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Security Bldg. Nat'l Reg. Nomination - T. HE CITY OF { /. '.. D-----~-~--..-. ._ UBUOtJF -- ' . ""- .- Planning Services Department City Hall 50 West 13th Street Dubuque, Iowa 52001-4864 (563) 589-4210 office (563) 589-4221 fax (563) 690-6678 TOD plarming@cityofdubuque.org ~<IN.-~ May 23, 2006 The Honorable Mayor and City Council Members City of Dubuque City Hall-50 W. 13th Street Dubuque, IA 52001 RE: National Register Nomination -- Security Building, 800 Main St. 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. There were no other public comments. Discussion John Gronen, representing the applicant, Cottingham & Butler, Inc., presented the nomination, and spoke in favor the request. Staff Member Carstens reviewed the criteria for significance. She noted that the nomination indicates that the property is significant under criteria A and C. The Historic Preservation Commission discussed the nomination. Commissioners noted that the property warrants placement on the National Register of Historic Places. Recommendation By a vote of 5 to 0, the Historic Preservation Commission recommends the nomination of the Security Building, 800 Main St. to the National Register of Historic Places based on Criterion A and Criterion C. A simple majority vote is needed for the City Council to concur with the request, and to forward the nomination to the State Nominations Review Committee. Respectfully submitted, ~\d ~\t/f;;c David Stuart, Chairperson Historic Preservation Commission Attachments F:/USERSIlCARSTENlllVPICOUNCIUNRHPfSecurity Building NRHP Council Letter.doc Service People Integrity Responsibility Innovation Teamwork ~ CITY OF DUBUQUE, IOWA MEMORANDUM May 9, 2006 TO: Historic Preservation Commission RE: David Johnson, Assistant Planne~ National Register Nomination for the Security Building 800 Main Street FROM: The State Nominations Review Committee plans to consider the Security Building, 800 Main Street located in the Old Main Historic Preservation District National Register of Historic Places during their June 9,2006 meeting. As a participant of the Certified Local Government Program, the City of Dubuque is required to review and comment on the proposed National Register nominations of properties within its jurisdiction. The State has provided copies of the nomination, photographs, and review form for this nomination. The Commission should review this nomination at a public meeting, which is slated for May 18, 2006. The State is requesting the Commission review the nomination, and then comment on whether the Security Building meets the significance criteria (A, B, C or D) for listing 0 the National Register of Historic Places. The nomination indicates that the property is 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 Security Building should be listed or not. /km F:\USERS\Ojohnson\HPC\Security Building National Register Nomination\Security Building Nomination Memo to HPC.doc STATE HISTORICAL ISOCIETY of OWA A Division of the iowa Department of Cultural Affairs April 6, 2006 1o)~~~UW~~ lnl APR 1 0 2006 l0 Wally Wernimont Dubuque HPC Planning Srices Department City of Dubuque City Hall 50 W. 13th Street Dubuque,IA 52001 CllY OF DUBUQUE PLANNING SERVICES DEPARTMENT RE: The Security Building, 800 Main Street, Dubuque, Dubuque County Dear Wally: The State Nominations Review Committee (SNRC) plans to consider the property referenced above for nomination to the National Register of Historic Places during their June 9, 2006 meeting. As a participant in the Certified Local Government Program, Dubuque HPC is required to review and comment on proposed National Register nominations of properties within its jurisdiction. The State is required to provide you with a 60-day period for the review, unless we mutually agree to expedite the process. I am contacting you to ask that you initiate the review process for the Historic Preservation Commission. Enclosed are copies of the nomination, photographs, and the review form. The review process will require the following: + The Historic Preservation Commission should the review during one of their meetings. Send a formal invitation to the Mayor with a copy of the nomination. Send a formal invitation to the property owner/owners. If they are not familiar with the National Register, be sure to include an explanation. Make sure that a copy of the nomination is available for public review before the meeting. For example, leave a review copy at the courthouse or public library. Indicate in your meeting announcement that a review copy of the nomination is available and where the review copy can be found. + The question to answer when reviewing the nomination is whether the nominated property meets the National Register of Historic Places significance criteria. If the Commission feels that the nomination makes the case for meeting significance criteria, the Commission should check the box recommending that the property be listed. If the Commission feels that the property does not meet the significance criteria, then check the box recommending that the property not be listed. The Mayor should use the same approach when reviewing the nomination. + You might want to invite the individual who prepared the nomination to attend the public meeting and present the nomination. Keep a record of the meeting (copy of notice, agenda, minutes, list of attendees). At the conclusion of the meeting, the Commission should make a motion regarding their recommendation. The Chairman of the Commission will complete Item # I, the Commission's 600 EAST LOCUST STREET, DES MOINES, IA 50319-0290 P: (515) 281-511] portion ofthe review form. Be sure to fill in the date of the public meeting, sign the signature line and record any comments that were made. If the Mayor attended the public meeting, inquire if he/she is prepared to complete Item #2 on the review form. . In the event that the Mayor was unable to attend the meeting. The Commission Chairman should forward the Review form to the Mayor for review and comment. Have the Mayor sign the form and return them to the Historic Preservation Commission. . Item #3 on the Review form asks for the review and comment of a preservation professional. If your commission does not have a professionally qualified historian or architectural historian who can complete this part ofthe form, you may leave Item #3 blank and I will arrange to have a State staff member complete that part of the form. . After you have completed Items #1 through #2 (through #3 if a preservation professional is available), please make a copy of the completed review forms for your file and send the original copies of the completed forms to me. . The Commission should keep the nomination and photographs. File them together in your inventory, as you will need the information for future reference. If a State preservation professional was needed to complete Item #3 on the review form, I will return a copy to the commission for filing. If the Historic Preservation Commission and the Mayor disagree with one another on the property's National Register eligibility, both views will be presented to SNRC for their consideration during review ofthe nomination. If both the Historic Preservation Commission (by Commission majority) and the Mayor do not consider the property eligible for National Register listing, we must halt the nomination. Be advised that when a nomination is halted, the property owner, the person who prepared the nomination or any interested party may appeal the decision. In addition, the nomination will still go forward to the National Park Service for an official "Determination of Eligibility." Please contact Kerry McGrath, CLG Coordinator at 515/281-6826 with any questions or concerns regarding the CLG program or the process for this review. Sincerely, ~JutbYuiv. dU Elizabeth Foster Hill Tax Incentive Programs Manager/ National Register Coordinator CLG NATIONAL REGISTER REVIEW CLG Name DubuQue Date of Public Meeting Property Name The Securi Buildin BOO Main Street 1. For Historic Preservation Commission: plI Recommendation of National Register eligibility o Recommendation of Nationai Register ineligibility Signature ~/~ Date Z~ mA'i 2.00'- Print Name Title Chairperson, Historic Preservation Commission David Stuart Reason(s) for recommendation: The property is significant under Criteria A and C. 2. For Chief Elected Locai Official: o Recommendation of National Register eligibility o Recommendation of National Register ineligibility ~~re ~ Print Name Roy D. Buo 1 Title Mavor. Citv of Ollbll(1'1P.:1 Inw;:! Reason(s) for recommendation: The property is significant under Criteria A and C. 3. Professional Evaluation: o Recommendation of National Register eligibility o Recommendation of National Register ineligibility Date Signature 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 NPS Form 10-S00 (Oct. lSS0) United States Department of the Interior National Park Service OMS No. 10024-0018 National Register of Historic Places Registration Form This form is for use in nominating or requesting detenninations for individual properties and districts. See instructions in How to Complete the National Register of Historic Places Registration Form (National Register Bulletin 16A). Complete each item by marking lOx" in the appropriate box or by entering the information requested. If an item does not apply to the property being documented, enter "N/An for "not applicable." For fundIDns, architectural c1asstfication, materials and areas of significance, enter only categories and subcategories from the instructions. Place additional entries and narrative items on continuation sheets (NPS Form 10-9ooa). Use a typewriter, word processor, or computer, to complete all items. 1. Name of ProDertv historic name The Security BuildinQ other names/site number The Stamofer BuildinQ 2. Location street & number 800 Main Street city or town Dubuque U not for publication U vicinity state Iowa code IA county Dubuque code 061 zip code 52001 3. State/Federal Aaency Certification As the designated authority under the National Historic Preservation Act, as amended, I hereby certify that this [xJ nomination U 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 [xJ meets U does not meet the National Register criteria. I recommend that this property be considered significant U nationally U statewide [xJ locally. (U see continuation sheet for addrtional comments). Signature of certifying officiavrrtle Date State or Federal agency and bureau In my opinion, the property U meets U does not meet the National Register criteria. (U See continuation sheet for addttional comments.) Sisnature of certifying officiavrrtle Date State or Federal agency and bureau 4. National Park Service Certification hereby certify that the property is: Signature of the Keeper U entered in the National Register. U See continuation sheet. U determined eligible for the National Register. U See continuation sheet. U determined not eligible for the National Register. U removed from the National Register. U other, (explain:) Date of Adion Name of Property The Security Buildina County and State Dubuaue, Dubuaue Countv 5. Classification Ownership of Property (Check as many boxes as apply} [2g private U public-local U public-State U public-Federal Category of Property Number of Resources within Property {Check only one box} (Do not include previously listed resources in the count.) [2g building!s) Contributing Noncontributing U district 1 buildings U site U structure sites U object structures objects Total Name of related multiple property listing (Enter "N/A" if property is not part of a multiple property listing.) Number of contributing resources previously listed in the National Register The Arch.&Hist. Resources of Dubuaue Iowa 1837-1955 None 6. Function or Use Historic Functions (Enter categories from instructions) Current Functions (Enter categories from instructions) Commerce/Trade: deDartment store Commerce/Trade: business Commerce/Trade: business buildina 7. Description Architectural Classification (Enter categories from instructions) Materials (Enter categories from instructions) Late 1 g" and 20" Centurv Revivals/Beaux Arts foundation Stone walls Terra Cotta roof other Asohalt Narrative Description (Describe the historic and current condition of the property on one or more continuation sheets.) Name of Property The Security Buildino 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.) [X] A Property is associated with events that have made a significant contribution to the broad patterns of our history. U B Property is associated with the lives of persons significant in our past. [2g 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. U 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: U A owned by a religious institution or used for religious purposes. U B removed from its original location. U C a birthplace or grave. U D a cemetery. U E a reconstructed building, object, or structure. U F a commemorative property. U G less than 50 years of age or achieved significance within the past 50 years. Narrative Statement of Significance (Explain the significance of the property on one or more continuation sheets.) County and State Dubuaue, Dubuaue County Areas of Significance (Enter categories from instructions) Commerce Architecture Period of Significance 1896-1956 Significant Dates 1896 1907 Significant Person (Complete if Criterion B is marked above) N/A Cultural Affiliation Architect/Builder Heer, Fridolin Sr. and Fridolin Jr. Carkeek, Thomas 9. Major Bibliographical References Bibliography (Cite the books, articles, and other sources used in preparing this form on one or more continuation sheets.l Previous documentation on file (NPS): Primary location of additional data: [ ] preliminary determination of individual listing [2g State Historic Preservation Office (36 CFR 67) has been requested U Other State agency U previously listed in the National Register U Federal agency U previously determined eligible by the National [2g Local government Register U University U designated a National Historic Landmark U Other U recorded by Historic American 8uildings Survey Name of repository: # U recorded by Historic American Engineering Record # NPS Form 10-900-a (8-861 United States Department of the Interior National Park Service OMB Approval No. 1024-0018 National Register of Historic Places Continuation Sheet Section number 7 Page 1 The Security Building Dubuque, Dubuque County, Iowa 7. Narrative Description: The Security Building (1896, 1907) is one of two Dubuque terra cotta combination department store/office building examples built in Dubuque and designed in the Beaux Arts style. The four-story building, located on the northeast corner of Eighth and Main streets, is rectangular in plan and features two complete and intact terra cotta facades due to its prominent corner location. Of particular note is the very substantial cornice, also faced in terra cotta, that is cantilevered above and beyond the facades. The Beaux Arts style (dated variously to beginnings in 1870, and lasting as late as 1930) derives its name from the Ecole des Beaux Arts ("Beaux Arts" can be translated to fine arts), an architectural design school that trained a great many post-Civil War American architects. This was a Classical or historically-derived style that emphasized symmetry of massing and plan, combined with grandiose ornamentation. The style is uncommon in Dubuque because it was so much more ostentatious than the more solid and brooding Romanesque style. The overall unity design of the Beaux Arts style was in sharp contrast to the willy-niIly mixing of detail, patterns and material in the Victorian aesthetic. The Beaux Art style was ideal for public buildings and spaces and it coincided with what was termed the American Renaissance of the early l890s. Best exemplified by and popularized as well by the Columbian Exposition in Chicago (1892-93), this style became the architectural standard bearer for the City Beautiful movement in urban design and aesthetics. It offered a popular alternative style for the new emerging tall and massive office building (McAlester, pp. 378-80; Baker, p. 98; and Calloway, pp. 384-86). The Security Building fayade design has a tri-partite composition, consisting of a high base, a three-story column or shaft, and an exaggerated projecting cornice or capital. The present building represents a 1907 doubling of the original massing and rectangular plan. The original building, while four stories high, did not have a completely infilled uppermost floor on either the 1896 or the 1907 sections. The original building had an L-plan configuration with two rooftop bathrooms set across the east end. The 1907 section had a fourth floor only across the west one third of its depth (see Figure 1). This original building featured a rounded southwest corner. In keeping with the style, the fayade featured an elaborate intermixing of pilasters (flat engaged columns with Corinthian capitals), highly decorative spandrels, and projecting combination silllbelt courses. The composition of the fayade incorporates three principal design elements. The first of these is that of quoins and scored wall surfaces. The south sidewall of the ground floor was originally largely uninterrupted and presented a solid faux stone wall that emphasized its horizontal joints. The same wall treatment was continued to the top of the second floor in the end bays and the two inside corner bays. The same quoin treatment is merged into the spring points of the window arches (a four centered arch) in these bay fronts. The bay windows have flattened arch and paired openings. The quoin treatment is finally continued to the cornice on the column/pilasters which extend upwards from these same bays. The second element or theme is the use of boldly projecting sills, above the aforementioned bays on the top of the second floor level, and in all of the third floor window sets, at the siIllevel. These cornices, interrupted only by the pilasters, unite visually to form belt courses, and these horizontal lines serve to frame the third design element. That element is the use of arcades of elliptical arched windows across the center bays of the west and south third story Name of Property The Securitv Buildina County and State Dubuaue, Dubuaue Countv 10. Geographical Data Acreage of Property less than one acre UTM References (Place additional UTM references on a continuation sheet.) 1 l1lQl Iill..WJllQ1Ql ~ Zone Easting Northing 3LU LLLLLLl ~ 2LU LLLLLLl ~ Zone Easting Northing 4LU LLLLLLl ~ U See continuation sheet Verbal Boundary Description (Describe the boundaries of the property on a continuation sheet.) Boundary Justification (Explain why the boundaries were selected on a continuation sheet.) 11. Form Prepared By name/title James E. Jacobsen organization Historv Pays! Historic Preservation Consultina Firm date March 17. 2006 street & number 4411 Inqersoll Avenue telephone 515-274-3625 city or town Des Moines state IA zip code 50312-2415 Additional Documentation Submit the following items with the complete form: Continuation Sheets Maps A USGS map 17.5 or 15 minute series) indicating the property's location. A Sketch map for historic districts and properties having large acreage or numerous resources. Photographs Representative black and white photographs of the property. Additional items (Check with the SHPO or FPO for any additional items) PropertY Owner (Complete this item at the request of SHPO or FPO.) name Cottinqham & Butler. Inc. street & number 300 Securitv Buildinq. P. O. Box 28 telephone (563) 587-5301 city or town Dubuque state Iowa zip code 52004 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,C. 470 et seq.l. Estimated Burden Statement: Public reporting burden for this form is estimated to average 18.1 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 Chief, Administrative Services Division, National Park Service, P.O. Box 37127, Washington, DC 20013-7127; and the Office of Management and Budget, Paperwork Reductions Projects (1024-001 8l, Washington, DC 20503. NPS Form 10.g00-a (8-861 . United States Department of the Interior National Park Service OMB Approval No. 1024-0018 National Register of Historic Places Continuation Sheet Section number 7 Page 2 The Security Building DubuQue, DubuQue County, Iowa fronts. Bulls eye windows are set between and above the junction points of the window arches. The arches themselves consist of three sculpted ribs and continue the full run of each arch. Paired swags elaborate each spandrel beneath these prominent arches. At the top of the second floor, the spandrels are fully ornamented bands but they are recessed with respect to the end bay wall planes and they lack the exaggerated cornice treatment employed on the fourth floor. The cornice is exaggerated vertically and projects boldly from the fayade's wall plane. A belt course at the top of the fourth floor incorporates the Corinthian capitals of the pilasters. A broad blank band above that horizontal line includes only a series of decorative crests. These are aligned with the pilasters and the cornice steps out for a few feet so as to add yet another capital effect atop each pilaster. The cornice steps out progressively from base to top and a complex pattern of corbelled arches ornaments the cornice front along its entire length. The cornice or parapet disguises the use of a flat roof on the building. The building had a full basement and its heating plant was underground in the alleyway to the east. The original ground plan included four west-fronting storefronts. The southernmost store area also had a glassed storefront along Eighth Street, at the alley, and there was another main building entrance on that sidewall. The principal entrance, with an iron and glass canopy, was centered on the Main Street front. The comer storefront also had its own angled double-door comer entrance. A massive skylight was centered above the 1896 part of the building and a light well with galleries provided natural light to the interior of the block(see Figure 18). The 1907 addition had a large elevator well, west of center, within its plan. One notable feature of the roofline is the six-story elevator penthouse located in the northeast comer of the plan. This 1907 addition originally stood three stories above the rest ofthe building. The filling in of the full fourth floor reduced this difference to just two floors. The implication is that the building was built to support several additional floors and that the elevator was built full-height to accommodate an expanded building. The alley or east wall of the building was generously fenestrated, a clear indication of the importance of natural light to the building interior. The lower two floors feature triple-light window sets with ornamental steel surrounds. These and the upper level windows have stone sills and semi-circular brick arches. Iron fire shutter hinges survive on all of the individual window openings (see photos 2, 8). Building Materials: The building foundation is oflimestone construction in keeping with local building tradition. The stone blocks are quite large in scale. On the alley side (east wall) this stonework was carried up to the midpoint of the ground floor and the stone has an ashlar treatment (see photo 8). Exterior sub-walls and interior load-bearing walls utilized a soft-fired red common brick, laid in American Bond fashion. The entire fayade above the ground floor transom level is veneered with a cream colored terra cotta. This is also true of the cornice or parapet. A dark brown hard- fired brick was used for the exposed fourth floor back NPS Form 10.900-a (8.86) United States Department of the Interior National Park Service OMB ApP'oval No, 1024-0018 National Register of Historic Places Continuation Sheet Section number 7 Page 3 The Security Building Dubuque, Dubuque County, Iowa walls of the original ell. With the infilling of the entire floor to four stories, most of this wall is now hidden from view beneath the new roof. The same brick was used on the alley (east) and north party exterior walls. The entire storefront has been covered with a cast stone veneer. All of the fayade windows have been replaced but the replacement windows match the original light patterns in form and scale (see photo 8). A metal flagpole has been replaced above the southwest corner. The building interior materials consist of a steel structural skeleton and a very few brick walls, several of which have been left exposed. Wood and steel beams support a wood flooring and roof system. No original surfaces are left exposed today apart from one interior (south) elevator wall. At that point the original window and baseboard trim work survive. The plain butt-jointed window surrounds are elaborated with bulls eye corner blocks at the upper corners and at the mid-point of the window frames. The baseboard is a ten-inch board with an angled upper edge and a sawn bead cut just below that edge. The roof has an EPDM (Ethylene Propylene Diene Monomer) exterior covering. Building Alterations Since Construction: The original building measured 80 in width by 114 in depth and was rectangular in plan. While the whole stood three stories high, an "L" along the west and south sides of the plan had a fourth floor. There was a large centered skylight on the third floor roof ofthe north half of the plan and this provided natural light into a three-story light well or gallery (see figure 18, 1909 Sanborn Map). There was a solid east/west running masonry wall on the floors above the ground level, than was in line with the north side wall of the additional floor above. This wall remains intact on the second through the fourth floor levels. There were two large storefront areas on either side ofthe corner drug store area. The department store occupied an L-shaped open ground plan and the floors through the fourth floor. There were 26 two or three-room suites located on the east end of the second through the fourth floors and these were reached via the 8th Street entrance. The heating plant occupied the south end of an elongated chamber set beneath the east alleyway. A 65- foot high tall circular chimney was centered at the east end of the building. The top of this brick chimney is visible in the 1897 view that looks northwest from a point east of the Grand Opera House. The basement was unfinished at the time of the opening but was designed to be fully usable for commercial purposes. The Sanborn Map documents an open ground floor plan with a row of round iron posts running along the center line of the southern half of the plan. A row of iron posts also ran along the mid-point of the plan and supported brick walls on the three floors above (the wall on the fourth floor level formed an exterior wall between the three and four-story roof levels. A similar north/south running brick wall (that floor only) formed the exterior wall between the same roof levels on the west front of the plan. Another row of iron posts ran along the centerline of the north half of the plan (for a total of three rows of posts). There were two rooftop structures present by 1950 (see figure 23). A square rooftop building was located on the northeast rear corner of the south half of the plan, while a fourth-story water closet served the offices, and was in the southeast corner of the north half of the plan. Floor heights were given as 12, 16,20 and 24 feet, the last being measured to the top of the cornice. The Sanborn appears to show a solid masonry north party wall on the original building as would be expected. By 1909 there were two elevators centered on the southern half of the building, one close to the fayade, the other just north ofthe brick interior wall (see figure 18). NPS Form 10-900-a (8-86) . United States Department of the Interior National Park Service National Register of Historic Places Continuation Sheet 7 Section number Page The Security Building OMB Approval No. 1024-0018 4 DubuQue, DubuQue County, Iowa The building was doubled in size to the north in 1907, as was originally intended and a "twin sister" matching in materials and style was constructed. As a part of the doubling, a new 8th Street entry with a separate office elevator was built and the main entrance was shifted to that point. It took the city directories a few years to catch on but all of the office listings were given 8th Street numberings. The 1909 Sanborn Map (figure 18) depicts two equal sized Main Street storefronts with a large elevator centered on the east wall of the fourth floor front extension and on the dividing line between the two stores. The southern store had an east end balcony and a fourth floor hall with a capacity of 250 persons. A second elevator allowed the use of that level when the main elevator was not in operation. The 1909 Sanborn Map (Figure 18) shows changing building technology since 1907 by virtue of the absence of intervening metal columns within the two broad storefronts. The storefronts were separated by a combination terra cotta wall set into a series of iron posts. The 1950 Sanborn Map (figure 23) identifies this same wall as a tile wall which makes more sense. The elevator in the northeast comer of the addition has an elevation of80 feet (the 1950 Sanborn Map) and there are two rear fire escapes on the alleyway. The Eighth Street (south side) storefronts were substantially rebuilt when the building was doubled. The terra cotta wall on that front was replaced with glassed storefronts. Two large stone columns replaced metal columns on the comer entrance and the entire storefront had a continuous transom band of prism glass. The Main Street entrance was reduced in size and a major entrance with a shallow canopy was added on the south side. />1'/(;;""..,' j 0'" (,'JI'/<<' 3/ , ~ , ~: 1 " , t I 1 J ~ ::f~" ~ [.., ,UI '< ~' , . , ' ~. .. , '. " , ~ i ' t ~ \ (,~, ~ .'."', ;; ~ E[4/frH , , . ~ h-',,"' ?t' ~~ -:4,.':~e", '71 ~ /77 .l~...1'''''.f~..I.1 " ;",. <~, .'/J .4J'"E l:",..;~. Figure 1: Property Diagram from Property Abstract, February 14, 1946 Gray line marks building perimeter, black line distinguishes original three and four story portions. Note the vacated heating plant and steam tunnel to northeast of the building. Note also that the basement area then extended fully beneath the sidewalks to the south and west. This is not the case today. NPS Form 10-900-a (8.86) United States Department of the Interior National Park Service OMB Approval No. 1024-0018 National Register of Historic Places Continuation Sheet Section number 7 Page 5 The Security Building Dubuque. Dubuque County. Iowa Contractor Anton Zwack built a stairway in 1934 at a cost of$900. Extensive interior alterations were made between 1938 and 1941. The 1938 work involved the apparent elimination of the several elevators (by 1950 the northeast and 8th Street elevators only remained). The building permit however states that these were replacements at those two points. The Telegraph-Herald reported at the end of 1938 that a new mezzanine level (figure 4) had been added along the east wall across the entire plan. This level included a women's lounge, restrooms and a beauty shop. Old elevators in the center ofthe plan were removed and new ones were rebuilt "along the east wall." A new stairway was added to the third floor. A new basement "wing" expanded store retail space. In fact the entire basement was refinished. Third floor offices were extended the full length of the building. No building permits were found for this work save for one for the Otis Elevator Company which installed two elevators for $14,000. The 1940 and 1941 building permits totaled just $11,200 in expenditures. In 1945 $2,200 was expended to build a new rear loading dock in the northeast comer ofthe plan on the alley. During 1948 $3,000 was spent on remodeling the several entrances and it was this work that was apparent in the later photographs. An additional $37,000 in alterations was expended. In late 1959 and in 1960, a fourth floor addition filled in the building profile along the east part of the plan. The resulting rooflevels weren't level and the upper reaches ofthe brick walls that had separated the original rooflevels, remained visible. Otis Elevator completed additional elevator work at a cost of $25,000. Willy Construction added the fourth floor using plans prepared by Des Moines architects Wetherell and Harrison, at a cost of$65,000 (building permits). Photos through the mid-1950s indicate that few changes had been made to the building exterior. Two notable storefront changes are apparent. The comer entrance was built in, with five doors being surmounted by a stone superstructure. A high concrete canopy, set across the middle of the transom line, framed the 8th Street entrance, while the Main Street entrance had gained a stone fronted upper covering that matched the comer entrance. A rooftop elevator penthouse was visible, above the parapet line on the 8th Street front. In 1946 a concrete block heating plant was built across the alley to the northeast and a steam tunnel under the alley carried heat to the building. The 1946 drawing, shown above, depicts that heating system and shows the vacated heating plant beneath the alley, then occupied by a bakery. The chimney, still extant, was likely removed at this time. In April 1979 Tom Graham was paid $12,000 to remodel the third floor. In 1985 Strub Construction expended $79,000 in internal masonry work. Partition work, costing $65,000, followed in 1986 and 1987, the last year involved work on the upper two floors. An additional $90,000 was expended that same year in basement remodeling work. At some point the exterior windows were replaced and the arched window openings in particular were reduced in size. The present window system, replicating the original window scheme, was installed by Cottingham & Butler in c.2000. After Cottingham & Butler acquired the building in 1994, the building gained a new EPDM roof in 1995, a sprinkler system, in 1999, and virtually the entire building interior was refurbished. A new south end elevator was added. In 2005 the Clock Tower Building was comprehensively restored and redeveloped as adjunct office and meeting space and a connective walkway was excavated beneath Main Street. That street was reopened to traffic that same year and trees and street furniture were removed. The company now plans to restore its entire storefront and entrances in 2006. NPS Form 10-900-a (8-861 United States Department of the Interior National Park Service OMB Approval No. 1024-0018 National Register of Historic Places Continuation Sheet Section number 7 Page 6 The Security Building Dubuque, Dubuque County, Iowa The present-day building interior is remarkable for the absence of interior load-bearing walls. What was the original north exterior wall ofthe 1896 building is completely removed and the interior plan is open save for the few vestiges of brick walls already discussed. No structural elements are exposed. The ground level columns are larger ornamental round columns (see historic interior photo). The rooftop contains the northeast elevator penthouse, which still looms high above the building, three roof- top air handling units, and the two other elevator penthouses on the south part of the plan. There is a restored flagpole atop the southwest comer. It is also interesting to note that the present building has no heating plant per se. The building is warmed and cooled by a small number of zone furnaces and geo-thermal heating and cooling supplies the basement and ground floor areas. The alley or east wall ofthe building is remarkable for the very extensive fenestration pattern, some of which has been sealed off with brick (all ofthe half-windows, all openings in the northernmost bay, and many of the second floor windows). Current Building Floor Plans: The current building interior presents a remarkably comprehensive replacement or covering up of virtually every vestige of the original or most subsequent elements of the building. In fact, original vestiges, structural and ornamental, were found in just three areas, the basement area beneath the alleyway, an elevator shaft and the attic. ....._~. ,,;..-- I'<..~; ~.,' ; 170"'" ,~~::JO~~;~:::'-~~~'" ..:] ;......."""] i El"""" ,"..I =-( " , .. - i. . -- :-Tf i -::-dl: L~?~~~,;,.:t)jt --;;""!i _ > __ J~, ,.~ ~--i\iTj-[L, p.l~~L' 'f:i~' \,J';AA-'J r:::tJ - r7 J ~L"""~. I, '. ~ I.' ,J;::r-l, i I ,J ;- ,_J i , - 1 ~---'l '=' _-.. t1j ,/ I~l 1, Jr' -- - r' i lh._=::-::-,-=:..==-:-:--L- .1,::::::,::=-::= ..:::'::::' ::.... ~::,,~.. ,.!t~~-~,!-.,.-,...,: ""'-<~--,~-- ~"""'^ ,.,"';"';" Figure 2: Current Basement Plan (Cottingham & Butler, 2006) NPS Form 10-900-a (8-86) United States Department of the Interior National Park Service OMB Approval No. 1024-0018 National Register of Historic Places Continuation Sheet Section number 7 Page 7 The Security Building Dubuque, Dubuque County, Iowa This basement floor plan locates the former heating plant beneath the alley (now housing the electrical services on its north end). Note the absence ofload-bearing walls even at this level. Not shown, is the subterranean passage to the Clock Tower Building to the west beneath Main Street (built in 2004-05). Elevator stacks are located on either side of the south or Eighth Street entrance and in the northeast comer of the plan. Staircases are located in the southeast comer (connecting only to the first floor) and at the midpoint of the north wall. Note how there is no standard column support pattern, although the pattern is more apparent in the newer 1907 (north) portion ofthe plan. '--'- ~ii:::-:::m1llll!li 7~'r'^-&'iiITiirl~=--=.. Lri_.. ...... f~ .'. ., . r-"l II ' ~_.- i ... .. _ -- ~""'~"-;Noli i IT(::--~~~(~. 0 -', ~ ti;;;;::".'?~..~ J"F: a -- o 0 a o _<<'~._'.!'I.ll.IlltI --"'", /iN"t'<;<Y, 8'iCf. S.P. _01"_......_ --~ /JPi'i4(;.A,}!Ii>O 5-,::'; <~,)~lIi' ~~IR5T ,..~ I""....,.,N..~ ~ .......... Figure 3: Current First Floor Plan (Cottingham & Butler, 2006) The three entryways are depicted on Main and Eighth streets. The Main Street entrance is the lesser of these. Again there are no load-bearing walls located within this level. Columns are visible in rows but there is considerable irregularity in their placement, particularly between the 1907 (left) and 1896 (right) portions of the building. Another staircase begins from this level upwards and is located just north of one ofthe south end elevator shafts. NPS Form 10-900-a (8-86) . United States Department of the Interior National Park Service OMB Approval No. 1024-0018 National Register of Historic Places Continuation Sheet Section number 7 Page 8 The Security Building Dubuque, Dubuque County, Iowa ~~ _DI!' ~~ ~l", _tit' ~.~ .~.- -'"~. Q""~""- ~~ _-.u.., __"; Af,p",Vil'f<l\cC~. --....,. '. A~:~I"l S1 """"!' ~:r*f4J S.t:'. ~.. .,". __# A~"Jt: ~~F~ Sf I r,--J T . rk-l ~~Cl----~'IJ\.yJJ II L r 1r ~ ' ..r-~r:k~...=::; . r-.:I ~l Ir,~ )? v ----,1 ~.~ II ~ 'I ~ I' 1 : -- -f~~ I,,;, i <-z-,~=- ~~..!"!l'E PLAN ~ _.- '\...) Figure 4: Current Mezzanine Floor Plan (Cottingham & Butler, 2006) This mezzanine area dates to 1938 and the present configuration is entirely closed off relative to the rest of the plan, Note how the mezzanine links the two stairwells. NPS Form 10-900-a (8-86) United States Department of the Interior National Park Service OMB Approval No, 1024-0018 National Register of Historic Places Continuation Sheet Section number 7 Page 9 The Security Building Dubuque, Dubuque County, Iowa V~1>I('r """" .... -_...... /!?f1,/1't;,X. IY::5 Sf AI'J'\S'Q)t., :;;;.;35 s,~ VItGi/JMt(ll!'PoClrtl,nt: __W, ,4"'f1ROX. n:':c $1 v~-.e"'l!: -_.... ApPIiM ]:v() S.F. V~~~ -.-.... o IIII ill I II " , _. -- r -BttGfJI ~~~~f4'nZ"- f _,~.c._ --.... 1'1.:>1'';:,,). 7.;00 SJ:'. /2-.!is: ~ FL~ f"...l".N ~Ii' ....._ Figure 5: Current Second Floor Plan (Cottingham & Butler, 2006) On the second floor a single brick load-bearing wall is visible running east/west across the south/right side of the layout Three elevators and two staircases are located. OMS Approval No. 1024-0018 NPS Form 10.900-a (8-861 . United States Department of the Interior National Park Service National Register of Historic Places Continuation Sheet Section number 7 Page 10 The'Security Building Dubuque, Dubuque County, Iowa "-rtrl:: -l.r P 'T rjtl ~J -L ~l~ IIFIII&f- - =E ~ nr:-r:r[~ tji - .->0-0 i= d \Jr---''-.j:--\ I .-\J;-- , ~ ;- I ~:~_ ~ 'i~__ ~~Lrl]J -""..--,...... --..,.. ;4 f'1"~'''' .n't.;.:;J ~.,. /L . T~!I'C"~ 1"1-"'''' ~~ll<w.-,:.... Figure 6: Current Third Floor Plan (Cottingham & Butler, 2006) On the third floor a single brick load-bearing wall is visible running east/west across the south/right side of the layout. Note the absence of north end windows along the party walL NPS Form 10.900-a (8-86) United States Department of the Interior National Park Service OMB Approval No. 1024-0018 National Register of Historic Places Continuation Sheet Section number 7 Page 11 The Security Building Dubuque, Dubuque County, Iowa =- '11_' II=-- 'ro'- t- c 111 I 1 I~ - -. - - ---_.~--::~.- --.... - cT ~~ o I; I.! --- !i " " - '--'--' ----~-- " ":l::."'~ "-,,-,,,,-~,..' ~rf~:-:------r~~~lg o ~H~, ~ '(lU !1.~tll " - r-1 c """"~'" " ~~ A ;;:::-~/S. 5, ~ --- -~' '.._- ~... --- ~~ --- ~ llI< Ill> ... ..... ... ........ ~ \I~,OI"l"l4I'1Uf'q: __v' ApPRtn:. 1(;0 S.F M ~!lI".a.!'~1lellVI(.ft~_ -~..... A,.,..q~ jj; egO s. F ~~5 ~n-J Fl..00Pt l"'I..~N Figure 7: Current Fourth Floor Plan (Cottingham & Butler, 2006) On the fourth floor brick load-bearing walls are visible running east/west across the south/right side of the layout and north/south from the west end of the north stairwell. NP$ Form 10.900-8 18-86) United States Department of the Interior National Park Service National Register of Historic Places Continuation Sheet Section number 7 Page 12 The Security Building Building Location Context: OMS Approval No. 1024-0018 Dubuque, Dubuque County, Iowa /~ -y..... ~1111. Figure 8: A c.l897 panoramic view from the Dubuque County Courthouse, looking northwest with the Grand Opera House (National Register of Historic Places) in right foreground, beyond the Security Building is the Town Clock Building (National Register of Historic Places), and the Bank and Insurance Building at far right center. Note the chimney of the Security Building, set just behind the Grand Opera House (Laras College, Center for Dubuque History) ~:. '1\ .'f. Figure 9: A c.1897 ground level view northwest with Grand Opera House (1889-90 in foreground (photo, Sommer, p. 132) NPS Form 1O.900.a (8-86) United States Department of the Interior National Park Service OMB Approval No. 1024-0018 National Register of Historic Places Continuation Sheet Section number 7 Page 13 The Security Building DubUQue, DubUQue County, Iowa Figure 10: Main Street, viewed north from just south of8 Street, c.1917 Harger & Blish sign present along with flagpole (Loras College, Center For Dubuque History, FBL 3820) Figure II: Main Street viewed south from below Tenth Street, c.1950, Bank and Insurance Building right foreground, Federal Bank Building (1924), the Security Building is visible left of center at rear (Loras College, Center For Dubuque History, FBL 3826) NPS Form 10-900-a (8-86) . United States Department of the Interior National Park Service OMB Approval No. 1024-0018 National Register of Historic Places Continuation Sheet Section number 7 Page 14 The Security Building Dubuque. Dubuque County. Iowa Integritv Evaluation: The exterior of the Security Building maintains a high degree of all seven aspects of integrity: location, design, setting, materials, workmanship, feeling, and association. The integrity of the immediate setting ofthe building, illustrated by its commercial setting and streetscape, contributes to the building's ability to maintain integrity of feeling and association. Because the Security Building is being nominated under Criterion C, integrity of design, materials, and workmanship are especially important. The overall form of the building has remained unchanged once it assumed its intended scale in 1907. No additions or alterations, apart from the extension of its fourth floor level, and the replacement of its storefront level, have been built. All the original architectural materials and detailing, including cornice, window openings, and ornament remain as built. The interior retains no vestige of its original configuration, wall or ceiling surfaces, or architectural detailing, any the ornamental steel columns on the ground floor, while intact, are not visible. NPS Form 10.900"a (8-86) United States Department of the Interior National Park Service OMB Approval No. 1024-0018 National Register of Historic Places Continuation Sheet Section number 8 Page 1S The Security Building Dubuque, Dubuque County, Iowa 8. Significance Statement: The Security Building is locally significant on the basis of its architectural merit (Criterion C). The building is an excellent and very well preserved Dubuque example of the Beaux Art style, and its fayade is completely veneered in cream-colored terra cotta. The two, successive parts of the building were designed by regionally notable architects, Fridolin Heer & Son and Thomas Carkeek. The Security Building is also locally significant for its association with the corrunercial history of Dubuque (Criterion A), specifically its long-term linkage with the Stampfer &' SullivanlStampfer department store. This building represents the retail success enjoyed by that firm and the emergence of the department store in Dubuque. The building of the Security Building marked the development of the intersection of Main and Eighth streets as a key location for major retailers. The Security Building is a notable example of the more substantial corrunercial office building architecture that emerged in Dubuque during the mid-1890s. This increased scale was measurable both vertically and horizontally. While not tall by most community standards, four stories with this massing was exceptional in Dubuque. The higher massing also reflected the emergence of a new commercial building form, the office block which combined professional offices, modem building systems such as elevators and a lighter building structure, with street-level storefronts. The building's considerable massing reflects the increased need for larger storefront spaces and facades. Dan A. Sullivan (1851-1913) was a Dubuque County native who established a dry goods firm with partner Paul Kees 1877. Kees died in 1883 and was succeeded by J. F. Stampfer (7-1937). The firm occupied the Town Clock Building, directly across the street from the future Security Building. Sullivan retired in 1902 and the firm of Sullivan & Stamp fer became the J. F. Stamp fer Company. The motto of the firm was "from the mills to the masses" and Stamp fer had a reputation for delivering quality goods at "rock-bottom prices." While ostensibly a dry goods firm, the business also sold carpets, millinery, cloaks and shoes and over time these several lines developed as separate and distinct departments within the business layout. The success of the firm allowed for the construction of the southern half of this building in 1897, and its concluding half ten years later. While architects designed the exterior, J. F. Stampfer designed a multi-story open layout for his firm, a plan the reflected the appearance of the department store retail model in the city. The Stamp fer Company continued to occupy almost the entire building well into the 19608 (Dubuque Enterprise, Telegraph Herald, September 20, 1913). Architectural Context: The multiple property document titled "Dubuque-The Key City: The Architectural And Historical Resources of Dubuque, Iowa, 1837-1955: Phase IV Edition (2004)" identifies the original section of the Security Building as a notable and surviving example of the architects Fridolin Heer & Son. Subsequent research attributes the 1907 addition to noted Dubuque architect Thomas Carkeek. The document identifies these designers as being leading regional architects. Most of Carkeek's early designs have been lost so this is one key example (Dubuque-The Key City, pp. 229-230). The document defines property types on the basis of a series of chronological historic contexts. The Security Building is subsumed under those buildings, structures, objects and districts which are associated with the third such context, titled "Fitful Growth and Maturation, 1894-1910." Commercial buildings under the registration requirements of that context comprise most of the city's "landmark" commercial architecture with large, ornate and imposing NPS Form 10-900-a l8-86) . United States Department of the Interior National Park Service OMS Approval No. 1024-0018 National Register of Historic Places Continuation Sheet Section number 8 Page 16 The SecuritY Building Dubuque, Dubuque CountY, Iowa buildings being built in the Romanesque, Beaux Arts and Neo-Classical styles. The Security Building, with its multiple storefronts, massive scale and ornate design, as well as its use of terra cotta, fits the descriptive requirements of context and property type. The registration requirements further mandate that a significant building illustrates the significant design and construction techniques of the contextual period and under Criterion A, has a direct association with that context. Integrity requirements emphasize design, materials and setting, and also prioritize original function, and the retention of window openings and infill (Dubuque-The Key City, pp. 285-292). The Beaux Arts style is included in the list of significant architectural styles that are reflected in Dubuque's historic buildings. The onset of the style locally is the design and construction of the third Dubuque County Courthouse (1891-93, NRHP), located at 7th and Iowa Avenue, was designed by Chicago architect W. W. Boyington. The courthouse combines the Beaux Arts with Romanesque and other styles so it isn't a pure example. The Business and Investment Building, at 9th and Main (1894) was also a Boyington design, and was the purest and most significant example of this style on a commercial building. The building has lost its prominent parapet exterior as well as its storefront level. The Security Building, while smaller in scale than the Business and Investment Building (figure 12), copied its predecessor in style, materials and massing. It is the only significant Beaux Art commercial example to have employed local architects. The Carnegie Stout Public Library (1901, NRHP), yet another Boyington design, mixed the Neo-Classical and Beaux Arts styles. A final Beaux Art example, non-extant, is the Chamber of Commerce Building, 9th and Locust (1902) designed by Chicago architect W. G. Williamson(figure 13) (Dubuque-The Key City, pp. 200, 202-203). The Phase III Dubuque survey (2003) focused on the downtown area and was titled "The finest street west of Chicago and North of St Louis: Phase III Architectural and Historical Survey Report-Downtown Dubuque" summarizes the development of taller and more massive commercial buildings in Dubuque. The tallest building built in Dubuque was only 13 stories tall (The Federal Bank Building, 9th and Main, 1922). Commercial architecture in Dubuque was predominantly two and three stories in height and the first appearance of buildings taller than that were factories, hotels or wholesale commercial blocks. Just two buildings exceeded seven stories in height, the second example being Roshek's Department Store (nine stories, 1929). The Bank and Insurance Building stood seven stories high. While fourteen buildings were five stories high, just one of these was for commercial use (Bishop's Block, 1887, storefront and warehouse, NRHP). Four story examples, including the Security Building numbered at least 30 examples, but again, these were either purely commercial retail (Roshek's Department Store, 1907), were factories, or combined warehousing with retail trade. As a purely commercial example, the Security Building is contextually massive, in terms of height and overall scale. As such, it is representative of developing building technologies (steel skeleton support systems, efficient elevators, heating and lighting systems, and ornamental terra cotta) (Phase III Dubuque Survey, pp. 147-151). OMB Approval No. 1024-0018 NPS Form 10.90D-a 18.861 United States Department of the Interior National Park Service National Register of Historic Places Continuation Sheet Section number 8 Page 17 The Security Building Dubuque, Dubuque County, Iowa Figure 12: Bank and Insurance office building, Ninth and Main, view northwest (Beaux Arts style) (Dubuque of Today, 1897, p. 20) .~ '~ }ointh SU~"' "1<.",. of U", Dnhnq..." Cln.b. Figure 13: Chamber of Commerce /Dubuque Club, southwest comer 9 and Locust (non-extant) (Dubuque Enterprise, August 10, 1902) NPS Form 10-900-a l8-861 . United States Department of the Interior National Park Service OMB Approval No. 1024-0018 National Register of Historic Places Continuation Sheet Section number 8 Page 18 The Security Building Dubuque, Dubuque County, Iowa Architects: Architects Heer, Fridolin Joseph Sr. (1834-1910), Jr. (1864-1940), Fridolin J. Heer & Son: Like many European architects, Fridolin Heer Sr. started working as a stonecutter in Switzerland. His father was a builder. He came to the United States in 1865 and 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 ofthe best buildings in the city." He first practiced with Edward Naescher as Heer & Naescher c.1874-76+. By 1875 Heer designed buildings, monuments, furniture and did fresco paintings. He also designed bridges, viaducts and tunnels. Beginning in 1886 he partnered with Guido Beck, but a year later was in partnership with his son. Beginning in 1889 church design let their list of advertised specialties. Heer joined the Architectural Association ofIowa 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 AIA. The son practiced until 1934. 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 (Sommer, pp. 159-60; Oldt, pp. 597-601; Lyon, p. 195; 1880 County History, p. 803; Shank, pp. 79-80). The Bank and Insurance Building owners utilized Chicago architect W. W. Boyington as their architect in 1895, but the Security Building builders chose the Heer's, father and son, to design the city's second Beaux Arts "skyscraper." Non-local designers had been selected for most of the monumental Romanesque edifices in Dubuque so it is notable that a local design firm was chosen. Heer & Son had a regional reputation and was credited at the time with having designed "scores of the most prominent public buildings, ecclesiastical structures, residences, halls and schools in this and other cities throughout this section ofIowa and the west.. . and indeed, nearly all of the most prominent buildings in the city have been designed or superintended by them" (Dubuque Weekly Times, January 28, 1896). Architect Thomas Carkeek (1843-1928+): The assumption would naturally be made that the same architects would be called upon to design the 1907 addition to the Security Building, but Thomas Carkeek was selected for this task. In truth, the only designing to be done was that of the structural system and the massing given that an identical terra cotta fayade continued the design of the 1896 building. There is no indication that the original architects were not available, although it is true that Fridolin Heer Sr. would die in 1910 and might well have been retired in whole or in part by 1907. Several of Carkeek's major designs were in close proximity to the Security Building. The YMCA and the Central Fire Station, both dating to the early 1890s, were just to the northeast, the latter on the northeast comer of the same block, the former just across Ninth Street to the north. He also designed a residence for partner Daniel A. Sullivan at the comer of 5th and Bluff. English-born Carkeek was self-trained and he received major commissions when he opened his own design firm in 1892. He is credited with 200 Dubuque designs for the years 1891-1911 (Shank, p. 38, Dubuque To- Dav. 1897, p. 87). While the original architects prepared the actual plans they incorporated the ideas of J. F. Stampfer when they laid out the actual department store interior. The Dubuque Enterprise informs us "That part of the building that Mr. Stamp fer occupies was built especially for him and on plans which his long experience in the business taught him NPS Form 10.900-a (8-86) United States Department of the Interior National Park Service OMS Approval No. 1024-0018 National Register of Historic Places Continuation Sheet Section number 8 Page 19 The Security Building Dubuque, Dubuque County, Iowa were the most practical and convenient and is the most modem and complete dry goods store in the state." Mr. Stampfer's retail concept envisioned the emerging concept ofthe department store. Not only were storefronts consolidating horizontally, the department store was multi-level and involved the vertical integration of store levels. No longer were the upper reaches of the store block consigned to warehousing. Stampfer's department concept was truly innovative, inasmuch as over time, his very successful business evolved to comprise a broad array of truly independent small departments or specialty shops, all embraced by the Stamp fer imprimatur. Increasingly these departments had their own names, addresses and directory listings (Dubuque Enterprise, April 17, 1902). Stampfer's design provided for this departmentalizing along vertical lines. The household goods, including carpets, linoleums and draperies, occupied the third floor, with dress goods on the ground floor, millinery and ready- to-wear on the second floor. The fourth floor presumably functioned as a warehouse. Flow of shoppers was also central to Stampfer's plan and he provided for two storefront entries, on Main and on Eighth streets. His store wrapped around a comer storefront which was to be a drug store and had its own comer entrance. Stampfer was the likely source of the combination of department store with office building. Unlike the Bank and Insurance Building, the Security Building was primarily retail with much if not most of the basement being reserved for commercial use and just 26 two and three-room suites were located on the upper three floors of the plan, and then only in the easternmost three bays (Eighth Street wing) ofthe original building. It is worth noting that when the building was doubled in 1907, the new addition did not add any more offices (ibid.). The Building Design and Structure: When it was built, the Security Building was locally described as being "Grecian" in design. This was certainly a reference to its Classical trappings. In more advantageous architectural hindsight, it is now classed as Beaux Arts and this building is the best preserved of the two larger office building examples in Dubuque. The Bank and Insurance Building (1895), while larger and earlier, has suffered the removal of its elegant cornice along with the usual obliteration of its storefront level. The Security Building was described as being fireproof, being built of steel and terra cotta. The floors were "laid in tiling and the halls have marble wainscoting." In actual fact, the building's internal support system is principally of frame construction with steel support columns and beams. The present support system can be directly inspected only in the attic but those who are familiar with the more recent interior remodeling proj ects confirm that the floors are all of wood framing, using wooden beams, and there is a quik -crete coating on top of the floors. The roof is of frame construction. Steel I-beams support the roof framing and the fourth floor ceiling so it is probable that they similarly support the other floor framing. In the lower levels, 2x I 0 joists are placed eight inches on center. The roof joists are spaced sixteen inches on center. This most unusual combination of steel vertical elements with wood framing merits additional research attention. The implication is that dry goods required a comparatively low live load and building costs could be reduced by substituting wood for steel (the beams). It can only be concluded that the Security Building is a documented example of a commercial building being designed solely to meet the needs of its original use. There was no over-building done in this instance. This is noteworthy within the Dubuque building context because there was a strong tradition for such over-building, particularly for more massive buildings. Not only does this design combine wood and steel, the steel columns are themselves simply singular in their composition. A caveat must be made. Only the attic level columns could be inspected and it can only be assumed that the entire NPS Form 1 Q.900-a (8-86) . United States Department of the Interior National Park Service OM8 Approval No. 1024---0018 National Register of Historic Places Continuation Sheet Section number 8 Page The Security Building 20 Dubuque, Dubuque County, Iowa system of columns was of the same design. It is quite possible that lighter composite columns were used only in the attic level. The observed steel columns are composite in their construction. They consist of at least two and possibly three parts. There are two main sections each having two I-beam edges set at ninety degrees, with a concave connecting center section. These were pre-drilled to receive hot rivets. The holes for these rivets do not have a consistent spacing however. It is probable that some sort of a boxed spacer was placed between the two half-sections before they were riveted together. Even more unusual is the apparent ad hoc system of connecting the colunms with the steel beams. + Figure 14: Attic column with cross-section sketch of column composition (photo by J. Jacobsen, 2006) This apparently ad-hoc steel support system is representative of the then fast evolving technology oftall building construction. The first true load-bearing steel support system was architect Bradfield Gilbert's Tower Building, which was built 1888-89 in New York City. Steel beams for construction were available to designers only as of 1885 and it wasn't until 1890 that the combination of steel colunms and beams was in common usage. The roller marks on the steel beams read "Joness-McLaughlin" which is not an identified manufacturer (www.officemuseum.com). Earlier Lot Historv: The Sanford Block: The first substantial commercial block on this site was the Horatio W. Sanford Block. This three-story L- shaped brick block encompassed eight narrow storefronts on its ISO-foot wide Main Street front, and two additional storefronts on the Eighth street secondary front. The block was built by architect/contractor William Rebman in 1856. Sanford (?-1884) was perhaps the most successful realtor in Dubuque's early history, at least in terms of sheer volume and longevity. Along with a great many significant commercial firms, the block also served as the armory for the NPS Form 10-900-a [8-86) United States Department of the Interior National Park Service OMS Approval No. 1024-0018 National Register of Historic Places Continuation Sheet Section number 8 Page 21 The Security Building Dubuque, Dubuque County, Iowa "Governor's Greys," one of several Dubuque militia companies that saw distinguished service during the Civil War (Wilkie, p. 161; Telegraph, May 8,1896). A principal reason for the location of the Sanford Block at this corner was due to the importance of Eighth Street as a principal westward artery and commercial cross street. A number of the largest Dubuque hotels located along this street. The Tremont House, on Iowa Street, was immediately east of the Sanford Block. ~.' *"'! l . ~ jt \"':'01....,...,... ~L b:~. ~..... ~ ,e."W,_; ;~ -....-....- ~---- -T-....... ..,.._-,.._~ . , , : . . . : ~ ST. @) , - , ". , ". .. . .. . - ..: Figure IS: 1891 Sanborn Fire Insurance Map Sanborn Block is shaded gray This block of Main Street long served as the northern terminus of Dubuque's impressive downtown. The Town Clock Building (get date, National Register of Historic Places) was located in the center of the west side of the block. In keeping with a local tradition, the east side of Main was more substantially built up than was its western counterpart. The 1891 Sanborn Map reflects this lingering trend, with the west side ofthe 800's block retaining converted residences and single-story frame buildings. The east side of the same block was uniformly built up with three and even four-story commercial blocks. The seeds for commercial expansion northward were sown during the middle l850s when scattered though substantial brick commercial blocks were constructed as far north as Eleventh Street. During the l870s and l880s substantial commercial nodes developed between Ninth and Eleventh streets. By the l890s there was continuous substantial commercial up-building along the length of the east side of Main between these streets. During the middle l890s developing technology, changing business needs, and a local desire for "sky-scraper" resulted in the construction ofthe Bank and Insurance Building, a six-plus story office building, at Ninth and Main. NPS Form 10-900-a 18-86l United States Department of the Interior National Park SelVice OMS Approval No. 1024-0018 National Register of Historic Places Continuation Sheet Section number 8 Page 22 The Security Building Dubuque, Dubuque County, Iowa The Securitv Building, Planning and Construction: The Security Building Company, representing a partnership between J. F. Stampfer and F. W. Altman, dates to November 2, 1895. Articles of incorporation, with capital stock valued at $100,000, were finally filed for record in early January 1896. The corporation was established for twenty years. Corporate debt was limited to two-thirds of the subscribed stock (Dubuque Telegraph, January 8,1896). The location for the Security Building is explained by the Dubuque Enterprise, which noted, six years after its construction that "The Security Building has the advantage of having the most central location in the city. It is the point from which the street cars radiate and is the very center of the traffic of the city" (The Dubuque Enterprise, April 17, 1902). The planned building was first described in early December 1895. The four-story block would occupy just the southern half (75-foot frontage on Main Street, and 113 feet deep to the alley on Eighth Street. The exterior would be "composed wholly of terra cotta, plate glass and the necessary architectural iron work. There will be no brick nor stone on the fayade." This was a thunder stroke to Dubuquer's who had always measured their architecture in the solid measures of both of those building materials, but particularly in stone. In keeping with conservative local tastes, plans depicted "a building as plain in architecture as the office building [Bank and Insurance Building], there being no tower, no turrets and the ornamentation consisting of scroll work in terra cotta on the fayade." The Bank and Insurance Building similarly lacked the elaborations mentioned, commonly associated with the Romanesque style and the major cities. It did offer an elaborate attic or cornice executed as an elaborate capital atop a formal column (base, column, capital). The building plan included a comer storefront that was to house a drug store. A second storefront to the north was to house the dry goods firm of Sullivan & Stampfer. At this stage, the two storefronts were just 17 feet in width, but the northernmost unit, as well as the two storefronts on the Eighth Street "ell" were combined with store space on the second and third floors. Twenty four offices were in the Main Street portion of the block, with another eight in the ell. The second half of the block would follow in 1896 it was promised (Dubuque Daily Telegraph, December 5, 1895). The first indication that the Sanford Block was doomed was the November 12, 1895 notice made to the Sanborn Block tenants by the company to the effect that demolition would begin in March and that their leases would end effective March I, 1896. Tenant jeweler Henry F. S. Schneider (808 Main) announced on December 20,1895, that he was offering his stock "at greatly reduced prices.. .on account of the removal." The company posted a notice to contractors on January 6 which called for bids for the removal of the old block and for the excavation and foundation masonry work on the new building. Bids were due on January 13. The Telegraph announced January 18 that the demolition would instead start in February. Promised tenants were Fraatz & Clark, for the drugstore space and Nic Groff in the basement (Dubuque Daily Telegraph, November 12, 1895; January 18, 1896). In fact, demolition began in early May. The Daily Telegraph observed that the loss of the Sanford Block, revealed how large the adjoining opera house truly was. In noted: "Now that the Sanford block is disappearing the Grand Opera House begins to loom up like the back-stop of a base ball field." A day into the demolition, an opera house poster was prominently pasted onto the fence that surrounded the doomed block. Actually, just the southern half of the Sanford Block was taken down, the remainder would survive until the new building was doubled in size in 1907 (Dubuque Daily Telegraph, May 5,6,1896). NPS Form 10.90Q-a (8-86) United States Department of the Interior National Park Service OMB ApP'oval No. 1024-0018 National Register of Historic Places Continuation Sheet Section number 8 Page 23 The Security Building Dubuque, Dubuque County, Iowa Contracts for the building proper were announced in late February. 1. P. Schroeder was to do the masonry work. J. P. Scharle was also announced as the contractor for the "brickwork." Voggenthaler & Ragatz got the contract for the steel and ironwork and Albert Ney was to do the carpentry work (Dubuque Daily Telegraph, February 26,27, 1896). On March 29, 1896 the Dubuque Daily Herald reported that the new building's foundation work would be done by the end of the week (Dubuque Daily Herald, March 29, 1896) No image of the building graced the Daily Telegraph although one was displayed for public viewing in the window of Sullivan & Stamp fer by mid-June. It was announced that a restaurant and buffet would occupy the basement of the new building (Dubuque Daily Telegraph, Jun 12, 1896). June 30, 1896-raise opposite comer building for new business block, John V. Rider buys lot from widow Thomas. The Security Building: At the northeast comer of Eighth and Main, is to be built upon a much grander scale that at first contemplated. In many respects it will be fully equal to the new Bank and Insurance building, built last year. The steel columns and pillars for the first floor are now being erected, and the work is moving on rapidly. It will be an elegant building throughout, and although it will be but four stories in height it will be ofmarnmoth proportions and a credit to our city. The cost of this building as it will now be built will be $75,000 (The Dubuque Herald, May 24,1896). The Daily Telegraph announced the completion of the buildings' exterior walls on July 2. That newspaper reported: The shell of the Security Building at Main and Eighth streets is now about completed, the cornice having been reached to-day. The work of covering the steel frame with cream terra cotta was speedily done and it is now seen that the building will be a substantial ornament to the street. It will be ready for occupancy in September. Apparently, the half-building wasn't deemed to be too impressive until it actually assumed its final form with its terra cotta cladding (Dubuque Daily Telegraph, July 2, 1896).1 I The Dubuque Herald was a bit later in reporting in mid-July that the, exterior work on the building was about done (Dubuque Herald, July 15,1896). NPS Form 10-900-a (8-861 . United States Department of the Interior National Park Service OMB Approval No. 1024-0018 National Register of Historic Places Continuation Sheet Section number 8 Page 24 The Security Building Dubuque. Dubuque County. Iowa Figure 16: Newly completed Security Building, 1897, Grand Opera House visible at the right, Althauser Building, removed for 1907 expansion, is to the left (Souvenir Gems of Dubuque, Harger & Blish Booksellers & Stationers, 1897) NPS Form 10.900-a 18-86) United States Department of the Interior National Park SelVice OMS Approval No. 1024-0018 National Register of Historic Places Continuation Sheet Section number 8 Page 25 The Security Building Dubuque, Dubuque County, Iowa Figure 17: 1897 view of the Security Building (Loras College, Center for Dubuque History) A curiosity was the fact that the new building stood on lease ground, and even more curious, the lease for the ground wasn't concluded until the building was finished. The 99-year lease, at $5,000 annually, payable in gold coin only (its termination date was March 1, 1995!) was filed for record on September 2. The signatories on the lease, representing the landowners, were W. L. Bradley, George M. Staples (and his wife), Mrs. M. E. Lull, J. V Rider (and his wife) and James Wallace (and his wife). J. F. Stamp fer signed for the Security Building Corporation (Dubuque Daily Telegraph, September 2, 1896). The Grand Opening: The building's completion was celebrated with the grand opening of its principal store, Sullivan & Stampfer, which took place on September 22, 1896. There was minimal publicity, just two advertisements which ran the day prior to and the day of the opening. Publicity or not, the word was out and an estimated 4,000-5,000 persons, almost all women, descended on the scene (The Daily Herald claimed the crowd exceeded 10,000). The police were called to control egress into the new building and to finally re-open the streetcar lines on Main to car traffic, when the crowd filled sidewalk and street. The point of entry was the Main Street door and the intended point of exit was the Eighth Street door and its associated elevator. The crowd filled the 20,000 square feet of the store and many never had a chance to ascend to the upper two floors of the store. These were open galleries which fronted on a light well from a massive skylight. The hosts of the evening ran an apology for their lack of preparedness but they were clearly pleased. The new store was termed "The Big Store" (Dubuque Daily Telegraph, September 21-23,1896; Daily Herald, September 23, 1896). NPS Form 10-900-a (8-86) . United States Department of the Interior National Park Service OMB Approval No. 1024-0018 National Register of Historic Places Continuation Sheet Section number 8 Page 26 The Security Building DubuQue. DubuQue County. Iowa Coverage by the Times focused more on the physical store and building, and described the movement of goods of Sullivan & Stampfer from the Town Clock Building across the street during the night of September 19. The Times noted "The opening of this house will be an event in the business history of Dubuque, which will be long remem- bered, for it will signalize the opening of one of, ifnot the finest dry goods emporiums in the northwest." The plate glass in the storefront was claimed to be "the largest in Iowa." The basement remained unfinished at the time ofthe opening and the third floor was temporarily used to house "the reserve stock." The store fixtures were of red oak and ash but the store counters on the first and second floors were of solid glass, said to be "a decided novelty in Dubuque and which give the store a decided metropolitan appearance." The four-story electric elevator was described as being "one of the best and the most modern in the city." Five arc electric lights illuminated the ground floor. The same source continued: The L portion, on the Eighth street side, will be a solid plate glass front and be used as a show window and it will be the largest in Iowa, affording ample space to make a most magnificent display of goods. There is a court in the center of the main store, running up to the third floor, and it is finished in keeping with the surroundings (Daily Times, September 22, 23, 1896). There are 20,000 square feet of floor space, and the height from floor to ceiling is sixteen feet, and the large columns, which recede from the entrance to the rear, give the store the appearance of a temple or public building. Across the street to the south, J. V. Rider had remodeled a two-story block, unifying the former double storefront and extending French Plate glass to the Eighth Street sidewall. The City had anticipated the construction of a five-story high "apartment store" on this lot in early 1896. That plan failed in the face of resistance by an adjoining building owner who had added two stories to his building without bothering to bolster his foundation. Any excavation would have brought the rookery down. So it was the Security Building that first delivered a "sky-scraper" to the Eighth and Main intersection (the first and only tall building to be built there as it turned out). At any rate, Rider's building was finished first and his tenant, Roshek, Aiman & Company, had its open house on September 2. This was another dry goods firm so the competition was "on" when Sullivan & Stamp fer opened their doors. A quaint battle of the advertisements was waged. Roshek & Aiman titled their business the "The People's Big Store" in response to the "Big Store" title claimed by Sullivan & Stamp fer. The latter then countered with "The Big Bright Busy Store" and finally "The Big Bright New Store," this despite the fact that the Rider store was perhaps three weeks older than theirs (Dubuque Daily Telegraph, May I, June 30, September I, October 7,9, 12, 1896). No mention was made of filling up the professional offices during the fall of 1896 and it is probable that these remained unfinished. Frantz & Clarke's Drug Store had quietly opened without notice in 814 Main, apparently by opening day. Schaetzle & Kiefer, owners ofa year-old gentlemen's furnishing store, occupied quarters in a small Main Street storefront sandwiched between the corner drug store and Sullivan & Stamp fer. Curiously, the new addition had started in the new Building and Insurance building, at Ninth and Main, and now occupied space in the newer building that emulated that landmark (Dubuque Daily Telegraph, October 6, 1896). NPS Form 10-900-a (8-86) United States Department of the Interior National Park Service OMB Approval No. 1024-0018 National Register of Historic Places Continuation Sheet Section number 8 Page 27 The Security Building Dubuque. Dubuque County. Iowa The 1907 Doubling of the Original Building: The original intention of the Security Company was to double the original building in 1898. For unknown reasons, this was not accomplished for eleven years. One factor was the paying off of the 1896 bonds, which had become due on September I, 1906. A new bond issue for $75,000 was made on March 2, 1907. It is possible that competition pushed for the expansion. As before in 1896, there was competition on the same comer. This time, it was the Roshek Department Store that was being erected on the southwest comer of Main and Eighth streets. Certainly the expansion was made necessary by the need for additional space for Mr. Stampfer's store. The Telegraph-Herald observed "with the rapid growth of Dubuque, Mr. Stampfer has felt, for some time, the dire need of more floor space..." He would occupy the entirety of the addition and would have "an up-to-date, modem dry goods department store." The same source continued: ...It will be the policy of this store to deal largely in the better grades of merchandise, such as are handled only by the best stores in the larger cities. No pains nor expense will be spared in fitting up the new store. It is Mr. Stampfer's intention to make it equal in every way to any retail establishment in the northwest. In making these changes the present entrance to the office section of the Security Building, now on Main street, will be removed to the Eighth street side of the building. A new elevator, for the exclusive use of the office tenants, will be installed. This will give the new store a solid modem glass front of eighty feet on Main street. A new comer structure will be erected in keeping with the store and the architecture of the building. The construction ofthis major addition and Roshek's Department Store, immediately to the southwest, were clear "demonstrations" that Dubuque was "progressing rapidly" despite the effects of the 1906 national recession (Telegraph-Herald, March 241907; Property Abstract). Apparently just half of the Sanford Block was taken down in 1896. By 1907 the remnant was known as Althauser's Store. Plans for the demolition ofthe existing building were announced in mid-January 1907. The addition would cost just $75,000 "because it will not be necessary to have as much front." The original building, had twin facades due to its comer setting and cost $100,000. The new addition would include no additional offices and the Stampfer Store would occupy the entire new building it was reported (Telegraph-Herald, January 16, 1907). The actual demolition work began the first day of March. The Althauser building was termed "one of the landmarks of Main Street." Main Street, at Eighth was a labyrinth to traffic and streetcars given this demolition work and the construction work underway on the Roshek comer. That building was already up to the third floor level. The Security Building addition would be a "twin sister" to the original (Telegraph-Herald, March 1, 1907).2 The excavators of the new basement tunneled a dozen feet into the alleyway to the east of the site. The remaining alley passage was barely sufficient for a wagon to pass through and sewer pipes were threatened with undermining. Street Commissioner Carney shut the digging down. An investigating committee visited the site and , Worker John Kreiger fell from the top of the building to the pavement on March 6, but was not seriously injured (Telegraph-Herald, March 7, 1907). NPS Form 1O.900-a 18.861 . United States Department of the Interior National Park Service OMB Approval No. '024-0018 National Register of Historic Places Continuation Sheet Section number 8 Page 28 The Security Building Dubuque, Dubuque County, Iowa the work was allowed to proceed once the owners promised to repair any damages to the sewer system (Telegraph- Herald, April 10, 1907). The brick work in the front has been begun on the second story of the new Security building. The arcade, recently erected, permitting passersby to go along on the sidewalk, instead of cutting out into the street, is proving a source of much convenience to pedestrians. Telegraph-Herald, May 19,1907 Up Like Magic: Much comment has been caused oflate by the manner in which the Security Building is shooting up. Within the past few days the front of the second and third stories has been added, and work on the interior and the roof will be pursued from this time on. If the inside work is accomplished as rapidly as that on the exterior has been, it will be but a very short time until the handsome structure will be ready for occupancy. Telegraph-Herald, June 7,1907 The next cause for delay was a general construction strike which began in May and continued in effect for six weeks. The problem was non-labor imported workmen. By late June it was reported that "Several large buildings among them the new public schools have been tied up because of the carpenters strike..." The strike tied up millwork deliveries as well. Real movement towards a settlement developed only in early July (Telegraph-Herald, May 27, June 26, July 5, 1907). The earlier promise on the part of the Stampfer Company to occupy all of the new addition was replaced by announcements by other firms that they would occupy the new storefronts along Main Street. The Boston One Price Clothing Store had for 25 years been located on lower Main Street. The owners announced the first week of July that larger quarters had been secured in the Security Building. Harger & Blish, dealers in books, stationery, sheet music, "talking machines," and instrum~nts, finalized a lease in early August to occupy the four stories and "middle store" of the new building. They had been in their present location since 1897. The conversion of their new quarters entailed a fourth floor recital hall, their own electric elevator, and a mezzanine level. Stamp fer had apparently determined to occupy all of the ground level of the original building and druggist Thomas Clark was displaced in late July as a result. He refugeed to the southwest corner of Main and Ninth and secured architect John Spencer to transform his new quarters. (Telegraph-Herald, July 7, 27, August 7, 1907). Boston One Price We need a larger store-one that is strictly modern in all its facilities---a store that will house one of the largest and best selected stocks of men's and boy's clothing and furnishing goods in the State ofIowa-and such a store we shall soon have for our new store opposite the town clock is now approaching completion. Telegraph-Herald, July 12, 1907 The Roshek's building easily won the race to be finished and opened. The new building was enclosed with its new plate glass windows by the end of April and the tool house that had long obstructed Main Street was removed at NPS Form 10.900-a (8-86) United States Department of the Interior National Park Service OMS Approval No, 1024-0018 National Register of Historic Places Continuation Sheet Section number 8 Page 29 The Security Building Dubuque, Dubuque County, Iowa the end of June. The building finally opened on August 27 (Telegraph-Herald, May 28, June 28, August 26, 28, 1907). ''tl$;/.iftxti'. ! ..f<i'f' ~;.. tC"t.W'1l!: ::1!!.. ,. - ~61 wn. FtRES1~ ~\'4' ~,,.t~~":f"'~;, li~1 1.~...,r_''''''.''IttJi.N_t ~.:Il" ,!~...~;~..."->>,,,"\C,,,,,F~ ,~, ~ "'1;~<orN""~di ~ t '''j~".".,,.t{ #<W, ># l > II' k: " ~!~ It --" ~ '~Fi'!' --';i . rr-i~---.:': 'i J ';Jr'; I ; t,) . 2., , ~- n_ :{f t/;) ~ . ~ ;< - < ~ J'~'$"'r#J.'" j; ~ . ~~:::7t{.. r~:'-:~ . t 1 I ,,'(; I :~pOArm;!#i1~r'-'-"''''',~'' [11.:,: : ,,;;:'f' 'I.' "==~' : > ~: : ~'~ j(, j: h. )IJ~ "~ . ., "':';."~';.'1' .~. . ,,1 : ~ ..~ J , ~:;$' ';"", ..~"""""l"#: _;;, Figure 18: 1909 Sanborn Fire Insurance Map Security Building is shaded gray Work continued on tbe Security Building addition and a construction fatality occurred. Adding to tbe tragedy was the fact that the casualty was the son of tbe building contractor, Christopher Burdt Sr. His son Christopher fell from the second floor above the stairwell into tbe basement, breaking his neck. Defective scaffolding was blamed for the accident (Telegraph-Herald, September 3, 1907). The opening of the Security Building addition failed to gamer the public attention awarded tbe Roshek opening. Indeed tbe final completion of tbe building is inferred only by tbe relocation of its two tenant firms. The Boston One Price Clothing Store started its move on September 30. The firm reopened for business on October 7. The Telegraph-Herald reported "The store is situated in the north end ofthe new Security addition... The firm is one of the oldest and most substantial of the city and opens the new epoch in its history under most pleasing auspices. The new store is a dream of beauty and will undoubtedly continue to be one of the most popular clotbing establishments in Dubuque." An October 9 advertisement invited its customers to an evening reception on October II to celebrate its new quarters. In fact tbe store was gone within two years of its move. Harger & Blish conducted a lengthy pre-move sale and made their move to 848 Main in the new addition on September 27, where they reopened for business on October 13. Their former location was remodeled as the Lyric movie theater (Telegraph-Herald, September 27,30, October 9, 13, 1907). NPS Form 10.900-a (8.861 . United States Department of the Interior National Park Service OMB Approval No. 1024-0018 National Register of Historic Places Continuation Sheet Section number 8 Page 30 The Security Building Dubuque, Dubuque County, Iowa Figure 19: Storefront and comer detail, view northeast, c.l91O-12 (Wilkie, p. 421 who credits First National Bank) Note entrance canopy on new Eighth Street entrance The end of year progress report noted that the addition to the Security building had been completed a few months previous at a cost of $90,000. Stampfer was only then making changes in the original building, expending $15,000 to change the storefront areas. The offices gained a private elevator on the Eighth Street front, along with a new entryway (Telegraph-Herald, December 29, 1907). NPS Form 10-900-a (8-86) United States Department of the Interior National Park Service OMB Approval No. 1024-0018 National Register of Historic Places Continuation Sheet Section number 8 Page 31 The Security Building Dubuque, Dubuque County, Iowa Figure 20: World War I bond drive parade, c.l9l7-18, Main and Eighth, view northeast Harger & Blish sign remains, note apparent clock on corner entrance (Loras College, Center For Dubuque History, KRE 140) Sullivan-Stampfer Company History and Significance: Paul Kees and Daniel Sullivan established a dry goods store in 1882. Joseph Frederick Stampfer (1855-1937) purchased an interest in the firm in 1883 when partner Kees died, and it became Sullivan & Stamp fer. The firm was located at Main and Fifth until 1886, and then occupied the Town Clock Building, on Main above Eighth. The Security Building was occupied in 1896. In 1901, Daniel Sullivan retired effective August I and the firm became the J. F. Stamp fer Company] By 1901, the firm had become ".. .one of the most successful retail dry goods houses in the state of Iowa." The company always served as a higher class store and for much of its history the store operated with little concern for competition. Wilkie credits it with being "one of the Midwest's most successful clothing store[s]." Joseph Stampfer died in 1937 and Thomas M. Stampfer (1898-1962) became president. The firm changed the name of the Security Building Company to that of the Stamp fer Building Company and the Security Building was similarly renamed (although the prominent original name, emblazoned on each fayade, remained on the cornice). Thomas 3 Sullivan (1851-1913) turned to mining interests and was fatally injured by a train, dying September 20,1913 (Telegraph-Herald, September 20,1913). NPS Form 10-900-a (8-86) . United States Department of the Interior National Park Service OMB Approval No. 1024-0018 National Register of Historic Places Continuation Sheet Section number 8 Page 32 The Security Building Dubuque, Dubuque County, Iowa Stampfer was the son of Joseph Stampfer and was a veteran of World War I and had been involved with the company since his return from military service (Telegraph-Herald, July 7, 1901). J. F. Stampfer, Dry Goods, Carpets, Millinery, Cloaks and Shoes, N. E. Comer Main and Eighth Streets. This house has been established for twenty years and is the largest department store in the city. For many years its influence has been felt in the commercial circles of Dubuque and the reputation established for high grade goods is an enviable one. "From the mills to the masses" is their motto, their large trade enabling them to buy direct from the manufacturers at manufacturers' prices and save jobbers' profits. The firm carries the largest open stock of strictly up-to-date merchandise in Northeast Iowa, embracing dress goods, millinery, cloaks, shoes and carpets. They occupy more than three- fourths of the Security Building, a modem steel and terra cotta structure fronting 80 feet on Main street, and 115 feet on 8th street, and which is four stories high. This building was built in 1896 for the express accommodation ofMr. Stampfer's marmnoth stock, and it is only the ample accommodations it affords which has enabled the business to reach its present magnitude (Dubuque-Todav, 1897, p. 8) The Security Building Company was incorporated January 7,1895 and was authorized to "buy, sell and lease Real Estate, erect buildings thereon, and sell, lease and rent same, and may own personal property at pleasure." The period of incorporation was from November 2,1895 through November 1,1915. A 20-year renewal as filed on January 14,1916, terminating November 1,1935. Yet another renewal was filed on January 25,1938 at which time the Corporate name was changed to "The Stampfer Building Company." This corporate filing would last through November 1, 1957. Bonds were issued by the corporation in 1896 ($25,000, in 40 $1,000 bonds and 30 $500 bonds, payable September I, 1906) and in 1907 ($75,000 in six $5,000 bonds, 12 $2,000 bonds and 21 $1,000 bonds, payable five years from March 2) (Property Abstract). The firm substantially remodeled the Security/Stampfer Building during the early 1940s and added a complete fourth floor in 1960. Two years later the company was sold to the Johnson-Hill's Corporation. The McCoy's- Stampfer Corporation assumed ownership in 1975 and was sold a year later to Mr. Tenny Pickslay. The store was transformed into a discount store. Tom and Mary Graham purchased the firm in 1979 and made an effort to restore its faded greatness. The store was closed in August 1981 and in 1991 the building was remodeled completely for office use (Wilkie, p. 420-21; Our Spirited Years). NPS Form 1 Q-SOO-a (8-86) United States Department of the Interior National Park Service OMS Approval No. 1024-0018 National Register of Historic Places Continuation Sheet Section number 8 Page 33 The Security Building Dubuque, Dubuque County, Iowa Figure 21: View from window of Security Building (note Harger & Blish sign) looking Northwest towards the Bank and Insurance Building at Ninth and Main streets (Loras College, Center For Dubuque History, KRE 141) Property Ownership Historv: The present property includes two and a half lots, numbered 29-31, which run in numerical order from south to north. Between 1839 and 1854, William Rebman and Dr. Asa Horr acquired the south half of Lot 31, while Horatio W. Sanford acquired the two southerrunost lots. Rebman built the Sanford Block in 1856 and Sanford acquired the entire building in mid-December 1857, thus accounting for its name. Sanford died December 6, 1884 and his estate transferred ownership ofthe building and property to William L. Bradley, John V. Rider, John H. Lull, George M. Staples and James Wallis on January I, 1886. The property abstract traces the changes in proportional ownership as these individuals died. The abstract also traces the lease ownership interests of the Security Building Company beginning August 17, 1895. Peter Kiene Jr. was the first trustee and his deed of trust was renewed in 1907 when the company financed the doubling of the building. Kiene died in 1915 and was succeeded by William Hetherington who served as trustee until his death in 1926. The 1907 mortgage of$75,000, held by the First National Bank, was paid off and released in 1927. NPS Form 10-900-a l8-861 . United States Department of the Interior National Park SelVice OMS Approval No. 1024-0018 National Register of Historic Places Continuation Sheet Section number 8 Page 34 The Security Building DubuQue. DubuQue County. Iowa "'~""~"'.;.' I.. '~.'..."'.,.. ........... ,,''':',',. ". ,.."Y; ~...., DOWNTOWN DUBUQUE'S OLDEST DEPARTMENT STORE 'J'"",~', _~u 0-.. an imporlllnt<lltl>llnmonl "'lor. In O......Q". s.no;-. HIllS. "h~ "co", .."" !'''m<lt>d lr1 J.F. Sla",plllr, ...-11<1 aeo;-'an)It W* (lWfIl:l' 01 U,. ""'IOMy III ,~9Bl, '!'ht. "'.....III;I\>U\llng....u "Clmpl.l~ lI'll1lat urn. ~."', '~n,ctOO '" 1~40 /I"ll ,;ompl.l.lY """lUCIellfti ill 1D611. 'TIt{! 5Umpl<l. family :,.rlll<lltI0l-QU.4,nu.,mIll1962wn"nll_.ll<,.,::IIII...abylll".lOllmoOfl_l-llU', '~'''1'1>>'O1l0l'l 'il".:;e Fl'Oru..". ,,1 1975, Sbmpl,,"''' II.."",, O~llKI n,. II. <:u1'.nl ClWMU. d,~ fIlcCQY$__ill.lmphtr';I. Corpc>r..lIon. TlW CQl'\KI,aUan ....... p..,cha.e<i by Mr '9nnY'-"IC..I~y.alonn..Slillm"'Il"'rNInaqlll.lnJUM, 11.15. ~!~,~R!~S Figure 22: Security Building viewed from roof of Roshek's, view northeast, c.1957 ("Our Spirited Years," Telegraph-Herald, n.d.) A 1939 mortgage on the leasehold provided $60,000 for building improvements, as did a 1940 note for $85,000. These debts were satisfied and released in 1940 and 1942 respectively. A third mortgage, for $100,000, was negotiated in March 1942 and a fourth mortgage, for $150,000 was arranged for in February 18, 1946 (released in October 1951). The 99-year lease arrangement was superceded by a new 20-year lease, which set the monthly rent at $4,500 effective February 1,1942, and then at $5,000 beginning December 31,1943. That agreement was amended February 16, 1946 by setting an annual figure of $48,000. An external heating plant was built across the alley to the northeast of the Security Building on land that had been acquired by the landowners sometime prior to 1886. Thomas Stampfer asked the City Council to approve the construction of a steam tunnel from the plant to his building in July 1946. Land and building finally were joined in unified ownership on September 18, 1994, when Security Partners, L.P., originally titled Security Building Partnership, purchased the land. OMB Approval No. 1024-0018 NPS Form 10.900-a (8-861 United States Department of the Interior National Park SelVice National Register of Historic Places Continuation Sheet I !. <'I MOt ~~, r 1 ~ .)-.,. ~l f'-' ~}HI S Bl ~ ryl~ z t.. .... "." , 'G <( f ~ :" ....:> ;, : ; ---'-~--."V--"" " -.~ ~_~_~ .~. ,~ !f ),; (/>4) :i}' . ' r - - .. ~ .~ ~. ~~h; i '!r--0 ' .: ":~.' hr~-'''r~ ..~~.. . ;^.,~::z.r';''''' ~ t~,., ... ,J,., r !. -t, ifu . '<J~(F ~~ J':' :fr' ,. ~jj;LMQ~fl S ~~ , \. , " " r" ..__".'11*..... r '.,'-..~,,; J: .:""'S~;I,,el'l ,,- .... -.- ".,.1:. " ""t'" .'lj :.:;>>j ??5 7/1 ....... . 't"t --. ,,~ tt Section number 8 Page The Security Building :2; MClfft,}j // Jj' I ~' k ~--:::. I, r,,,.,., l'Ill .-.",' 151) :.jlNf 1"1 , 35 Dubuque. Dubuque County. Iowa ~.i1'^}' I W.9T.ti 4"~F 6'''" r-_...bl~.._,,"._- '1,;'" ,ti,_, CU,TJ?IiL fiRE SrllT/OII l::f ", "f{jil:. i, J~" - 'I (lfl~) ~l >I!. >:....<.\ ., Jt.f - .ffl'MiP } "Ifif.-$J./t;t;;. m~ 't"-" ..., , , I~, -JJ. "!t~.. :~~ i..,.,..', r.-J'--' :0 ""r I ' , ~"1f j ,0;' .lIHf)S i, ~ "'[' J1JJ!~ iV, f7~ J} ,r~' ":J. ';'" . ,h ...:1 ~.."""'.'Pf'~ ~- .- .1' I tM' 'f""" 'Il>L J).. t.; t "l'~J~. '- "-1 'J.l~ r-;:s- h~"11 .!. 1:.-. V'..} ~ ;;$>: 1 l.i)"'J" \; t SY;ft:;>< I'" "" 01j"lp<,.,(dn.O r ". -"I !::' " ~~ "-"<<r?, ~"~ ~~~J ~ ;" 1, 1 I~)!J :~ i ',~(j'A"tlTlf!Alii/C I ~~, ~ J \:t~ ..f.... I 1'~' I ... ;; ~:t I ,>>fOIfII;S , '.I1.ll.f..u 'Q r~~ , /':;' '-- i~;~. ";,-.:-; {/7r!.> ~ !:4.,.~a;~""# ". k: t t:~"Trt-&a~)'~;Q Of'f 'lj , . S : ,,{)Ptf'l' ~ l~i' n' J1 1#' MS~!,,'~=Yt.~.t:: Ir:";, \ V'/ 8"...;,,11 Figure 23: 1909/50 Sanborn Fire Insurance Map Security Building is shaded gray Building Tenant History: As of 1899, the storefronts were occupied by G. Schaetzle's Meat Market (806 Main), Sullivan and Stampfer, dry goods (812 Main), Fraatz and Clark, druggists (814 Main) and Munyen Brothers Confectionery (842 Main). This allowed for four storefronts along Main Street. The druggists had previously been housed in the Sanford Block, and returned to occupy the replacement building (1899-1900 Dubuque City Directory). The 1909 Sanborn Map indicates that there were five storefronts, all facing Main Street and addressed as 800- 04,820-22,840,850 and 856 Main Street. The corner storefront, site of the drug store, was doubled by 1909 and whole building was occupied by a department store. Offices were on the upper floors, indicating an expansion of office space probably realized when the building was enlarged two years previously. By 1950 the same source denotes four double storefronts, addressed as 800-12,820-32,840 and 856 Main Street. A massive elevator was centered towards the front ofthe 1907 addition and was added after 1909. NPS Form 10-900-a 16-66! . United States Department of the Interior National Park SelVice OM8 Approval No. 1024-0018 National Register of Historic Places Continuation Sheet Section number 8 Page 36 The Security Building Dubuque, Dubuque County, Iowa Buildinl! Tenants. Securitv-StamDfer Building Year 800-806/800-848 880-812 814-822 842-848 1899 806-G. Schaetz1e, meats 812-Sullivan & Stamp fer 814-Fraatz & Clark, 842-Munyen Bros., drugs confectionery 1900 Same Same 1904 892- Thos. H. Clark, Same drugcist 1908 808-12-J. F. Stamp fer, 822-Harger & Blish 848- Boston One Price Stampfer & Jaeggi Clothiers (Ben Kaufman Carpet Co. & Son) 1909 800-812-Same 844-Harger & Blish 1915 800-848-Same 850-56-Standard Supp1v Co. 1918 800-848-Same ? 1925 800-848-Same 850-Green Mill Sweet 856-Federa1 Bakery Shoo 1929 800-848-Same Same Same 1934 800-848-Same ? Same 1937 800-848-Same 850-Callaghan Same Confectionery 1941 800-848-Same 850-LaParisian Bakery Same 1945 800-848-Same Same 856-Ames' Dress Shop 1950 800-848-Same Same Same 1955 800-848-Same Same Same 1960 800-848-Same O'Connor Millinery NPS Form 10.900-a (8-861 United States Department of the Interior National Park Service OMS Approval No. 1024-0018 National Register of Historic Places Continuation Sheet Section number 9 Page 37 The Security Building Dubuque. Dubuque County. Iowa 9. Maior Bibliographic References: Baker, John Milnes. American House Styles: A Concise Guide. New York: W. W. Norton & Company, 1994 Calloway, Stephen. The Elements of Style. New York: Simon & Schuster, 1996 Dubuque And Its Neighborhood, Souvenir Gems of Dubuque, Dubuque; Harger and Blish Booksellers, 1897 (reprinted May 1999 by The Old House Enthusiasts of Dubuque) (County Historical Society) Dubuque of Today. the Key City. Historical. Descriptive And Biographical. Commercial And Industrial, Dubuque; Press of the Telegraph Job Printing Company, 1897 Jacobsen, James E. "...thefinest business street west of Chicago and North of St. Louis.." Phase III Architectural and Historical Survey Report-Downtown Dubuque. Des Moines: History Pays! Historic Preservation Consulting Firm, 2003 Jacobsen, James E., Willoughby James Edbrooke (1843-1896) - An Historical Overview and Significance Evaluation (Des Moines: History Pays, 2002) Longstreth, Richard W. The Buildings On Main Street: A Guide to American Commercial Architecture: 1850-1950. Washington: National Trust for Historic Preservation, 1987 McAlester, Lee and Virginia. A Field Guide to American Houses. New York: Alfred A. Knopf, 1984 Oldt, Franklin T., and P. J. Quigley, History of Dubuque County. Iowa, Chicago: Goodspeed Historical Association, 1911 Portrait and Biographical Record of Dubuque, Chicago: Chapman Publishing Company, 1894 (Center for Dubuque History) Sommer, Lawrence J., The Heritage of Dubuque: An Architectural View, Dubuque: First National Bank, 1975 Wellge, Henry, "Perspective Map of the City of Dubuque, Ia." Milwaukee: American Publishing Company, 1889 Wilkie, William E., Dubuque On The Mississippi. 1877-1988, Dubuque; Laras College Press, 1987 (Carnegie-Stout Library) Sanborn Map Company, Sanborn Fire Insurance Maps, 1884, 1891, 1909, 1909/36, 1909/6, New York; Sanborn Map Company,1909-59 Security Building Property Abstract NPS Form lQ-900-a 18-861 . United States Department of the Interior National Park Service OMB Approval No_ 1024-0018 National Register of Historic Places Continuation Sheet Section number 10 Page 38 The Security Building Dubuque, Dubuque County, Iowa 10. Geographical Data: Legal Description: City Lots 29, 30 and the South one-third of City Lot 31, City of Dubuque Legal Justification: This property includes the entire Security Building as it was originally built and expanded in 1907, and which has been directly associated with this site since its 1896 construction. Maps: Figure 24: Downtown Dubuque (Dubuque County Assessor, 2006) NPS Form 10.S00-a (8.86) United States Department of the Interior National Park Service OMB Approval No. 1024-0018 National Register of Historic Places Continuation Sheet Section number 10 Page 39 The Security Building Dubuque, Dubuque County, Iowa Intersection, 8 and Main (Dubuque County Assessor, 2006) Photographs: Photographer: James E. Jacobsen Date of Photographs: February 13, 2006 Frame: View Description: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 NW NW N NE NE NE SE SW NE south/8th Street frontage, elevated view alley, elevated detail, upper levels of South facade south fa9ade, Grand Opera House in left background rounded comer, west fa9ade (Main Street) break point between 1896, 1907 facades north end wall east or alley wall overview from Roshek's Building, roof and elevator penthouse .