district were of a basic nature in the early years. There
were numerous early department stores and in its later years, the district emerged as a more
self- sufficient commercial center, with its own bank and branch fire department.
The district today represents a well - preserved commercial node, and as a node it clearly
reflects a collective historical evolution, one that had its origins in the post -Civil War years. The
buildings are remarkably well designed and they are equally ornate. The district looms large
today due to considerable losses of commercial buildings in the city along Main Street and
Central Avenue (south of 15th Street).
Multiple Property Document:
The Multiple Property Documentation Form titled Dubuque —The Key City: The
Architectural and Historical Resources of Dubuque, Iowa, 1837 -1955 applies to this district.
That document defined a commercial district property type and established a range of
chronologically based historic contexts. Regarding the registration requirements for this
property type, the document stated:
Industrial and commercial districts can be more simply defined as contiguous
groupings of each respective property type. Residential uses frequently occur
on the upper levels in commercial areas but the properties are still deemed to be
primarily commercial. Dubuque's downtown was always a multi -use area and
witnessed an intermingling of all types of land uses. The apparent dominance of
commercial properties today is more the result of demolition and the loss of
[other types of] buildings (Jacobsen, p. F -297).
The earliest context "Frontier City on the Mississippi River, 1833 -58" concludes just at the time
of the construction of the district's earliest surviving building and is not applicable. The next
' Early Dubuque publications almost ignore this area in terms of photographs or individual building images.
NPS Form 10 -900
(Expires 5/31/2012)
United States Department of the Interior
National Park Service
National Register of Historic Places
Continuation Sheet
OMB No. 1024 -001
Section number 8 Page 30 Upper Central Avenue Commercial Historic District
Dubuque County, Iowa
context, "The Key City, 1859 -93" applies to the majority of the period of significance. Two sub -
themes directly apply to the district under this context, these being the expansion of the city
northward into the Couler Valley and the emergence of banking and local capital amassment.
The third context, "Fitful Growth and Maturation, 1893 - 1910" applies to the final years of the
district period of significance. Three sub - themes apply to the district, these being the continued
construction of major buildings in the city despite the national recession of the early 1890s, the
continued growth of local banking and the rise of ethnic identity towards the end of the
Nineteenth century. No local banks were lost during this time period. The German Trust and
Savings Bank, established in 1887, was in a position to establish a branch bank in the district in
1905. Local mass transportation in the form of the streetcar, also played a key and continuous
role in the district's development. The formerly primitive horse -drawn streetcar service was
finally consolidated and modernized by 1890 and lines were extended to the northern suburbs.
The maturation of Dubuque as a regional railroad hub during the late 1880s was also a principal
cause for growth, but growth in North Dubuque in particular, this being the large neighborhood
located adjacent to and north of the subject district. Central Avenue was the backbone of this
linkage and any traveler coming from those precincts necessarily went through or stopped in
the district. By 1885 39 percent of city residents were foreign born and Germans comprised 55
percent of that figure. The Couler Valley and the northeast part of the city proper (to the east of
the district) were the core German neighborhoods of Dubuque, but the district straddled the
German and non - German parts of Dubuque. St. Mary's (1851), the first German Catholic
Church, is to the southeast of the district, while the Irish St. Patrick's Catholic Church is to the
west of the district court. The lesser frame German Congregational Church occupied the bluff
immediately west and above the firehouse (1805 Central Avenue). The German Presbyterian
Church (Iowa Avenue and 17th Street) was just a block west. Other German Catholic churches
are located to the north and northeast of the district (1878) (Jacobsen, pp. E -29, 47, 56, 65;
166 -68; F- 297 -99).
The multiple property document summarizes and supports a series of six area survey
projects. The first of these targeted the Couler Valley, while the third focused on the city's
downtown core. The former report summarized the German presence there. The valley was
the place of choice for most of the city's earliest breweries, all of which were German
operations. Beginning in the middle-1880s the Germans completed their immigration /migration
to the city and a vast range of fraternal, cooperative, social and commercial operations were
established. The Shooting Park was established in the upper valley. A Saengerbund
Auditorium was built on Central Avenue in 1896. Representative of this ethnic flourishing, the
west side of Central Avenue was rather belatedly built up and three brick complexes, with open
central passageways, were constructed. These have been recognized as an example of the
combination of the vernacular tradition with domestic architectural styles (Jacobsen, pp. E -161-
172). The Phase I survey report found the buildings north of 18th Street (1812 -1961 Central
Avenue) to be collectively significant and National Register eligible (Jacobsen, 2002, p. 28).
The Phase 111 survey similarly recommended that the buildings south of 18th Street (the district
as presented) were National Register eligible. Six district buildings were featured in that report
as stylistic examples (Jacobsen, 2003, pp. 162 -63).
NPS Form 10 -900
(Expires 5/31/2012)
United States Department of the Interior
National Park Service
National Register of Historic Places
Continuation Sheet
OMB No. 1024 -001
Section number 8 Page 31 Upper Central Avenue Commercial Historic District
Dubuque County, Iowa
The multiple property document titled "Dubuque The Key City: The Architectural and
Historical Resources of Dubuque, Iowa, 1837- 1955," applies to this historic district and its
boundary increase. The multiple property document establishes four successive historical
contexts. These are: Frontier City on the Mississippi River, 1833 -1858, The Key City, 1859-
1893, Dubuque's Golden Age, 1894 -1910, An Era of Stability, 1911 -1955. These chronological
contexts subsume all applicable themes such as commerce, industry, ethnicity, religion,
transportation and so on. The registration requirements for each context are:
Criterion A: properties that are directly associated with the development of Dubuque [for
the context's respective period of significance].
Criterion B: properties that are directly associated with the working careers of significant
Dubuque residents, [for the context's respective period of significance].
Criterion C: properties that best illustrate significant design and construction techniques
in the city of Dubuque during the years [for the context's respective period of
significance].
The integrity considerations for each context are:
In all cases, the most important integrity consideration is that the property
or district retains sufficient elements of the original design, materials, and setting,
so that the historical owner during the period of significance would theoretically
recognize it today. The property must retain its ability to convey a sense of time
and place as it relates to this context.
Buildings should reflect the original function of their designs, as well as
their original construction materials. They should possess their original shape
and proportions, windows and doors should not have been substantially
changed. Residential buildings can be held to a higher test of integrity, given
their larger number of surviving examples and their better state of preservation.
Additions must be secondary in scale and setback relative to the original core
design, and must be comparable in design and materials to the original
residence. Scored stucco on stone is not considered to be a replacement siding,
but an attempt to modernize within the historical period. Replacement siding
(metal, vinyl) does not automatically compromise historical integrity if the scale of
the siding matches the original, if decorative features such as wood shingle,
brackets, and trim work remain visible, and if the key massing and design of the
building remains discernible. The re -sided building must retain its ability to
represent its type or style absent the availability of a comparable example not re-
sided. Most re -sided buildings will, at best, be deemed to be contributing
properties within a historic district. Even then, those re -sided buildings must
pass a collective lesser test, that being whether they continue to make a positive
contribution to the district. The re- siding of brick, stone or stucco buildings
eliminates historical integrity.
NPS Form 10 -900
(Expires 5/31/2012)
United States Department of the Interior
National Park Service
National Register of Historic Places
Continuation Sheet
OMB No. 1024 -001
Section number 8 Page 32 Upper Central Avenue Commercial Historic District
Dubuque County, Iowa
Building Chronology:
In its final commercial form, circa 1910, Central Avenue was the location of a fairly
continuous range of business buildings between the lower Couler Valley (as far north as 25th
Street) and 4th Street to the south. This fairly compact linear commercial center developed from
several nodes and did not emerge in any unified form. A key node was located at 13th Street,
where public markets, the City Hall and the city's first public school all clustered. By the early
1900s banking services for the German community were deemed critical and, while the city's
banking center was located on south Main Street, this district gained a bank at 18th Street.
This district, like much of Central Avenue, was first infilled with a mix of mostly
residential buildings (many with ground level commercial spaces), with a mix of other uses.
The mix also included early larger blocks, but much of the development was small in scale and
there were numerous open tracts. The east side of the avenue was the initial focus of
increased commercial development and many of the earliest extant buildings are located on
that side today as a result. Of the 1867 -70 buildings, all are located on the east side of Central.
This is also true for the 1871 -84 buildings. nine of which are on that side of the avenue.
The shift in development to the west side of the avenue took place between 1885 and
1891 with just six of 14 examples being on the east side of Central Avenue. The pattern is all
the more pronounced 1892 -1909, with just four of ten examples being on the east side. When
commercial land uses along Main Street expanded northward between 9th and 12th streets, the
east side was favored and tended to outpace growth on the west side of that street. The same
pattern is found here, with the west side playing catch -up in the later years.
The German presence in this part of Dubuque is readily attested to by the presence, by
1884 of five German churches within a block of the district. Four of these, the German
Theological Seminary, German Presbyterian Church, German Methodist Church and the
German Congregational Church, were all on or west of Central Avenue. St. Mary's Roman
Catholic Church was a block to the southeast. In 1864 the city's German Association
purchased a parcel on Central, between 16th and 17th streets for its use (Dubuque Herald,
August 11, 1864).
The waves of new construction and the building of increasingly larger and more ornate
commercial blocks can be keyed to these transportation developments. The Herald observed
in the fall of 1886, that "in the retail portion many new stores are [being] erected, particularly on
Main and Clay streets and Couler avenue." A dozen years later, the same source observed
"there is more building improvements in process on Clay street and Couler avenue than any
other business streets in the city" (Dubuque Herald, September 26, 1886; May 25, 1898).
One distinct advantage was protection from the city's severe flooding. Dubuque's
terrace location, surrounded on virtually all sides by high bluffs, meant that heavy rains resulted
in torrential flooding. The Couler Valley and the areas to the immediate east of the district were
low -lying and were flood prone whenever the Mississippi River flooded. West 17th Street was
long subjected to destructive washouts and even the fiscally conservative German newspaper,
OMB No. 1024 -001
NPS Form 10 -900
(Expires 5/31/2012)
United States Department of the Interior
National Park Service
National Register of Historic Places
Continuation Sheet
Section number 8 Page 33 Upper Central Avenue Commercial Historic District
Dubuque County, Iowa
Die Iowa, welcomed its paving and sewering in 1878, terming the project "costly but good." The
district proper seems to have flooded just once, in April 1897 (Dubuque Die Iowa, April 18,
1878; Dubuque Herald, July 10, 1897).
The year -end newspaper progress reports identify the construction of commercial
buildings within the district as early as 1857. When Nicholas Eichman raised up a frame store
building at 18th and Central Avenue in 1867, his building site was termed "a central location and
in the heart of business at the Market house [City Hall at 13th and Central]." The earliest
surviving commercial building in the district (1690 Central Avenue) dates to 1867. There was
area pressure to move the public markets northward even as the City Council sought to move
them southward. In 1876 Die Iowa's editor urged that the new hay market be located at 14111
Street, east of Central Avenue, rather than at 1st and Main streets. In 1898 the Mettel Brothers
and a host of other uptown merchants petitioned the City Council to establish a hog scale at
18th and White streets, a block west of the district. The district also warranted fire protection by
1884 and gained a modern firehouse. Banking needs also became pressing, given the
considerable distance between the city's downtown banks and the district. As early as 1891 a
rumor was afoot to the effect that the Dubuque State Bank and the German Bank planned to
establish a branch bank at 17th and Central Avenue (Dubuque Die Iowa, November 23, 1876;
Dubuque Herald, February 22, 1867; August 7, 1891; May 10, 1898).
The continuing mixed land uses within the developing district were underscored by two
1883 examples. Two frame residences went up for auction in March due to their not being
"easily" converted for store use. And in June, John J. Flynn was even considering building a
elegant mansion on the northeast corner of Central Avenue and 16t11 Street. This proposal
reflected a Dubuque tendency to intermix land uses but to have mansion envisioned in this area
at so late a date is of particular interest. The residence was not built however. The 1884
Sanborn map shows a vacant series of lots on that corner at that time. It is instructive that
Flynn considered this to be an acceptable location for his larger home (Dubuque Die Iowa,
February 22, June 17, 1883; Dubuque Herald, June 19, 1883).
The city's new commercial architecture was so much improved that the editors of the
Dubuque Telegraph called for the demise of the corner two -story store building, several
"unsightly" examples of which remained on Main and Central. They urged, that "the day of the
two story brick store building on a street corner with a stairway on the outside, ought to be a
thing of the past in a city of 50,000 inhabitants." By this time the district was in a final stage of
development, and this growth was moving south, finally producing a Central Avenue that was
predominantly commercial in its architecture. A surviving cluster of old frame buildings stood on
the west side of Central Avenue, below 151h Street. These were acquired in mid -1898 and the
existing buildings, being "of little value," were replaced with a massive three -story brick livery
block (Dubuque Telegraph, May 7, 1898).
NPS Form 10 -900
(Expires 5/31/2012)
United States Department of the Interior
National Park Service
National Register of Historic Places
Continuation Sheet
OMB No. 1024 -001
Section number 8 Page 34 Upper Central Avenue Commercial Historic District
Dubuque County, Iowa
Commercial Significance:
This district contains the most substantial and ornate surviving commercial buildings to
be found in a collective or district setting in historical downtown Dubuque. This fact is made all
the more impressive be virtue of two functional facts. The first is that the district functioned
mostly as a neighborhood retail and commercial center, serving a large neighborhood
population and serving as the entry point for a substantial proportion of the city's rural trade.
The second factor is that the neighborhood population and resulting market strength was very
much augmented by a very substantial upper -story resident population within the district itself.
As Figure 19 has indicated, this district shares a boundary with the Jackson Park Historic
District (National Register of Historic Places) and the residential area contiguous to the east,
known as the Washington neighborhood, has been recommended by successive studies to be
National Register eligible as well. The district, in its linear commercial form, is part and parcel
of a larger intact historical residential architecture.
The district layout and location derives from the elongated and very substantial
(although narrow) river terrace upon which the original city developed. Commerce first
concentrated on the south edge of that terrace. A neighborhood commercial node followed to
the north of 101h Street, and eventually Main Street evolved into a nearly solid commercial
arterial between 11th and 1st streets. With the filling of low land to the south it also expanded in
that direction. A parallel linear commercial avenue was established along Central Avenue
(formerly Clay - Couler avenues) in response to the geographic reality that produce and other
commodities could best reach the city only from its north end, via the Couler Valley. The
evolving streetcar system responded to this developing pattern and linked the three commercial
nodes, with the most important commercial streets being double- tracked (Figure 20).
The evolved commercial history combined with the scale of this district translates
architecturally in one distinct way, when compared with the two listed commercial districts. This
is the lower proportion of corner landmark buildings. Out of total of some 19 prominent corners
within the district, larger and more ornate buildings occur only on 13 of these. The loss of
buildings accounts for just a few of these instances. This fact doesn't necessarily weaken the
architectural claim of the district but rather expresses the more specialized commercial function
of it. That being as primarily a local trade and city entry point market function. The surviving
buildings are those that performed that function and there was no opportunity over time to
replace at least the corner buildings with replacements. In many instances what emerged as
corner buildings was impressive, with frame residential buildings otherwise infilling the
intervening block fronts.
One measure of documenting the dominant commercial function and its evolution over
time is to tally the district's listings that appeared in the city directory "yellow pages" of the day.
These were paid -for advertisements so they are not comprehensive, but they tend to include
the major firms in each commercial category. The 1885 -85 listings included one dry goods firm,
four groceries, a hardware store, three saloons, and one meat market, one notions dealer and
one tin ware store. The 1884 Sanborn Map is more comprehensive in its coverage, detailing 49
businesses. Most numerous among these were 2 toy stores, 6 saloons, 3 undertakers, 3
NPS Form 10 -900
(Expires 5/31/2012)
United States Department of the Interior
National Park Service
OMB No. 1024 -001
National Register of Historic Places
Continuation Sheet
Section number 8 Page 35 Upper Central Avenue Commercial Historic District
Dubuque County, Iowa
jewelers, 6 grocers, 3 boots and shoes dealers, 2 confectioners and 3 barbers. Less common
businesses included a news depot, sewing machine dealer, a book binder, photo shop, and a
marble shop. The 1890 -91 directory enumerated three boots and shoes dealers, seven
confectioners, one cooperage, one drug store, two dry goods firms, a fruit dealer, one furniture
dealer (and undertaker), four groceries, a hardware store, one meat market, two merchant
tailors, a restaurant, and seven saloons. The 1891 Sanborn map is less helpful, but identifies
(in addition to many "stores ") 27 potentially fire -prone businesses that were worthy of buying (or
their neighbors buying) fire insurance. There were just three saloons and two drug stores. The
Northern Hotel was in operation at 18th Street and the unusual businesses included pork
packing, a fence maker, a house mover, a saw filer, a commission house and a paint shop.
The first hall is noted at this time. The 1894 -95 directory listed a bakery, bookstore, four boots
and shoes dealers, a clothing store, four confectioners, two druggists, four grocers, three meat
markets, two merchant tailors, two millineries, five saloons and one jeweler.
The 1909 Sanborn map tallies 34 specific commercial uses, apart from the many "store"
labels. Several new trends are apparent within the district, these including the first bank, a
number of automobile related firms (vulcanizing and battery shops) and a number of factories
(two sausage plants, a cigar factory, book binder, two tin shops and two printing firms). There
were three saloons, a picture framer, an upholsterer, confectioner, a cobbler, repair shop, two
drug stores and two restaurants. The several undertaker shops are known to have remained in
business at this time but they aren't labeled. In all of these tallies, the fire engine house and the
monument shop were included.
The 1936 Sanborn map enumerated just 21 non -store building functions, including the
engine house. Industry had declined with just a cigar factory and one very large bakery that
occupied a number of storefronts. The two undertakers remained in trade, there were two drug
stores, three photo shops and four saloons, reflecting the return of that line of work with the
demise of prohibition in 1933. The other businesses of interest included a printing firm,
plumber, a cobbler, the monuments business and a small bakery.
The 1950 Sanborn Map typifies the continuing commercial strength of the district. In
terms of public service, the fire engine house had gained both a public restroom and a
centralized fire and emergency alarm station (neither of which survives). A new entity, a filling
station (now 1865 Central Avenue), had replaced a number of lost buildings. The commercial
mix remained otherwise stable and a trend that had held true since the early 1900's was that
the same specialty operations continued at the same locations. There were two restaurants,
three wallpaper and paint stores, two drug stores, plumbing and printing firms, a book binder,
the cigar factory, the monuments shop, tin shop, the confectioner, and the upholsterer. The
Orioles remained in their upstairs hall. The individual building histories further supplement this
overview and document the district tendency for the persistence of the same use at the same
address over many decades.
NPS Form 10 -900
(Expires 5/31/2012)
United States Department of the Interior
National Park Service
National Register of Historic Places
Continuation Sheet
OMB No. 1024 -001
Section number 8 Page 36 Upper Central Avenue Commercial Historic District
Dubuque County, Iowa
Architects and Builders:
A mere handful of the district buildings have identified architects and builders. These
architects are among the most important of Dubuque's local designers.
Fridolin Joseph Neer, Sr. (1834- 1910), like many European architects, started as a
stonecutter in Switzerland. His father was a builder. Heer came to the United States in 1865
and reached Dubuque three years later. He started his architectural firm in 1870 and was
joined in the practice by his son in 1887. By 1880 he had "built up a large business and [was]
the architect of many of the best buildings in the city." He first practiced with Edward Naescher
as Heer & Naescher c.1874 -76 +. By 1875 Heer had designed buildings, monuments, bridges,
viaducts and tunnels, furniture and also did fresco paintings. Heer joined the Architectural
Association of Iowa in 1885 and was elected into the American Institute of Architects a year
later. He was a charter member of the newly organized (1903) Iowa Chapter of the American
Institute of Architects. Fridolin Heer Sr. is rated as being one of the city's leading architects and
it is important that the city was the point where he opened his practice and received the majority
of his design efforts. The Heer design team, father and son, were significant as Dubuque's pre-
eminent early architects (Sommers, pp. 159 -60; Oldt, pp. 597 -601; Lyon, p. 195; 1880 County
History, p. 803; Shank, pp. 79 -80).
Within this district, architect Heer is credited with four known building designs: 1602
Central Avenue (1887); 1805 Central Avenue (Fire Engine House #1) (1884); 1500 Central
Avenue (1885) and 1497 Central Avenue (remodel, 1890).
Franklin (or Francis) Douglass Hyde, (1849- 1920 +) was born in Maine but grew to
adulthood in Wisconsin and Minnesota. He came to Dubuque in 1878, having been trained as
an architect in St. Paul, Chicago and Boston. By 1880 it was reported that Hyde "is taking a
leading position in his profession." A 10 -page inventory of his designs covers Iowa and
includes a few commissions in Wisconsin, Minnesota and Montana. The projects date from
1879 -1892. He was a charter (1885) member of the Architectural Association of Iowa, the
Western Association of Architects (1884) and the Architectural Association of Des Moines. He
was professionally committed to the education of architects and served as secretary of the
National American Institute of Architecture. He first (1881) specialized in school designs and
later advertised a specialty in remodeling existing buildings. Hyde departed Dubuque in 1893
apparently response to the panic of 1893 -94 although there is no indication that large
architectural commissions in the city were impacted by that downturn. By 1910 he was living in
Oklahoma City. Architect Hyde was one of Dubuque's most notable and prolific designers
during the late 19th Century. He is associated with one known district design, that of 1497
Central Avenue. He also designed the 0. Oliver building (two stories), said to be located at
Clay and 15th,Street (1885 -86) but that building has not been identified (Wilkie, p. 319; 1880
County History, p. 814; Shank, pp. 86 -87).
James Howie (1841 - ?) was a noted Dubuque builder and developer. Scots -born Howie
reached Dubuque in 1869 and started his firm employing 10 to15 handsHowie was a significant
and major builder- contractor - developer. Howie is credited with but one district building, 1876
Central Avenue (1885) (Childs, p. 813).
NPS Form 10 -900
(Expires 5/31/2012)
United States Department of the Interior
National Park Service
OMB No. 1024 -001
National Register of Historic Places
Continuation Sheet
Section number 8 Page 37 Upper Central Avenue Commercial Historic District
Dubuque County, Iowa
Builder B. W. Jones (1837 - ?) constructed Fire Engine House Number 1, 1805 Central
Avenue (1884). English -born Jones came to America in 1845 and to Dubuque in 1856. He
worked in the city through the late 1800s and served as city alderman beginning in 1879
(Sommers, p. 16; Child, p. 817).
Individual Building Histories:
1460 Central Avenue, Bittman and Schroeder Block: (1869; contributing)
Grocers Bittman and Schroeder built this block in mid -1869. It originally had a stone
faced storefront and a large ventilated cellar. The nearly square footprint of the original building
was due to the presence of a frame tenement that prevented adding another 20 feet to its
depth. The 1869 account noted " "The old building will front with the new one in style and
appearance and will be used as a storehouse. Charles W. Bittman was still the property owner,
as of 1910. This is one of the earliest and more substantial commercial blocks to be built on
this end of Central Avenue. The original building cost $5,000 and a third floor was added
between 1885 and 1890 (Dubuque Herald, May 14, December 16, 1869; Sanborn maps).
Bittman & Schroeder were still in operation at this address as late as 1875. Richard Kirmse ran
a jewelry store in 1464 as of 1890. Henry Blankenburg ran a grocery at 1476 in 1890. The
1884 Sanborn confirms the two -story elevation and locates a jeweler, sewing machine dealer
and grocery warehouse in the stores from south to north. The Kirmse family remained in
business here through 1925
1486 Central Avenue: (pre -1866; contributing)
The 1884 Sanborn map places a boots and shoes firm here and Conrad Voss is
addressed as 1486 with such a firm as of 1875 -1883. He owned the partial lot as of 1910 when
the block was first sewered. The 1872 and 1866 lithographs show the building, as does the
1889 lithograph. Nicholas Wolff had a shoe store here from pre -1904 until after 1925. George
Nicolidakis had a shoe repair shop through 1941 as did the Kuhl Brothers through 1960.
1487 Central Avenue, Thomas Kelly Building: (1886, contributing)
This building has housed undertakers for most of its history. S. Korrmann was at 1475
Central as of 1880, as were Korrmann & Voelker in 1883. John Voelker, undertaker was at
1487 Central by 1891 and remained in business through 1921. S. Korrman owned the northern
middle fifth of the block as of October 1889 when the block was first sewered, while Thomas
Kelly owned the south half of the northern fifth. Thomas Kelly built 1487 Central, a two -story
brick store and dwelling, for $2,430 in 1887 (Dubuque Herald, January 1, 1887; May 9, 1896;).
The 1889 lithograph (see below) shows the building. Leo Link operated a tavern here from
prior to 1948 through 1960.
NPS Form 10 -900
(Expires 5/31/2012)
United States Department of the Interior
National Park Service
National Register of Historic Places
Continuation Sheet
OMB No. 1024 -001
Section number 8 Page 38 Upper Central Avenue Commercial Historic District
Dubuque County, Iowa
1496 Central Avenue, R. W. Lacy Block: (1896; contributing)
Judge Lacy replaced an `old rookery" on this corner (Dubuque Herald, April 30, 1896).
A. Lorenz (and then his son Carl) had a books and church goods business here from pre -1899
until after 1960. It was later a religious art store.
1497 Central Avenue, Hoffman Mortuary: (1886, 1890, contributing)
Mortician Mathias M. Hoffmann built this building as a two -story plan, in 1886. Dubuque
architect Franklin Hyde designed the building. In 1890 he had added a third story and the
prominent north bay at a cost of $3,000 with Fridolin J. Heer as architect (Dubuque Herald,
January 23, 1891; April 23, 1923). Hoffman's last name curiously appears on the base of the
corner cast iron storefront column and he got the Sanborn Company map makers to include his
entire name on the 1891 map (Dubuque Times, January 20, 1886).
Hoffman remained at this address through 1934 Hoffmann is now best known for his
photographic collection of early Dubuque (ca. World War I). Leo and Paul Martin resided here
and ran Martin Wall Paper & Paint as of 1948 -60 plus.
28 -30 East 15th Street: (1896, contributing)
Judge R. W. Lacy built this duplex at the same time that he built his new store and flats
building on the corner to the west in the spring of 1896(Dubuque Herald, April 30, May 24,
1896).
27 East 15th Street: (post - 1936 /pre -1962, contributing)
Michael Buchman owned the lot as of 1902 when the block was first sewered.
25 -27 West l5th Street: (1892 -1908, contributing)
This is a residential property.
1500 Central Avenue: (pre -1866, contributing)
Henry Hoffman ran a saloon at this address in 1880 -84. He built a $5,000 brick store
building, with Fridolin Heer as architect in 1885, but the 1884 Sanborn map shows this building
as already extant (Dubuque Times, January 20, 1886). A two -story brick dwelling, 20 feet by 30
feet, was built with no named builder, for $2,100, in 1856 -57, and could be this building
(Dubuque Weekly Express and Herald, March 8, 1857). Peter Lehmes ran a saloon at this
location as of 1870. The building was still a saloon as of 1909/36. This building appears on the
1866 and 1872 lithographs. Directory references list the whole double building under 1504
Central Avenue. It was a confectionery post - prohibition. It was the place to buy hats prior to
World War II and the 1500 address first appears in 1941 when the North Dipper Ice Cream
OMB No. 1024 -001
NPS Form 10 -900
(Expires 5/31/2012)
United States Department of the Interior
National Park Service
National Register of Historic Places
Continuation Sheet
Section number 8 Page 39 Upper Central Avenue Commercial Historic District , Iowa
Parlor was there. It was a Maid Rite Sandwich Shop, pre- 1948 -55+ and then the Hastee
Tastee Restaurant through 1960.
1501 Central Avenue, Judge R. W. Lacy Block: (1896, contributing)
This building was constructed by Judge R. W. Lacy in 1896. He "demolished an old
landmark near the corner of 15th and Central" and built stores and flats which adjoined his
corner property. The cost was $6,000. An account about the foundation work places the
building on the corner, notes that the parcel was recently acquired, and adds that "an old
rookery" had been removed (Dubuque Herald, April 30, May 24, 1896).
The street address 1509 -13 is in use by 1899, and this was the Rutland Flats as of 1904
with four apartments. By 1909 John Beck's Drugs occupied the corner storefront (it remained
there through 1952). The current street address was in use in 1921.
Mathias M. Hoffman, undertaker, started out on the northwest corner of W. 15th and
Central Avenue as early as 1886. That year he built a two -story block (the note references the
architect's design, which might mean 1885 or 1886 as the construction year and the 1884
Sanborn map confirms that this corner was then undeveloped. If this was that building, then
the present building has been enlarged by a story at some point. Mrs. McCooney owned the lot
as of November 1889 when the block was first sewered. The 1880 photo shows this building to
be a two -story side gable plan and likely a double storefront.
1504 Central Avenue: (pre -1884, contributing)
Henry Hoffman had his saloon here as of 1884. Katie Heinz ran a millinery at 1508 in
1890. Kiebler Brothers, barbers, were here (as 1516) from prior to 1921 through 1941.
1516 Central Avenue: (ca. 1945, contributing)
William Varvis, confectioner, is first listed here as of 1948.
1524 Central Avenue: (pre -1884, contributing)
There are at least two potential owner /builders; Charles Auber, who built a two -story
frame store /residence for $800 in 1872, and a Mr. Pilmeyer, saloon keeper, who built a store a
year later. Given the description, Auber is the more likely builder (Dubuque Herald, November
24, 1872; July 12, 1883). John Dedrick ran a saloon on Central between 15th and 16th as of
1870. Peter Hilkin's saloon was at this address as of 1880 -83. M. Michaels sold sewing
machines here in 1890 and he owned the lot as of 1902 when the block was first sewered.
1527 Central Avenue: (1887, contributing)
The building was likely built by L. Zust & Sons Meat Packers, these being the first
tenants listed in the entire building as of 1891. H. B. Glover owned the lot as of November
NPS Form 10 -900
(Expires 5/31/2012)
United States Department of the Interior
National Park Service
National Register of Historic Places
Continuation Sheet
OMB No. 1024 -001
Section number 8 Page 40 Upper Central Avenue Commercial Historic District
Dubuque County, Iowa
1889 when the block was first sewered. Herman J. Kiebel's business was here from pre -1899
through 1909. Humkes Sanitary Bakery occupied 1527 Central 1925 -52.
1533 Central Avenue: (1887, contributing)
It appears on the 1889 lithograph. Otto Neumeister's Meat Market was in 1533 as of
1904 -09, being followed by the White Market (1913), and R. Reavell's Meat Market (1921 -41).
Trieweiler's Meat Market was there in 1948 -55.
1534 Central Avenue, Kolb's Jewelry Store: (pre -1884; contributing)
It is possible that the two -story frame news depot (P. Meyer, boots & shoes, 1875,
August Wirzbach, books /stationery, 1870, 1880, and John W. Schuller, tailor, 1890) shown on
the 1884 Sanborn map forms the core of this building. Jacob Kolb operated a jewelry store
here pre -1921 through 1955.
1538 Central Avenue: (pre -1884, contributing)
John Pilmaier had his dry goods store here in 1884. John Breithaupt, barber, first
appears at this address, in 1890. A host of small firms occupied the ground floor, with an
apartment upstairs. Baker F. O. Humke started out here in 1918 (see 1527 Central Avenue).
1540 Central Avenue: (pre -1884, 1885 -90, contributing)
John Pilmaier had his saloon here in 1884. The Atlantic and Pacific Tea Company
grocery store was in the south store front by 1918 and remained there through 1929. Charles
Kress' meat store occupied the north half, 1921 -52, being followed by the Bon Ton. Bakery,
1955 -60 +.
1543 Central Avenue, Henry Richter Block: (ca.1899, contributing)
John Drehouse, carpenter /building (1883) safe agent (1890), was at this address as of
1883 -90 and owned the lot as of November 1889 when the block was first sewered. Emma
Richter operated a millinery from this address as of 1899 and that probably closely dates the
storefront. Richter remained through 1925, the building then being accompanied by several
soft drink dealers (John Gronana as of 1921, Frank Buffington in 1925. J. J. Eisback Sheet
Metal Works was here 1929 -34. By 1945 the Five and Ten Tavern occupied the north half,
remaining through 1955.
1555 Central Avenue, John Drehouse Building: (1887, contributing)
The 1891 Sanborn locates a house mover at this address. John Drehouse built a two -
story brick shop, 1557 Central, in 1886, valued at $1,200 (Dubuque Herald, May 9, 1896;
January 1, 1887) and owned the lot as of November 1889 when the block was first sewered.
Mettel Brothers (J. P. and CA. P. Mettel) had a flour and feed store here as of 1898 (Dubuque
OMB No. 1024 -001
NPS Form 10 -900
(Expires 5/31/2012)
United States Department of the Interior
National Park Service
National Register of Historic Places
Continuation Sheet
Section number 8 Page 41 Upper Central Avenue Commercial Historic District
Dubuque County, Iowa
Herald, April 21, 1898). Two families occupied the building through 1915, and the first
commercial tenant, by 1921, was Herbert Roses' second -hand store. Joe Bluestein, in the
same line, was there through 1929. The storefront was then vacant for many years. By 1941
the Owl's Tavern was there, followed by the Idle Hour Tavern, pre - 1948 - post -1960.
1564 Central Avenue: (1870, contributing)
Adam Geisler, furniture dealer, was here 1880. In 1875 he was manufacturing furniture
at 1540 Central. He is a probable builder. Peter Meyer had a boots and shoes shop here as of
1890 -99. Peter Meyer remained until 1921 and was succeeded by Joseph Meyer by 1925.
Peter Meyer, certainly the same person, owned the lot as of 1902 when the block was first
sewered. The Royal Cafe was at 1564 by 1934 and remained through 1948, as was Johnnies
Cafe in 1952 -55 +.
1572 Central Avenue, Joseph Simones Block: (1884, 1897, contributing)
Joseph Simones built this four - storefront block, valued at $16,000 in 1884 (Dubuque
Herald, December 12, 1884). This building appears on the 1887 photo. The building had the
same name in 1898 when the bay window was added to its facade (Dubuque Herald,
December 3, 1898). A rear south -half addition dates to 1897 (Dubuque Telegraph, May 7,
1897). Simones owned the a lot and a half as of 1902 when the block was first sewered.
The first tenant was Alexander's Clothing (Dubuque Die Iowa, October 16, 1884). The
editor of Die Iowa was impressed with an architecture, represented by this building, that made
"buildings look taller and more elegant" (ibid.). The Joseph Simones & Company Department
Store was here as of 1890 -1909, and was succeeded as of 1915 by Sprengelmeyer Brothers,
also occupying the entire building's ground level. By 1918, as many as five storefront listings
are recorded. William Olanosky's Department Store was in the south end from 1913 -41 and
expanded to occupy most of the building's storefronts. Frank Weber, furrier, occupied the north
storefront from 1921 - 1952 +. This was called the Hershe Building by 1955.
1563 -85 Central Avenue, Henry Willging Wallpaper and Paint Building: (1885 -1890, 1941,
contributing)
A single -story brick storefront was extant by 1891 and a change in the sidewall
brickwork documents the enlargement of this building to two stories. By 1908 it housed two
small storefronts (1583 -85) and housed a soft drinks firm and a repair shop. Henry Willging
previously had his wallpaper and paint shop at other addresses and it is probable that his
business was sufficient so as to allow him to enlarge this building prior to 1925. His firm was
here 1941 +, enlarged the building with a two -story addition ($6,000), and likely was renamed
the Tri -State Wallpaper and Paint Company, which was here 1960 +.
NPS Form 10 -900
(Expires 5/31/2012)
United States Department of the Interior
National Park Service
National Register of Historic Places
Continuation Sheet
OMB No. 1024 -001
Section number 8 Page 42 Upper Central Avenue Commercial Historic District
Dubuque County, Iowa
1599 Central Avenue: (1892 -1908, non - contributing)
The 1909 Sanborn map shows this building extant as a photo store. Jacob G. Preitauer
built a $5,000 photo studio at this location in 1915, replacing a single -story studio that preceded
it (1909 Sanborn map; Dubuque Telegraph- Herald, January 2, 1916). The address (as 1597)
only appears by 1918 and Jacob Preitauer, photographer, was located here through 1952,
being followed by Miller Radio and TV (through 1960). Probable directory listings place V. H.
Oswald here in 1899 and Alex Hasler's warehouse here as of 1904.
40 East 17`h Street, ca. 1858 (Assessor dates to 1858, contributing).
The very early date is worth further investigation —the building is present on the 1872
lithographic overview and the 1866 lithograph. It also appears in the 1880 photograph (Section
8, below).
1602 Central Avenue, Henry Hoffman's Palace Saloon: (1885, non- contributing).
Henry Hoffman built this building for his saloon in 1885 at a cost of $5,000. Fridolin
Heer was the building's architect. Hoffman owned the lot when the block was sewered in 1902.
Fridolin Heer was the building's architect. The 1962 Sanborn map locates a hall on the second
floor. Henry Hoffman had his Palace Saloon at this address beginning in 1886. He offered fine
wines, liquors and cigars. This building appears on the 1887 photo (Dubuque Times, January
20, 1886).
Mrs. Florence Totten's White Rose Millinery was here 1915 -21, followed by the Great
American Stores Grocery (19250 and the National Tea Company Grocery (1929 -48 +). The
Fraternal Order of the Orioles occupied the upstairs hall from 1914 until post -1960, by which
time they had occupied the entire building. That same year, the fraternal body expended
$10,000 to remodel their new quarters (Dubuque Telegraph - Herald, December 27, 1914).
1603 Central Avenue, J. P. Schroeder Block: (1882, contributing)
Grocer J. Peter Schroeder built this store /dwelling at this address in 1882 for $3,000.
The building's construction garnered special newspaper interest and it was described as being
"an ornament to the street" with "wonderful apartments" (Dubuque Herald, March 4, September
28, 1882; January 1, 1883). The Nicholas Schroeder, estate owned this lot when the block was
sewered in November 1889. The J. P. Schroeder & Company, flour /feed and grocery, was here
in 1883 (and confirmed by the 1884 Sanborn map, which shows two storefronts, grocery on the
corner, and a rear -two story warehouse extension to the alley). A. M. Bucholz & Son, grocers,
were here in 1890. Grocer Alex Hasler was at 1603 Central Avenue as of 1883 when he
suffered a $8,000 fire loss. He appears to have recovered and occupied the entire double
storefrontpre -1904 to after 1925 and was "situated in a splendid double front, corner room, in a
good business section of the city" (Dubuque Times- Journal, May 12, 1883). His was "one of
the largest and best groceries in the city, and has an immense stock of staple and fancy
groceries...Mr. Hasler is only a young man, but is already one of the most progressive hustling
OMB No. 1024 -001
NPS Form 10 -900
(Expires 5/31/2012)
United States Department of the Interior
National Park Service
National Register of Historic Places
Continuation Sheet
Section number 8 Page 43 Upper Central Avenue Commercial Historic District
Dubuque County, Iowa
business men of Dubuque." Hasler had a warehouse across the street south (1599 Central
Avenue) at that time. By 1908 this storefront was numbered one of his several outlets. The
north storefront was frequent vacant. Seulert and Fesler (pre -1941- post -1952) and George
Beeves (pre- 1955 - post -1960) long occupied the south storefront and the latter firm filled both
storefronts.
1618 Central Avenue: R. H. Heller Cigar Factory: (1887, contributing)
This building was built in 1887 as a combination dwelling and store, costing $3,500
(Dubuque Herald, November 24, 1887). Heller & Vogt, manufacturers of cigars, were here
1891 -1909, followed by Linehan & Heller 1913 -18. Helier owned the lot when the block was
sewered in 1902. Christopher P. Linehan had a billiard parlor here in 1918 -25. The Palace
Tavern was here in 1934, followed by Mengis & Shannon tavern 1948 -60 +. This building
appears on the 1887 photo and also on the 1889 lithograph.
1626 Central Avenue: (1886, contributing)
As of 1891, Margaret Lorenz had a millinery in 1626 (and owned the lot when the block
was sewered in 1902). The storefront was divided into two sections when the building was
built. G. A. Hoerner, glassware, was at 1630. William R. Polymeyer, milliner, was in 1626 in
1899 -1925. Jacob Hacksema, grocer, was also addressed as 1626 but likely was in the north
half, 1909 -21. The Fancy Fruit Store (1925), G's Candy Shop (1948) and Helen Cahill's
Candy Shop (1952) followed. This building app ears the 1887 photo.
1627 Central Avenue: (pre -1884, contributing)
J. P. Ferring owned the lot when the block was sewered in November 1889. He is a
probable builder of this residence and he partnered with N. Schroeder in a feed and flour
business at 1603 Clay, next door south, as early as 1870. The Ferring family remained through
1899 but occupancy changed frequently, and the house was duplexed by 1929, indicating that it
was a rental property.
1633 Central Avenue (post -1891, pre -1904, Assessor dates to 1900 + / -, contributing)
The 1909/36 Sanborn map locates a tin shop here. Christian Jungk owned a lot and a
half when the block was sewered in November 1889. Peter Lang Hardware was here from prior
to 1905 until post -1925 (the company name remains in a tile floor south doorstep) and was
followed by the Enterprise Printing Co. 1948 -62 +.
1638 Central Avenue, Jacob Becker Building: (1884, 2008, non - contributing)
Jacob Becker built this building for $2,000 in 1884 (Dubuque Herald, December 12,
1884). Mary Sohn, midwife was at this address as of 1891 -99 and again in 1915 -18. Sohn
owned the lot when the block was sewered in 1902. The Pacific Hat Factory was here as of
NPS Form 10 -900
(Expires 5/31/2012)
United States Department of the Interior
National Park Service
National Register of Historic Places
Continuation Sheet
OMB No. 1024 -001
Section number 8 Page 44 Upper Central Avenue Commercial Historic District
Dubuque County, Iowa
1902 (Dubuque Herald, August 3, 1902). Shoe repair shops occupied the building through
1934 and it was a tavern by 1941.
1643 Central Avenue: (pre -1866, 1868, contributing)
The two -story brick portion of the plan is likely one and the same with a brick warehouse
addition of that scale that Christian Jungk built for $2,500 in 1868 (Dubuque Herald, January 1,
1869; Dubuque Times, January 1, 1869). Christian Jungk owned a lot and a half when the
block was sewered in November 1889. The 1884 Sanborn map shows a grocery in the north
half and a dry goods store on the south half. A bakery is shown in 1891 and in 1909. Christian
Jungk had a grocery on Central between 16th and 17th streets as early as 1859, is listed again in
1865, as a dry goods merchant in 1870, and again as a grocer at this address in 1883. F. J.
Zugenbuehler, confectioner, was there in 1890. There is no 1880 entry for this address.
Robert Jungk, plumber, was at 1633/43 in 1899 through 1925. Krug Tire Service was there in
1934, as was Clarence Splinter's used furniture shop in 1948. Frank Carter had the same
business there in 1952.
1671 Central Avenue, Welu Printing Company Building: (1977, non - contributing)
The 1950 and 1962 Sanborn maps shows this property to be vacant. Earlier maps show
three buildings on the parcel, the northernmost of which was a store building. The Welu
Company built this masonry building in 1977 for $35,850 (Building permits).
1672 Central Avenue, Frank Lenz Marble Works: (1933, 2008, non - contributing)
Marble monument dealer Frank Lenz was located here as of 1883, having first been
located on the west side of the block, and the firm continues in operation today (Dubuque Die
Iowa, May 7, 1883). The original brick house was recently demolished but a metal shop
survives at the back of the lot, placed on a new concrete foundation, with a new front.
1676 Central Avenue: (1988, contributing as a site)
Assessor records appear to indicate that this small building was largely rebuilt in 1988
following a fire. The core building pre -dates 1884 in its construction. In later years it was a
beauty shop and then a real estate office. This lot has been in continuous use as a burial
monument display location and that use continues. It is therefore counted as a site while the
re- fronted building is counted as a non - contributing building due to those recent changes.
1690 Central Avenue: (1867, 1869, contributing)
The 1884 Sanborn map shows the south half as a saloon, the north half as a dwelling.
Anton Stines had a boots and shoes store on Central at 17th in 1870, and a dry goods store at
1688 Central as of 1875. Stines built a two -story brick store with a wood front (30 feet by 40
feet) for use as a clothing and dry goods store, with a residence on the upper floor, in 1867
(Dubuque Herald, September 5, 1867). A year later he built a $1,200 store addition and he
OMB No. 1024 -001
NPS Form 10 -900
(Expires 5/31/2012)
United States Department of the Interior
National Park Service
National Register of Historic Places
Continuation Sheet
Section number 8 Page 45 Upper Central Avenue Commercial Historic District
Dubuque County, Iowa
made minimal further improvements in 1872 (Dubuque Times, January 1, 1869; Dubuque
Herald, November 24, 1872). "A Steines" was credited with building a "plain store" at this
location in 1875 (Dubuque Die Iowa, November 11, 1875). A chimney fire in early 1877 caused
no damage (ibid., January 4, 1877). M. Aurner built a "neat two room frame house next to
Stine's new block" in 1867, possibly the north portion of the present building (Dubuque Herald,
September 5, 1867).
• Joseph Reinfreid had a grocery at 1696 Central, likely in the building to the north, in
1880. J. Desotelle had a billiards parlor at 1688 Central in 1883. Mary Engler had a
confectionery shop at 1688 in 1890, although her listing would have been south of the marble
shop that was listed as 1692.
1696 Central Avenue, Joseph Reinfreid Grocery: (ca.1880, non - contributing)
Joseph Reinfreid had a grocery at 1696 as of 1880, the first year this address appeared
(in sampled directories). He had moved to 1904 Central by 1883. Bernard Westercamp,
saloonkeeper, was on this corner as of 1890 -1934. Westercamp owned the north one -fifth of
the block when the block was sewered in 1902 and the name continued in association with
building tenants (a basement antiques store) through 1960.
1701 Central Avenue, Adam Vogel Building: (1873, 1890, contributing)
Adam Vogel built a two -story brick store (42 feet by 28 feet) at 17th and Central in 1873,
at a cost of $2,800. In 1890 he rebuilt the building, adding a third floor, at a cost of $3,300
(Dubuque Herald, November 11, 1873; January 13, 1891). City directories places him on
Central between 17th and l8'h, and 1875 directory lists same, boots & shoes, at 1703 (Dubuque
Herald, November 11, 1873). He owned the lot (6) when the block was sewered in 1902. The
two -story original store appears on the 1884 Sanborn map and a boots and shoes store is
noted. Vogel's shoe firm, A. Vogel & Son, remained through 1909. The 1889 lithograph shows
a plan with a mansard roof on show the two-story t upper roof as a mansard form. The building also the 1887 appears pon the r1872 lithograph,
appears
1706 Central Avenue, Rider & Lacy Block: (1892, contributing)
John V. Rider and Ben W. Lacy owned the parcel when the block was sewered in
August 1894. The Dubuque Herald (December 25, 1892) credits them with building a three -
story brick store and flats for $19,000 in 1892. By 1899 the residential levels of this building
were called the Columbia Building or Flats (eight apartments). Upper level commercial or
industrial uses included a sausage factory on the third floor (1909, 1936 -41), and the Eisbach
Company Sheet Metal works (1948 -the 1962). There was a cigar store on the south end from
1941 through 1960.
NPS Form 10 -900
(Expires 5/31/2012)
United States Department of the Interior
National Park Service
National Register of Historic Places
Continuation Sheet
OMB No. 1024 -001
Section number 8 Page 46 Upper Central Avenue Commercial Historic District
Dubuque County, Iowa
1715 Central Avenue; (ca.1888, Queen Anne style, contributing)
The Novelty Candy Company was here as of 1915 -18 but otherwise the commercial
tenancy was highly transient and small in scale. The 1887 photo appears to show a two -story
building on this site, south of the German Methodist Church. Adam Vogel owned the lot (6)
when the block was sewered in 1902.
1735 Central Avenue, Edward Muntz Block: (1888, contributing)
Edward Muntz built four three -story brick stores at 1739 -49 Central Avenue in 1888 at a
cost of $13- 18,000 (Dubuque Herald, April 22, December 23, 1888). Muntz operated the
Dubuque Fruit and Produce Company from the entire building (1735 -63) from 1888 until post -
1909. The other long -term tenants were Enterprise Printing Company (1921- 1934), Pier
Refrigeration Company (1952 - post -1960) and Jacquinot Antiques (1948 -post- 1960). The
building front was painted by 1898 at which time it was termed the "Blue Front Building"
(Dubuque Telegraph, August 27, 1898).
1736 Central Avenue, Fred A. Nester Block: (1892, contributing)
Jeweler Fred Nester built this building and had his store here through 1960 (in the south
storefront). The north storefront tenants were all short term, but Fred Nester's radio repair was
there from before 1948 through 1960.
1739 Central Avenue, Edward Muntz Block: (1888, contributing)
The building is now owned in two equal halves and is counted as two buildings
accordingly. Refer to 1735 Central Avenue history.
1763 Central Avenue: (1905 -07, contributing)
This was an addition to the Muntz Block, being also built by Edward Muntz. Muntz's
department store occupied all of 1735 -39 Central Avenue as of 1908 and extended into this
addition, and the Muntz Company remained here through 1934 in some capacity.
1766 Central Avenue: (ca. 1899, non - contributing)
CA. Frederick Weidlich ran a soft drinks business here in 1899 -1908, returning as of
1921. The Turnquist Floor Covering Company was here 1941 - post -1960.
1770 Central Avenue: (1897, non - contributing)
Thorman's Creamery relocated from 1187 Iowa Street to this address in mid -1897
(Dubuque Telegraph, May 12, 1897). The metal false front on this building reflects its long -term
tenant firm, A. CA. Rafoth Furnace and Sheet Metal Company, which was here pre -1918
OMB No. 1024 -001
NPS Form 10 -900
(Expires 5/31/2012)
United States Department of the Interior
National Park Service
National Register of Historic Places
Continuation Sheet
Section number 8 Page 47 Upper Central Avenue Commercial Hiistoric District
triIowa
through 1960. Carl Bochert with an unspecified firm, was here as of 1899, remaining through
1909.
1791 Central Avenue: (1869, contributing)
William Pirt built a three -story store, 25 feet by 26 feet, for $2,000 in 1869. This is the
only building of that height shown as of 1884 (Dubuque Herald, December 16, 1869; 1884
Sanborn map). H. Kahn and J. Thum, carpet weavers were at 1793 Central as of 1880 -84.
Mary Newhouse owned the property when it was sewered in 1902 and her family resided here
as of 1899 -1909 at which time the address was 1801 Central Avenue. The house was a rental
property by 1915.
1798 Central Avenue, George F. Thorman Block: (1887 -88, contributing)
Thorman, dealer in paints and oils, built a block of brick stores at 181h and Central in
1887, at a cost of $5,000 (Dubuque Times, November 24, 1887). An identical entry, save for a
cost of $10,000, followed the next year, indicating a stage construction (Dubuque Herald,
December 23, 1888). Thorman owned the lot when the block was sewered in August 1894.
His business was here by 1891 and remained as of 1909 when the building was addressed as
1800 Central Avenue. The October 1887 photo shows this building under construction. The
base for the rounded corner turret is apparent. The 1889 lithograph identifies this building as
the German Trust and Savings Bank but a drugstore occupied the corner storefront, ca. 1891-
1952 (Robert McFarlane's Drugstore, 1909 -52). There was also a Thorman's Creamery, which
opened at 1770 Clay, having relocated from 1187 Iowa, in May 1897 (Dubuque Daily
Telegraph, May 12 1897). The east storefront was addressed as 14 East 18 Street until 1921.
The A. CA. Rafoth Furnace and Sheet Metal Company, located at 1770 Central Avenue, next
door south, expanded into this building and used its upper floors as a warehouse, expending
$12,000 on warehouse alterations in 1964. The company signage replaced a removed corner
bay.
1805 Central, Fire Engine House Number 1: (1884, contributing)
Fire Engine House Number 1 is one of two surviving Dubuque fire engine houses that
date from the last quarter of the 191h century. It was designed by the noted Dubuque architect
Fridolin Heer and was constructed by B. W. Jones (Dubuque Herald, July 28, 1883). The
building is also very prominently located at the head of Central Avenue and symbolically played
a secondary role as the gateway to the Fifth Ward. Historically this engine house played a
continuing and central role (1884 -1980) as one of Dubuque's fire company buildings. It was the
first fire engine house to house a paid fire company, and it was the first to headquarter the city's
fire department headquarters. The building also housed the city's ambulance beginning at the
end of 1941.
NPS Form 10 -900
(Expires 5/31/2012)
United States Department of the Interior
National Park Service
National Register of Historic Places
Continuation Sheet
OMB No. 1024 -001
Section number 8 Page 48 Upper Central Avenue Commercial Historic District
Dubuque County, Iowa
1812 Central Avenue: (1878, 1895, contributing)
Nicholas Palen built a two -story brick double- storefront block at this site in 1878. Palen
had previously occupied an adjacent building with his grocery and saloon business. He
announced plans to replace that building once his new one was finished. Herman Nienstadt,
druggist, was announced as a tenant firm for the new building (Dubuque Herald, April 17,
1878). He expended an additional $2,000, adding a third storefront (ibid., January 3, 1879).
The present three -story building resulted in 1895 when he enlarged it and put on a new building
plate glass front (ibid., June 25, 1895).
Nicholas remained in business as late as 1897 and was succeeded by his son Joseph
A. Palen, druggist and dealer in paints, oils, toilet articles, by 1899. Joseph remained as of
1903, and still lived here as of 1909 but had no resident business. John Palen's Dubuque Fire
and Marine Insurance Company was also present. The Dubuque Fire and Marine Insurance
Company was organized in 1883 with Charles Schrup president, John Palen, vice - president.
By 1925 it claimed to be "Iowa's Most Successful Fire Insurance Company." The Palen name
continues to be directly associated with the building through 1925. The German Savings Bank
was present 1908 -09, being succeeded by the German American Savings Bank by 1915 (being
hastily renamed the American Savings Bank by 1918). By 1921 the bank had relocated north
to 1842 Central Avenue, where it failed in 1929. The undertaker Edward Strober (1921 -29),
barber Joseph Keppler (1921 -41) and Stampfer's Uptown Bakery (1948 -55) were later tenant
firms.
This building is historically significant for its association with the city's prosperous
banking business as well as the German component of that business. The German Savings
Bank organized in 1864 and required that its officers could speak German. It was renamed
German Bank in 1873 and the bank survived the panic of that year. By 1884 only three of its
directors were German. In the 1890s the bank joined the Dubuque Clearinghouse Association,
a local banking consortium. In 1901 the bank opened a new three -story bank building on Main
Street and in 1904 renamed itself the German Savings Bank. In 1905 a branch bank was
opened at this address. The aforementioned bank consortium brought its members through the
hard times of 1906 -07. The popularity of this branch bank proved the wisdom of moving
banking services closer to the outlying neighborhoods. In late 1911 the bank renamed itself the
German American Savings Bank. The anti - German feelings of World War forced a name
change to the Pioneer Savings Bank and Trust, and a year later to Pioneer Trust and Savings
Bank. In 1926 the bank consolidated with the National Bank, which failed in 1932 (Lyon, pp.
174 -75).
1824 Central Avenue: (1885 -90, contributing)
Lembke Brothers occupied the building as of 1899. John N. Juergens' paint and
wallpaper business was here from 1904 through 1960, being briefly accompanied by August
Nachtman's meat store (1918 -21).
OMB No. 1024 -001
NPS Form 10 -900
(Expires 5/31/2012)
United States Department of the Interior
National Park Service
National Register of Historic Places
Continuation Sheet ercial
Section number 8 Page 49 Upper Central Avenue CommDub quistoriC District
1828 Central Avenue: (1878, contributing)
The Assessor dates this building to 1878. It housed a fruits store 1921 -28 and was a
tavern by 1941 (Elmer Meyer's Tavern, 1948 -60).
1838 Central Avenue: (1885 -1890, contributing)
Olanseky's Manhattan Meat Market (1915 -18), Peter Weirich's grocery (1921 -41) and
McDowell Appliance (1952 -60) all occupied this address.
1842 Central Avenue: (1892 -1897, contributing)
Herman Dement operated a confectionery on this site in an earlier building until late
1880 when he changed to a notions line. He built this building and was in operation by 1897.
He died in a bicycle /street car accident in 1899. His widow Margaret continued the firm and it
became Frohs and Dement by 1909, and continued through 1915. The Behr Funeral Home
was first located here 1921 -48 prior to removing to its modern new building on Iowa Avenue.
1850 Central Avenue, Mettel Brothers Block: (1898, contributing)
Contractor F. W. Coates (Coates and Robinson) built this building for Mettel Brothers
Grocery, with the new building being addressed as 1850 -60 Central Avenue. The new building
had
its half of 1858 Central rral A enue (Dubuque Herald,lAprriil 21, July 2, 1898) e firm occupied the
Later tenant firms were Noel & Wagner (1903 -09), the Dubuque Mercantile Company —
(1915), a bakery and confectionery (1921 -41) and the Excel Photo Service (1948 -60).
1858 Central Avenue: (1884 -90, contributing)
Hardware companies occupied this building (D. & J. Hoerner, Emil Henschel) 1915 -41,
being followed by the Luxembourg Club /Lux Tap (1948 -55).
1865 Central Avenue: (1977, non - contributing)
This is a former Mid- Continent (1934)/DX Service Station (1948). The present building
dates from 1958 and was converted for commercial use in 1977.
1876 Central Avenue, The Northern Hotel: (Pre -1873, contributing)
A decorative arch, across the avenue at this point, was the southernmost part of the
Saengerfest festivities, held in June 1873 (Dubuque Herald, June 21, 1873). This three story
building was offered for sale with attached stables, in mid -1880 (Dubuque Herald, May 28,
1880). Architect/contractor James Howie improved the building in 1885 at a cost of $400
(Dubuque Times, January 20, 1886). The Northern Hotel was still in operation at this site as of
NPS Form 10 -900
(Expires 5/31/2012)
United States Department of the Interior
National Park Service
National Register of Historic Places
Continuation Sheet
OMB No. 1024 -001
Section number 8 Page 50 Upper Central Avenue Commercial Historic District
Dubuque County, Iowa
1891 (Sanborn map). J. J. Pfiffner's grocery was here 1877 -80 and promised free delivery city-
wide. F. W. Coates owned the building as of 1897 -99 when saloon keeper E. L. EelIs occupied
the building (Dubuque Herald, September 30, 1897; February 6, 1898). Clothing stores
occupied the building 1908 -21, being followed by Nachtman's Meats, Nachtman & Ward and
Ward's Market (1925 -48) and Donovan's Cash Market (1952 -60).
1879 Central Avenue: (1895, contributing)
Housed Henry Gatena's piano store 1896 -1925, that firm being followed by a rubber
company, a tire and battery shop, Bateman's barbershop (1952 -55) and the Home Service Beer
Store (1948 -60) (Dubuque Herald, March 29, 1896).
1889 Central Avenue, Martin Jacquinot Residence: (1885 -1890, contributing)
This series of buildings, addressed as 1889 -1895, housed the Jacquinot family as late
as 1934. Martin Jacquinot was buried from this house, aged 72 years, in 1900 (Dubuque
Herald, February 24, 1900). The building functioned as a multi - family residence and
commercial usage was not present until ca. 1960. William H. Deming lived here 1918 -60.
1902 Central Avenue, Frank Jaeger Building: (pre- 1884 —north half, 1885 -90 south half,
contributing)
Former mayor and alderman A. Frank Jaeger built a $3,500 "large two story brick store,
corner 19th "in 1880. Other accounts credit him with a $4,000 store building, built in 1881. It
appears that one of these building efforts refers to Jaeger's Couler Avenue residence (Dubuque
Times, December 8, 1880; Dubuque Herald, January 1, March 3, December 4, 1881). Later
tenant firms were the Zehenter Fruit Company (1934 -41) and then a series of taverns.
1913 Central Avenue, J. Osthoff Building (south half): (pre- 1884 -north half, 1890 -south half,
contributing)
A date stone documents the construction of the south half of this double building.
Commercial use of the south half began with tailors Lemmer and Doescher, with the latter
remaining there through 1934. A barber shop and beauty salon were there as of 1941. The
Horst family occupied the north half, with other renters, from 1899 through 1934.
1919 Central Avenue: (1885 -1890, contributing)
A good candidate owner /builder is William Hollnagel who built a brick store and dwelling
in 1886 for $3,600 (Dubuque Herald, May 9, 1886). This was always a residential property and
the constant turnover of occupants indicate that it was a rental property.
OMB No. 1024 -001
NPS Form 10 -900
(Expires 5/31/2012)
United States Department of the Interior
National Park Service
National Register of Historic Places
Continuation Sheet
Section number 8 Page 51 Upper Central Avenue Commercial District
1959 Central Avenue: (pre -1884, contributing)
This was a residential property that was, as of 1899, associated with Frank X. Schmidt.
The family continued in residence here through 1952.
1961 Central Avenue, Peter Mersch Building (1887, contributing)
The 1891 Sanborn map shows a saloon in the south half, and a store to the north. As of
Dubuque Ruug and Carpet Woks (1909-15). Subsequent commercial were the Wesselhoft were in the south
was fit ul a d of
short duration.
Undertaker Frank L. Reinfried was in the north half 1897 -1921. Shoe repair firms
followed 1941 -60. "Union Hall" is listed as of 1908 and was occupied as the Highland Nobles
Hall announcedion November 24, 1887 that Peter Mersch had comp completed brick store e at 1961 -65d
Couler Avenue during the year, valued at $5,000.
NPS Form 10 -900
(Expires 5/31/2012)
United States Department of the Interior
National Park Service
National Register of Historic Places
Continuation Sheet
OMB No. 1024 -001
Section number 10 Page 52 Upper Central Avenue Commercial Historic District
Dubuque County, Iowa
7. Major Bibliographical References:
Childs, C., The History of Dubuque County, Iowa. Chicago: Western Historical Company, 1880
City of Dubuque building permits
Dubuque City Directories, 1859 -1962
Dubuque County Assessor
Dubuque Manufacturing and Commercial Facilities. Dubuque: Times Company, 1886
Jacobsen, James E. Dubuque —The Key City.: The Architectural and Historical Resources of
Dubuque, Iowa, 1837 -1955. Des Moines: History Pays, 2000
. "Dubuque —The Key City: The Architectural and Historical Resources of
Dubuque, Iowa, 1837- 1955: Phase i Historical and Architectural Survey Report [Lower Couler
Valley]." Des Moines: History Pays, 2002
"...the finest business street west of Chicago and North of St. Louis: Phase II!
Architectural and Historical Survey Report- Downtown Dubuque." Des Moines: History Pays,
2003
. [Fire] Engine House Number 1 /Fifth Ward [Fire] Engine House /18th Street [Fire]
Engine House. Des Moines: History Pays, 2011 [Part 1 Investment Tax Credit Application]
Kriviskey, Bruce. Dubuque, Iowa Architectural Survey 1978/1979, Atlas of City Wide and
District Survey Maps, Dubuque; n.p., ca.1979
Longstreth, Richard W. "Compositional Types in American Commercial Architecture: 1850-
1950." Washington: National Trust for Historic Preservation, 1981
Lyon, Randolph W., Dubuque; The Encyclopedia. Dubuque: First National Bank of Dubuque,
1991
McAlester, Virginia and Lee. A Field Guide to American Houses. New York: Alfred A. Knopf,
Inca. 1984
Wilkie, William E., Dubuque On The Mississippi 1877 -1988. Dubuque: Loras College Press,
1987
Maps and Lithographs:
"City of Dubuque," Davenport; Charles Vogt, 1866
NPS Form 10 -900
(Expires 5/31/2012)
United States Department of the Interior
National Park Service
National Register of Historic Places
Continuation Sheet
Section number 10
Page 53
OMB No. 1024 -001
Upper Central Avenue Commercial Historic District
Dubuque County, Iowa
Reps, John W. Cities of the Mississi. .i. Nineteenth- Centur Imases of Urban Develo.ment.
Columbia, Missouri: University of Missouri Press, 1994
Wellga, H. "Perspective Map of the City of Dubuque, Iowa." n.p.: H. Wellge, 1889
Sanborn Map Company: Dubuque fire insurance maps, 1884, 1891, 1909, 1909/50, 1909/62
Newspapers:
Die Iowa:
November 11, 1875; November
February 22, May 7, June 17, 7, 1 83; July 24, October 16, 1884ril 18, 1878;
Herald:
February 22, September 5, 1867; October 2, 1868; May 14, 12, 16, 1869;
November 24, 1872; June 21, November 11, 1873; April 17, 1878; May 28, 1880;
March 4, i862; January 1, March 3, June 19, December 4, 1883; December 12,
1884; May 9, July 16, September 26, 1886; January 1, November 24, 1887; April
22, December 23, 24, 1888; April 24, 1890; January 23, April 8, August 7, 1891;
December 25, 1892; 1891; June 25, 1895; March 29, April 30, May 9, 24, 1896;
May 7, July 10, 30, November 24, 1897; February 6, April 21, May 10, 25, July 2,
August 27, December 3, 1898; April 4, 1899; February 24, 1900; August 3, 1902;
April 23, 1923
Republican:
July21, 1856
Telegraph:
May 7, 12, 1897; May 7, 1898
Telegraph - Herald:
December 27, 1914; January 2, 1916
Times:
January 1, 1869; January 20, 1886; November 24, 1887; April 26, 1895
Times - Journal:
May 12, 1883
Weekly Express and Herald:
May 12, 1883
NPS Form 10 -900
(Expires 5/31/2012)
United States Department of the Interior
National Park Service
National Register of Historic Places
Continuation Sheet
OMB No. 1024 -001
Section number 10 Page 54 Upper Central Avenue Commercial Historic District
Dubuque County, Iowa
11 Additional Documentation:
Verbal Boundary Description:
The district includes seven entire blocks that flank either side of Central Avenue,
between 15th and 18th streets. Alleyways form the eastern and western district boundaries
along these and the fractional blocks south of 15th Street and the fraction of City Lot 437.
Partial City Lots south of 15th Street (the northernmost two buildings along the west side of
Central Avenue and the northernmost three buildings on the east side of same) are included.
The west side of Central Avenue, beginning at the south end, 17th Street, and continuing
through the parcel occupied by 1961 -65 Central Avenue.
Legal parcels that are included consist of the following:
The entirety of City Lots 436, 440, 441, 442, 451, and 452 are included in the district.
The following partial City Lots are also included:
The north one - fourth of City Lot 443 and Lots 1 -2, Subdivision of City Lot 443a.
The north one -fifth of City Lot 450.
Lots 1 -6 of City Lot 675 (Lot 6 is also known as Kennedy Central Avenue Place)
Lots 2 -11, Subdivision of City Lots 438, 439 and a part of 676.
The south 75 feet of the south two - fifths of City Lot 437.
Boundary Justification:
The area included in the district consists of those parcels that were historically
associated with the commercial development of the district's architectural and historical
development. Given the district's proximity to a bluff front along its northwest boundary, that
elevated land and its associated retaining walls are excluded because the commercial district
history was relegated to the terrace setting located at the base of the bluff.
Map:
Refer to Section 10, Additional Information, imbedded images, initial figures.
Photographs:
Name of Photographer: James E. Jacobsen
Date of Photographs: September 12, 2011
Film: [Ilford ASA 400
Frame Direction Description:
1 Northwest West side of Central Avenue, from south of 15th Street
2 South West side of Central Avenue, from north of 15th Street
3 West West side of Central Avenue, from south of 15th Street
NPS Form 10 -900
(Expires 5/31/2012)
United States Department of the Interior
National Park Service
National Register of Historic Places
Continuation Sheet
Section number 10 Page 55
Frame
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
1 F
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
Direction
South
South
West
South
East
West
South
South
West
West
Southwest
Southeast
North
Southeast
North
Southeast
North
Southeast
North
Southeast
Northwest
Southwest
Northwest
27 South
28
29
30
31
32
33
34
35
Southwest
Northwest
South
South
Northwest
South
North
North
OMB No. 1024 -001
Upper Central Avenue Commercial ei County, i District
Description:
West side of Central Avenue, from center of 1500's
West side of Central Avenue, from north of 16th Street
West side of Central Avenue, from south of 16th Street
West side of Central Avenue, from north of 17th Street
View along 17th Street, across Central Avenue
West side of Central Avenue, from south of 17th Street
West side of Central Avenue, from 18th Street
West side of Central Avenue, from 19th Street
West side of Central Avenue, from 19th Street
West side of Central Avenue, from north of 19th Street
View along 19th Street towards Central Avenue
East side of Central Avenue, from le Street
East side of Central Avenue, from south of 18th Street
Elevated perspective, east side of Central Avenue,
from 18th Street
East side of Central Avenue, from south of 17th Street
East side of Central Avenue, from north of 17th Street
East side of Central Avenue, from 16th Street
East side of Central Avenue, from north of 16th Street
East side of Central Avenue, from south of 15th Street
East side of Central Avenue, from north of 15th Street
Alley view, east side of Central Avenue, from middle
of 1500's block
View along 15th Street across Central Avenue
Alley view, east side of Central Avenue, from 15th
Street
Alley view, east side of Central Avenue, from 16th
Street
View along 16th Street across Central Avenue
Alley view, east side of Central Avenue, from 16th
Street
Alley view, east side of Central Avenue, from 17th
Street
Alley view, east side of Central Avenue, from 18th
Street
Alley view, east side of Central Avenue, from 18th
Street
Alley view, east side of Central Avenue, from 19th
Street
Alley view, west side of Central Avenue, from 17th
Street
Alley view, west side of Central Avenue, from 16th
Street
NPS Form 10 -900
(Expires 5/31/2012)
United States Department of the Interior
National Park Service
National Register of Historic Places
Continuation Sheet
OMB No. 1024 -001
Section number 10 Page 56 Upper Central Avenue Commercial Historic District
Dubuque County, Iowa
Frame Direction Description:
36 Southeast Alley view, west side of Central Avenue, from 17th
Street
37 Southeast Alley view, west side of Central Avenue, from center
of 1600s block
38 North Alley view, west side of Central Avenue, from middle
of 1500s block
39 North Alley view, west side of Central Avenue, from 16th
Street
40 Southeast Alley view, west side of Central Avenue, from 16th
Street
OMB No. 1024 -001
NPS Form 10 -900
(Expires 5/31/2012)
United States Department of the Interior
National Park Service
National Register of Historic Places
Continuation Sheet
Section number Additional Documentation PUpper Central Avenue Commercial Historic District
Dubuque County, Iowa
Property Owners' List:
J & J GROSS LLC
2345 CLARKE CREST DRIVE
DUBUQUE IA 52001
HELICON RESOURCES LLC
800 SPRING ST
GALENA IL 61036
SHARPI PROPERTIES LLC
315 LOW ELL ST
DUBUQUE IA52001
LOCAL BOARD OF TRUSTEES OF
CHURCH OF GOD
1496 CENTRAL AVENUE
DUBUQUE IA 52001
SMITH, KENNETH D
1497 CENTRAL AVENUE
DUBUQUE IA 52001
SCHMITT, STEVEN J & JANA L
1910 KITTY HAWK DRIVE
WATERLOO IA 50701
SCHMITT, STEVEN J &JANA L
1910 KITTY HAWK DRIVE
WATERLOO IA 50701
KOCH, ANTHONY J & ROBIN J
1534 CENTRAL AVENUE
DUBUQUE IA 52001
SCHMITT, STEVEN J & JANA L
1910 KITTY HAWK DRIVE
WATERLOO IA 50701
SCHMITT, STEVEN J & JANA L
1910 KITTY HAWK DRIVE
WATERLOO IA 50701
LAUGESEN, MICHAEL & NANCY
1524 CENTRAL AVENUE
DUBUQUE IA 52001 •
YANKEE 3 LLC
1664 WASHINGTON STREET
DUBUQUE IA 52001
KOCH, ANTHONY & ROBIN
1534 CENTRAL AVENUE
DUBUQUE IA 52001
WALLACE, SIDNEY R & COLLEEN M
1538 1/2 CENTRAL AVENUE
DUBUQUE IA 52001
DUGGAN, PATRICK J
2005 SIMPSON
DUBUQUE IA 52003
1460 CENTRAL AVENUE
1486 CENTRAL AVENUE
1487 CENTRAL AVENUE
1496 CENTRAL AVENUE
1497 CENTRAL AVENUE
1500 CENTRAL AVENUE
1501 CENTRAL AVENUE
1520 CENTRAL AVENUE
1504 CENTRAL AVENUE
1516 CENTRAL AVENUE
1524 CENTRAL AVENUE
1527 CENTRAL AVENUE
1534 CENTRAL AVENUE
1538 CENTRAL AVENUE
1540 CENTRAL AVENUE
NPS Form 10 -900
(Expires 5/31/2012)
United States Department of the Interior
National Park Service
National Register of Historic Places
Continuation Sheet
OMB No. 1024 -001
Section number Additional Documentation Page 58
Upper Central Avenue Commercial Historic District
Dubuque County, Iowa
RUBIO, ELIGIO
961 BLUFF STREET
DUBUQUE IA 52001
1543 CENTRAL AVENUE
SPECHT, TIMOTHY L
8760 KEMP COURT
DUBUQUE IA 52003
1555 CENTRAL AVENUE
DIAMOND PRODUCTS CO
C/O VOGEL CORPORATE SUPPORT CT
1110 ALBANY PL SE PO BOX 380
ORANGE CITY IA 51041
1563 CENTRAL AVENUE
RAMIREZ, PABLO &JULIE M
RAMIREZ -RUBEL
6686 CRYSTAL LAKE CAVENUE ROAD
DUBUQUE IA 52003
1564 CENTRAL AVENUE
YOUNG, DAVID A
1572 CENTRAL AVENUE
DUBUQUE IA 52001
1572 CENTRAL AVENUE
DIAMOND PRODUCT COMPANY
C/O VOGEL CORPORATE SUPPORT CT
1110 ALBANY PL SE PO BOX 380
ORANGE CITY IA 51041
15035 CENTRAL AVENUE
TURNER, GERALD G
9086 CONRAD AVENUE
EAST DUBUQUE IL 61025
1599 CENTRAL AVENUE
ARENSDORF, PAMELA BARRY
1602 CENTRAL AVENUE
DUBUQUE IA 52001
1602 CENTRAL AVENUE
YAGER, JOHN E
2125 BUNKER HILL ROAD
DUBUQUE IA 52001
1603 CENTRAL AVENUE
KAMP, MARY LOU
1618 CENTRAL AVENUE
DUBUQUE IA 52001
1618 CENTRAL AVENUE
TEPLY, DANIEL F JR & RUTH A
C /OTEPLYJR, DANIEL F
6812 NORTH MENOMINEE ROAD
EAST DUBUQUE IL 61025
1626 CENTRAL AVENUE
SHARPI PROPERTIES LLC
315 LOWELL ST
DUBUQUE IA 52001
1627 CENTRAL AVENUE
SHARPI PROPERTIES LLC
315 LOWELL ST
DUBUQUE IA 52001
1633 CENTRAL AVENUE
UNITED BROTHERHOOD OF
CARPENTERS & JOINERS OF AMER
1638 CENTRAL AVENUE
DUBUQUE IA 52001
1638 CENTRAL AVENUE
OMB No. 1024 -001
NPS Form 10 -900
(Expires 5/31/2012)
United States Department of the Interior
National Park Service
National Register of Historic Places
Continuation Sheet
Section number Additional Documentation Page
Central Avenue Commercial Historic District
Dubuque County, Iowa
1643 CENTRAL AVENUE
1671 CENTRAL AVENUE
1672 CENTRAL AVENUE
1690 -96 CENTRAL AVENUE
1701 CENTRAL AVENUEVUE
1706 CENTRAL AVENUE
1715 CENTRAL AVENUE
1735 CENTRAL AVENUE
BEYER, JAMES E. & AVENUENARIUS, HAROLD J.
3940 DOVE ST
DUBUQUE, IA 52001
WELU INC
1685 CENTRAL AVENUE
DUBUQUE IA 52001
NEUSES, RICHARD C & KATHY J
1672 CENTRAL AVENUE
DUBUQUE IA 52001
DOWNS, PAULA & RENEE
2165 ROCKDALE RD
DUBUQUE IA 52003
STEFFEN, CHARLES E
1701 CENTRAL AVENUEVUE
DUBUQUE IA 52001
KLAUER, ROBERT D & LIVIJA
1043 MAIN STREET
DUBUQUE IA 52001
WELD INC
1685 CENTRAL AVENUE
DUBUQUE IA 52001
SEVEN HILLS DEVELOPMENT INC
0/0 GREG FROMMELT
8610 WILDLIFE RIDGE
DUBUQUE IA 52003
RAFOTH, ELEANOR J
0/0 DAVID RAFOTH
11875 RUPP HOLLOW RD
DUBUQUE IA 52001
HIGH, STEPHEN D &MARCIE
1763 CENTRAL AVENUE
DUBUQUE IA 52001
RAFOTH, ELEANOR J UND 1/2 INT
& RAFOTH, DAVID RUSSELL (1/2)
11875 RUPP HOLLOW RD 0/0 DAVID
DUBUQUE IA 52001
HIGH, STEPHEN D & MARCIE
1763 CENTRAL AVENUE
DUBUQUE IA 52001
TRI -STATE PROPERTY MANAGEMENT LLC
18186 WILLIAMSBURG CT
DURANGO IA 52039
ZHENG, ZHENG JI
1707 LEA LANE
DUBUQUE IA 52001
WITTER, DAVID J. & MICHELINE R.
2591 OLD COUNTRY LN
DUBUQUE, IA 52001
1736 CENTRAL AVENUE
1739 CENTRAL AVENUE
1746 CENTRAL AVENUE
1763 CENTRAL AVENUE
1766 CENTRAL AVENUE
1770 CENTRAL AVENUE
1791 CENTRAL AVENUE
NPS Form 10 -900
(Expires 5/31/2012)
United States Department of the Interior
National Park Service
National Register of Historic Places
Continuation Sheet
OMB No. 1024 -001
Section number Additional Documentation Page 60
Upper Central Avenue Commercial Historic District
Dubuque County, Iowa
ZHENG, ZHENG JI
1707 LEA LANE
DUBUQUE IA 52001
1798 CENTRAL AVENUE
CITY OF DUBUQUE, CITY HALL
50 WEST 13TH STREET
DUBUQUE IA 52001
1805 CENTRAL AVENUE
HENKELS & COMPANY INC
0/0 RICHARD HENKEL
13912 WHISTLEWIND LANE
DUBUQUE IA 52002
1812 CENTRAL AVENUE
HIGH PERFORMANCE PROP LLC
8505 SOUTHERN HILLS CT
DUBUQUE, IA 52003
1824 CENTRAL AVENUE
HIGH PERFORMANCE PROP LLC
8505 SOUTHERN HILLS CT
DUBUQUE IA 52003
1828 CENTRAL AVENUE
SIEFKER, DAN A/K/A SIEFKER, DANIEL J
1838 CENTRAL AVENUE
DUBUQUE IA 52001
1838 CENTRAL AVENUE
OBERHOFFER LLC
3237 ARROWWOOD LANE
DUBUQUE IA 52001
1842 CENTRAL AVENUE
K & J ASSETS, LLC 0/0 KURT R HEINE
4825 AMBASSADOR COURT
DUBUQUE IA52002
1850 CENTRAL AVENUE
K & J ASSETS, LLC
0/0 KURT R HEINE
4825 AMBASSADOR COURT
DUBUQUE IA 52002
1858 CENTRAL AVENUE
LT KUTSCH LLC
1865 CENTRAL AVENUE
DUBUQUE IA 52001
1865 CENTRAL AVENUE
LAKEVIEW INVESTMENTS LLC
C/0 DAVID & CYNTHIA OBERHOFFER
3327 ARROWOOD LN
DUBUQUE, IA 52001
1876 CENTRAL AVENUE
CLARK, CAROL C
1614 LINCOLN
DUBUQUE IA52001
1879 CENTRAL AVENUE
KOPPES, HAROLD D & IONA R
0/0 HAROLD KOPPES
3472 CRESTWOOD DRIVE
DUBUQUE IA 52002
1889 CENTRAL AVENUE
OBIE'S KING OF CLUBS COMPANY
LLC C/O DAVENUE OBERHOFFER
3237 ARROWWOOD LANE
DUBUQUE IA 52001
1902 CENTRAL AVENUE
OMB No. 1024 -001
NPS Form 10 -900
(Expires 5/31/2012)
United States Department of the Interior
National Park Service
National Register of Historic Places
Continuation Sheet
Section number Additional Documentation Page Central Avenue Commercial Historic District
Dubuque County, Iowa
KOPPES, HAROLD D & IONA R
C/O HAROLD KOPPES
3472 CRESTWOOD DRIVE
DUBUQUE IA 52002
KEARNEY, RICHARD J (UND1 /2INT)
& MARY (UND 1/2 INT EACH)
1919 CENTRAL AVENUE
DUBUQUE IA 52001
DAMASO, MAXIMO C & CELESTINA M
2620 PEARL STREET
DUBUQUE IA 52001
DAMASO, MAXIMO C & CELESTINE M
2620 PEARL STREET
DUBUQUE IA 52001
EMPRESS ENTERPRISES LLC
199 NEW MONTGOMERY ST #706
SAN FRANCISCO CA 94105
LAUI?EO '4, MICHAEL n & NANCY iii
2453 ROOSEVELT STREET
DUBUQUE IA 52001
RUBIO, ELIGIO
961 BLUFF STREET
DUBUQUE IA 52001
DOWNS, PAUL A & RENEE
2165 ROCKDALE RD
DUBUQUE IA 52003
ZHENG, ZHENG 31
1707 LEA LANE
DUBUQUE IA 52001
MOLO OIL COMPANY
123 SOUTHERN AVENUE
P 0 BOX 1540
DUBUQUE IA 52004
STEFFEN, CHARLES E
1701 CENTRAL AVENUE
DUBUQUE IA 52001
HIGH, STEPHEN D & MARCIE
1763 CENTRAL AVENUE
DUBUQUE IA 52001
UNITED BROTHERHOOD OF
CARPENTERS & JOINERS OF AMER
1638 CENTRAL AVENUE
DUBUQUE IA 52001
UNITED BROTHERHOOD OF
CARPENTERS & JOINERS OF AMER
1638 CENTRAL AVENUE
DUBUQUE IA 52001
1913 CENTRAL AVENUE
1919 CENTRAL AVENUE
1959 CENTRAL AVENUE
1961 CENTRAL AVENUE
28 -30 East 15
40 East 17
East 33 feet of the east 60 feet of
the north one -fifth of City Lot 440
Lot 1 of City Lot 675
LOT A, KENNEDY CENTRAL
AVENUE PLACE
North 17 feet of Lot 4 and the
South 13'11" of the South 15'8"
of Lot 3 of Cit Lot 675
South 23.5 feet of the middle
one -fifth of City Lot 441 (1654
Central AVENUE)
North 27.7 feet of the middle
one -fifth of City Lot 441
NPS Form 10 -900
(Expires 5/31/2012)
United States Department of the Interior
National Park Service
National Register of Historic Places
Continuation Sheet
OMB No. 1024 -001
Section number Additional Documentation Page 62
Upper Central Avenue Commercial Historic District
Dubuque County, Iowa
WELU INC
1685 CENTRAL AVENUE
DUBUQUE IA 52001
NORTH ONE -FIFTH OF CITY
LOT 452
ZHENG, ZHENG JI
1707 LEA LANE
DUBUQUE IA 52001
West 27 feet of the east 50 feet
of the north one -fifth of City Lot
440
OMB No. 1024 -001
NPS Form 10 -900
(Expires 5/31/2012)
United States Department of the Interior
National Park Service
National Register of Historic Places
Continuation Sheet
Section number Additional Documentation PUpper Central Avenue Commercial Historic District
Dubuque County, Iowa
Figure 1: District boundary and building addresses and their locations
Key: The district boundary is indicated using white lines.
NPS Form 10 -900
(Expires 5/31/2012)
United States Department of the Interior
National Park Service
National Register of Historic Places
Continuation Sheet
OMB No. 1024 -001
Section number Additional Documentation Page 64
Upper Central Avenue Commercial Historic District
Dubuque County, Iowa
Figure 2: District Contributing /Non- contributing buildings map
Key: Non - contributing buildings are identified by a white rectangle. Those buildings having
light- colored roofs have been grayed so as to not appear to be non - contributing. White arrows
also locate the non - contributing buildings.
OMB No. 1024-001
NPS Form 10 -900
(Expires 5/31/2012)
United States Department of the Interior
National Park Service
National Register of Historic Places
Continuation Sheet
Section number Additional Documentation Page 65
Upper Central Avenue Commercial Historic District
Dubuque County, Iowa
Figure 3: Photo vantage map, north half of district (Jacobsen, 2012)
NPS Form 10 -900
(Expires 5/31/2012)
United States Department of the Interior
National Park Service
National Register of Historic Places
Continuation Sheet
OMB No. 1024 -001
Section number Additional Documentation Page 66
Upper Central Avenue Commercial Historic District
Dubuque County, Iowa
Figure 4: Photo vantage map, south half of district (Jacobsen, 2012)
OMB No. 1024 -001
NPS Form 10 -900
(Expires 5/31/2012)
United States Department of the Interior
National Park Service
National Register of Historic Places
Continuation Sheet
Section number Additional Documentation PUpper Central Avenue Commercial Historic District
Dubuque County, Iowa
16-
14-
12
10-
8-
6
4
2
0
b4 Q tk 4 . _9) 0
�� ^
+Q
Figure 5: Building Construction Within The District (Jacobsen, 2011)
Note the redundancy of the eighth subset, which encompasses two decades of time as this
group of buildings have not been made more specific.
17 g,: tr S2 Fe .i =r
Figure 6: Lithographic detail, 1866, looking southeast from Seminary Hill
NPS Form 10 -900
(Expires 5/31/2012)
United States Department of the Interior
National Park Service
National Register of Historic Places
Continuation Sheet
OMB No. 1024 -001
Section number Additional Documentation Page 68
Upper Central Avenue Commercial Historic District
Dubuque County, Iowa
,..:.1. '1; V r;;i,'`n Sr y 3rn ( rt"" q q ws
Figure 7: Samuel Root view toward St. Mary Church from Seminary Hill, view southeast,
ca.1870
Note that the same buildings appear in the foreground as are found in the 1866 lithograph
(Dubuque County Historical Society)
Figure 8: View southeast from Seminary Hill, ca.1880
(State Historical Society of Iowa, Iowa City, Photographs, Dubuque)
OMB No. 1024 -001
NPS Form 10 -900
(Expires 5/31/2012)
United States Department of the Interior
National Park Service
National Register of Historic Places
Continuation Sheet
Section number Additional Documentation PUpper Central Avenue Commercial Historic District
Dubuque County, Iowa
s4 ,z:
Figure 9: Detail, 1872 lithographic overview of Dubuque, view northwest (Reps, p 267)
Figure 10: October 1887 taken by W H. Morhiser, looking south from Seminary Hill
(Center For Dubuque History)
This excellent overview documents the appearance of many substantial commercial
blocks along Central (still Clay) as of 1887. The frame German Congregational Church is in the
foreground and the row of houses immediately south of it stood atop the bluff, east of Heeb
Street (to the right). The City Hall steeple is visible at the distant upper right hand corner.
NPS Form 10 -900
(Expires 5/31/2012)
United States Department of the Interior
National Park Service
National Register of Historic Places
Continuation Sheet
OMB No. 1024 -001
Section number Additional Documentation Page 70
Upper Central Avenue Commercial Historic District
Dubuque County, Iowa
Figure 11: Perspective Map of the City of Dubuque, Iowa, 1889, Lithograph
The lithograph detail, shown above, nicely details the district's buildings as they
appeared in 1889. Key labeled buildings, from north to south, are #40, the German Bank &
Trust Building, "AB" German Presbyterian College, "5", the German Presbyterian Church, #50,
Simone's Department Store. St. Mary Church is in the center of the image.
Figure 12: Central Avenue, view northwest from 13 Street, ca. 1905
(Center For Dubuque History, Dubuque Telegraph- Herald photograph, #964)
OMB No. 1024 -001
NPS Form 10 -900
(Expires 5/31/2012)
United States Department of the Interior
National Park Service
National Register of Historic Places
Continuation Sheet
Section number Additional Documentation Page 71
Upper Central Avenue Commercial Dubuque County, Distrriict
:- sr: it'v'.- L:• *'::yti:�a`��2y�."'ci� %X:�scr..- [.:rid' >::i: ^i': hi:".�`'d: fr.,�i >n.i�:_:�r :..0 �..._aY- ............. .. -.
Figure 13: Central, viewed south from le Street, ca.1911 (Greater Dubuque, 1911, p. 11)
Figure ifor Dubuque History, Loa College, PhotograPh Hoffman #1054) use
Center
NPS Form 10-900
(Expires 5/31/2012)
United States Department of the Interior
National Park Service
National Register of Historic Places
Continuation Sheet
OMB No. 1024-001
Section number Additional Documentation Page 72
Upper Central Avenue Commercial Historic District
Dubuque County, Iowa
•,Lr2;-
- • it'
. '1;1 • -4
.110■ri
Figure 15: 1895 Central Avenue, ca. 1895 (Wilkie, p. 297)
i.nofroiliiiin prim.
?icy
.) ,
Figure 16: Remodeled fagade and exterior, 1497 Central Avenue, ca. 1910
(Center For Dubuque History, Photographs, Hoffman, Photo #1056)
OMB No. 1024 -001
NPS Form 10 -900
(Expires 5/31/2012)
United States Department of the Interior
National Park Service
National Register of Historic Places
Continuation Sheet
Section number Additional Documentation PUpper Central Avenue Commercial Historic District
Dubuque County, Iowa
Dubuque
Courtly
Courthouse
Dubuque
City Hall
St. Mary's
RC Church
Figure 17: Figure #18 with locational overlays labeled
::.•44,1,41
Figure 18: Overview from
(Centerr Central 1915, view
For Dubuque History, Hoffman Photo #1227)
southeast
NPS Form 10 -900
(Expires 5/31/2012)
United States Department of the Interior
National Park Service
National Register of Historic Places
Continuation Sheet
OMB No. 1024 -001
Section number Additional Documentation Page 74
Upper Central Avenue Commercial Historic District
Dubuque County, Iowa
Dubuque National Register Districts
And Upper Central Ave. District
Key
Historic Districts
1 Cathedral
2 Jackson Park
3 Langworthy
4 Old Main
5 West 11th Stree
6 Millworking HD
7 Upper Central
Avenue HD
8 Upper
Main
Figure 19: Currently NRHP- listed historic districts in Dubuque
(City of Dubuque basemap, 2012, www.cityofdubuque.org) annotated)
OMB No. 1024 -001
NPS Form 10 -900
(Expires 5/31/2012)
United States Department of the Interior
National Park Service
National Register of Historic Places
Continuation Sheet
Section number Additional Documentation Page Central Avenue Commercial Historic District
Dubuque County, Iowa
Figure 20: Detail of 1928 Dubuque streetcar map
Doubled car tracks coincide with the most substantial commercial nodes. The subject
district and Upper Main Commercial Historic District are overlaid on this transportation map.
The double tracking on Main Street continued south across the Old Main Historic District. Note
east/west the connections loop that was
formed on 13th and 15h streets. The
commercial corridor leaped eastward by two blocks at point.
:Thy—House-
,on the
Rock .,•0
Alkacllon•
Inp•nHOn• m
-27"FroreMoIW C0u.c''
1=D0DGEVILLE KI'' -
r
i
1
4„fron,d24 VPt
,
' t
i 1114
r4 r
I
SETTLEMENT SPOTLIGHT:
Dubuque, Iowa - Historic Preservation and Heritage Tourism
By Joseph Rapp, Dubuque, Iowa, LACS Member
Bird's Eye View of Dubuque, Iowa
the population. The history of Main Street in
Dubuque was that of a largely commercial
streetwith shops and companies built and
owned primarily, but certainly not exclusively,
by the Anglo - Celtic folks.
The Luxembourg- German - Alpine
settlers built several churches and schools
in Dubuque's Downtown and North End.
A number of these men designed and built
Dubuque's landmarks that included churches,
factories, breweries, and municipal buildings.
The primary commercial streets established
by this population were Couler Avenue and
Clay Street (now the north and south
stretches of Central Avenue, respectively).
More small commercial clusters dotted
many neighborhoods. So far, the bulk of the
areas historically settled, established, or
built by the Luxembourg - German - Alpine
folks have not been included, generally
speaking, in the Historic Preservation
Districts. Some other small segments. are,
however, part of the Conservation Districts
of Brewery, Broadway Street, Downtown,
and Washington Street.
A 1939 Dubuque newspaper article
asked readers "Remember way back when,
the lower end of Clay Street, now Central
Avenue, was dotted with old -time boarding
houses and stables operated by natives of
various provinces of Germany and was
known as Luxembourgh [sic] Avenue'?" No
one alive today remembers, but 19th century
records confirm their existence. Their close
The City of Dubuque, a long -time home to
Luxembourg immigrants and their descendants,
has five Historic Preservation Districts. These
are Cathedral, Jackson Park, Langworthy,
Old Main, and West Eleventh. Dubuque
has nine Conservation Districts, which are
Brewery, Broadway Street, Downtown,
Fenelon Place, Fourth Street, Jackson Park,
Third Street, Washington Street, and West
Eleventh. Maps of these districts are on the
City of Dubuque website under Planning
Services (www,cityofdubuque.org /index.
asax ?nid =331). A variety of architectural
styles are found in these districts, including
several well -known landmarks.
The investment by current property owners
(both private and municipal) to restore and
protect many of the buildings exceeds several
million dollars. Visitors and residents appreci-
ate the renewed care for Dubuque's historic
buildings following a period of decay and
destruction.
The areas in the Historic Preservation
Districts, in particular, ( "downtown" and "up on
the hill" in the language of longtime residents)
have a settlement or establishment history by
people whose ancestral origins were largely
from England, Ireland, Scotland, and Wales.
Or, in short, Anglo - Celtic folks. Within these
groups there were further distinctions based on
income levels and religious affiliations. These
patterns were evidentthroughoutthe 19th and
20th centuries, but in 2009 the neighborhoods
within these districts have more variety among
location to the Ice Harbor and train depots
meant new settlers arriving by steamboat or
train could have stayed in these boarding
houses briefly, as well as farmers who made
those boarding houses their headquarters
when they came to town.
A 1916 newspaper advertisement
included a list of merchants and their shops
on Clay Street. Nearly all were Luxembourg -
German- Alpine names. This is of special
interest because it was on the eve of
America's entrance into World War I when
the ensuing anti - German hysteria that swept
the nation became an attack on German -
Americans, including Luxembourgers.
The lower end of Couler Avenue and
the upper part of Clay Street (now Central
Avenue from 22nd Street to 14th Street)
still includes commercial buildings with
names at the tops of the storefronts of the
Luxembourg men who built them. Among
these are the names of Mersch (1961 -1965
Central Avenue), Palen (1600 Central
Avenue), and Klein (2222 Central Avenue).
Preliminary research suggests that these
men were officers of a Luxembourg society
in Dubuque in 1883. A resident of this
neighborhood and the publisher of the
Luxemhurger Gazette, Nicholas Gonner,
was an officer in the same society in 1883.
A regular stream of visitors from the
Grand Duchy of Luxembourg reaches
Dubuque and other locations in the upper
Midwest to visit distant relatives and the
sites that were historically tied to settlers
from Luxembourg. In the City of Dubuque
these sites include, among several areas,
Central Avenue and the nearby streets
that are currently outside of the Historic
Preservation Districts. These areas were
the core of the Luxembourg- German - Alpine
commercial district.
The opportunity to preserve and protect
more of the remaining buildings in Dubuque's
Downtown and North End is at our doorstep.
This opportunity includes doing so with sen-
sitivity to the original cultural practices and
architectural vision of those Luxembourg -
German- Alpine settlers who came before us.
The greater challenge is to combine historic
preservation and heritage tourism
THE LUXEMBOURG AMERICAN CULTURAL SOCIETY GAZETTE • WINTER 2010
Page 1 of 2
aura Carstens - Re: Upper Central Avenue Com. Hist. District
'um: bob breitfelder <bbreitfelder @yahoo.com>
r Laura Carstens <Learsten @cityofdubuque.org>
ate: 5/14/2012 3:47 PM
[Wert: Re: Upper Central Avenue Com. Hist. District
C: "Djohnson @eityofdubuque.org" <Djohnson @cityofdubuque.org>
Tura and David,
lave just finished looking at the nomination for the Central Avenue District. It is a wonderful project. I have
ie suggestion to make. I would like to see the references to Germany to include also references to
'stria, Switzerland, Luxembourg and Liechtenstein. I represent the Luxembourg Society of Iowa as well as
parish of St. Donatus.which is in a Luxembourg village south of Dubuque. We know that the largest
incentration of Luxembourgers in Iowa in the 1850's and 1850's resided in Dubuque and therefore also
id businesses in Dubuque. We have been working hard to build the Luxembourg connection to Dubuque
er the last 25 plus years. It took us a long time to get the Iowa maps to read Historic Luxembourg village
her than the French village name given on the maps for many years. I feel it is important to indicate the
tionalities themselves rather than just lumping them together as German. Many people say they are from
armany but in talking with them they will say that their ancestors actually came from Luxembourg.
gave done a study of the picture "Early Settlers of Dubuque in 1865" and at least one -third of the names
a Luxembourg names.
lank you for considering this request. The grant looks wonderful.
ias hoping to attend the meeting this Thursday but have recently had our regular Luxembourg Society of
rua meeting changed from this Tuesday to this Thursday because of the death of one of our Luxembourg
Tilly members.
ary .Pat Breitfelder
Tim: Laura Carstens <Lcarsten @cityofdubuque.org>
: bob breitfelder <bbreitfelder @yahoo.com>
: David Johnson <Djohnson @cityofdubuque.org>
at: Monday, May 14, 2012 1:15 PM
bject: Re: Upper Central Avenue Com. Hist. District
try Pat,
1, here is the nomination. Any questions, please feel free to contact Assistant Planner David Johnson, who is copied
this email. Thanks.
ura
a a Carstens
nning Services Manager
y Hall - 50 W. 13th Street
buque IA 52001
ane: 563-589-4210
is 563 -589 -4221
> bob breitfelder <bbreitfelder@vahoo.com> 5/14/2012 8:55 AM »>
Fausto Gardini
9831 Del Webb Parkway, Suite 3306
Jacksonville, Florida 32256
May 16, 2012
Ms. Laura Carstens
Planning Services Manager, City of Dubuque
Mr. David Johnson
Assistant City Planner, City of Dubuque
Ms. Melinda Rettenberger
Office Administrator Planning Department, City of Dubuque
Dear City of Dubuque Managers:
Please allow me to introduce myself. My name is Fausto Gardini, and as my name does
not betray, I ani from the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg, now living in Florida. I was
actually born in Italy... but that's a long story.
I send this letter to you to express my concerns about obvious missed opportunities to
enhance the attractiveness of the City of Dubuque for visiting tourists from the Grand
Duchy of Luxembourg and / or descendants of immigrants whose American heritage is
rooted in Dubuque and surrounding areas
As a board meinber teug
Luxembourg American Belgium,
Wisconsin, I regularly guide groU P sfromLuxembourg through the Midwest. The tours
unailingly include a
stop in Dubuque, Iowa. Unfortunately, there are minimal preserved
and highlighted landmarks of the influence of the many settlers from Luxembourg to
Dubuque. So while staying overnight in Dubuque, the tours dash off to near -by St.
Catherine and St. Donatus settlements where tangible memories of the Luxembourgers
are still to be found.
In 2011, I traveled with a party of 80 tourists from Luxembourg to the Midwest. The
group spent two nights at Dubuque's Hilton Garden Inn Hotel, toured St. Donatus,
Bellevue, Luxemburg and surrounding area and enjoyed a River Cruise on the
Mississippi. Groups from the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg that I chaperoned in 2005,
2008 and 2009 followed similar itineraries; while staying overnight in Dubuque, most of
their time (and money) was not spent in Dubuque.
How much additional financial benefit could the City of Dubuque garner if there would
be some Luxembourg themed landmarks to attract visitors to linger a while in Dubuque is
only a guess.
Ms. Laura Carstens
Mr. David Johnson
Ms. Melinda Rettenberger
May 16, 2012
• Page 2
I understand that the Historic Preservation Commission of the City of Dubuque will meet
this month to conduct a public hearing on the National Register of Historic Places
Nomination creating an Upper Central Avenue Commercial Historic District. It is my
understanding that the nomination lumps Austrians, Swiss, Luxembourgers,
Liechtensteiners and Germans together as "Germans ".
That designation will undoubtedly offend many Luxembourgers, whose little nation was
invaded twice in the last century, in 1914 and 1940, and liberated by US forces in 1918
and 1944. The American Cemetery near the city of Luxembourg is the last resting place
of 5,076 brave Americans, including their commander George S. Patton, Jr. They rest on
Luxembourg not German soil. While Germany and Luxembourg are founding members
of the European Union and have since the end of World War II strived in unison with the
United States of America towards a peaceful Europe, one cannot erase the past nor re-
write history. Luxembourgers, albeit from a small nation, are proud to proclaim "Mir
welle bleiwe wat mir sin!" (We want to remain what we are!), i.e Luxembourgers not
Germans.
I attach hereto some information about notable (and some less notable Luxembourgers,
but no less spirited American patriots) who have left their imprint on the City of
Dubuque.
I wish you well and I am looking forward to visiting Dubuque again at the end of this
month for a book signing at the River Lights Bookstore on May 31.
Sincerely,
cc: Mr. Joseph Rapp
Ms. Laura Carstens
Mr. David Johnson
Ms. Melinda Rettenberger
May 16, 2012
Page 3
ATTACHMENT.
1. A few prominent Luxembourgers & descendants in Dubuque, Iowa:
• Theodore Altman (born 1833) - Owner of Harmony Hall corner of Clay &
Seventh Street)
• William Beck (born 1835). Beck Brothers. Distributors of wines & liquors corner
Tenth & Jackson Streets.
• Nicholas Beck (born 1833). Beck Brothers.
• Nicholas Gonner (1835 -1892) — (Editor Luxetnbur¢er Gazette, Poet, Publisher
Writer)
• John Graas (1917 -1962) — Musician. Pianist.
• Vincent Graas (1913 -2001) — Musician. Engineer.
• Nicholas Hansen (1834-1889) ife was Annie Welter a n t ve of Luxembow Balers
& steamboat suppliers. His w
daughter of Julien Welter, who died in Dubuque in 1872.
• Nicholas Kaufmann (1836 -1908) — Businessman. Builder.
• John W Kintzinger (1870 - 1946). Judge. City Counselor, City Attorney. Iowa
Chief Justice. Son of Luxembourg -born John Kintzinger (1835- 1914).
• Mathias M. Hoffmann Rt. Rev. (1889- 1961). Son of Mathias and Mary Hoffmann
of Luxembourg ancestry.
• Nicholas P. Nicks (born in 1858) — Contractor & builder. City of Dubuque
Alderman. Son of Luxembourg -born Peter Nicks and Catherine Kiefer.
• Peter Olinger (1854 -1904) - Mayor of Dubuque 1894.
• John Sauser Jr. (born 1837) — Leading farmer. Son of Luxembourg -born John
Sauser and Margaret Kurt.
• Frank Schroeder (born 1849) — County Treasurer. Also of Schroeder & Kleine
Grocer Company.
• Nicholas J. Schrup Sr. - (1853 -1924) — Banker. Descendants still promiiinr ry a
local banking nited American Bank ). See also Nicholas J Schrup
Clarke University.
• Nicholas Thimmesch (1927 -1985) — Syndicated columnist. Father of Martha
Marie Thimmesch (1961- 2007), actress.
Ms. Laura Carstens
Mr. David Johnson
Ms. Melinda Rettenberger
May 16, 2012
Page 4
• Arthur Trausch (1895 -1980) - Trausch Baking Company
Explore the Encyclopedia Dubuque online for many references to Luxembourg and
Luxembourgers.
2. A few names of Luxembourgers in Dubuque, from a ledger of the Luxemburger
Brotherhood of America (LBA) — Benevolent Society, Section 20. Dated:
Dubuque, Iowa, October 1, 1924:
John Beckius, Leonard Becicius, Nickolas Hein, Frank Schon, Mathias Hoffmann,
Nickolas Penning, Nickolas Gindorf, Peter Olinger, John Peter Mueller, Joseph
Thill, Nickolas Tritz, Edward Erie, Nicholas Loes, Matthew Berwick, John P.
Mathias, Hubert J. Woller, William Mentz, John Ries & John P. Francois.
3. Excerpt from Luxemburger in Amerika by Roger Krieps published (in German) in
1962. (Translation of excerpts containing names of Luxembourgers in and /around
Dubuque):
If nevertheless typical luxembourgish customs to this day thrive livelier in
today's Dubuque than in Wisconsin then the reason is the uninterrupted continuing
stream of emigration from Luxembourg to Dubuque. Indeed Luxembourg -born
people are by far more numerous in and around Dubuque than in the Luxembourger
island in Wisconsin. Just to mention a few examples Joseph Kremer carne in 1907
from Nospelt, Victor Walch, brother of Mrs. Jean Peffer from Bourglinster, settled
in Dubuque forty -two years ago, the die fitter Jemp Stoffel and his wife Mrs.
Stoffel - Philippe, hailing from Hesperange, emigrated in 1949; the sixty -one year old
Tony Hoffmann came around the same time while his brother -in -law Arthur
Trausch emigrated already in 1914 and his uncle John in 1905. The Trausch family
exemplifies best the continuity of the emigration from Luxembourg to Dubuque,
which was not interrupted by two world wars and continues to this day, making
Dubuque one of the four or five still vigorous gathering points for Luxembourgers in
America.
Actually there is no Luxembourger organization in Dubuque. Hence the cohesion of
our compatriots is only very loose. But in some respect, Dubuque has achieved to
organize each year a large encounter of Luxembourgers in the Midwest. That
opportunity is the annual procession to the statue of the Trdsterin der Betriibten - Our
Lady of Consolation, held at the same time as the closing Octave Procession in our
capital.
The Octave Procession of his parish is considered as one of the most
remarkable events in Dubuque and attracts each year the attention of the entire press
of the city, the County of Dubuque and the State of Iowa. The preparations for the
Ms. Laura Carstens
Mr. David Johnson
Ms. Melinda Rettenberger
May 16, 2012
Page 5
celebration begin already before lent. Laypersons of the parish, in particular Mr. and
Mrs. Arthur Trausch, the Tony Hoffmann family, Miss. Martha Muenster, Mr.
Vincent J. Wallech (Watch), Miss. Elsie Thill and Mrs. Charles Cushing are at
Father Kriebs' side. The Mother of God statue of Dubuque was purchased in the
year 1892 by the then still existing Section 20 of the Luxemburger Brotherhood of
America, whose main supporters were editor Nicholas Gonner and banker Nicholas
Gindorf.
Page 1 of 3
David Johnson e RE: Jacobson
From: Terry Mozena <TMozena @premierbanking.com>
To: David Johnson <djohnson @cityofdubuque.org>
Date: 05/08/2012 6:01 PM
Subject: RE: Jacobson
CC: David Klavitter <lclavitter @gmail.coin>
Sounds good....When you get back to the office, please send me the nomination information and other material
pertaining to the new district...It seems weird, but I like to read that information.
I would also like this to serve as a letter of support to the HPC for making the Upper Central Avenue Commercial
Historic District the newest historic district in our community. This area represents a vast amount of historically
significant buildings that have played a huge role in our city's past, as xvell will have an important role in our
conununities future.
Thanks Dave
Terry L. Mozena
Commercial Loan Officer
Premier Bank
The reason is you
563/588.1000
563/690.0070 Fax
www.prernierbanking.com
Downtown
Premier Bank
140 W. Ninth Street
Dubuque, IA 52001
Q Premier Bank asks you to please consider the environment before printing this email:
From: David Johnson [ mailto :djohnson ®cityofdubuque.org]
Sent: Tuesday, May 08, 2012 4:59 PM
To: Terry Mozena
Subject: Re: Jacobson
Terry, I am out of the office until Friday and do not have access to the nomination. The public meeting is
scheduled next Thursday. Notification recently went out, but to date I have not heard any negative feedback.
Actually, over the last few years a couple property owners (can't remember who exactly) have contacted me
about listing because they are interested in Tax Credits and rehab projects. We'II see what the public meeting
. brings.