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HomeMy WebLinkAboutUnited States Department of the Interior-Application-05.18.2009 , CLG NATIONAL REGISTER REVIEW e..€4—1t '. �40 7 4/53 CLG Name Waterloo Date of Public Meeting Property Name The Fowler Co. Building, 226-228 E. 4th Street, Waterloo, Black Hawk County 1. For Historic Preservation Commission: ❑ Recommendation of National Register eligibility ❑ Recommendation of National Register ineligibility Signature Date Print Name Title Reason(s) for recommendation: 2. For Chief Elected Local Official: ❑ Recommendation of National Register eligibility ❑ Recommendation of National Register ineligibility Signature Date 5/ 18/2 009 Print Name Tim Hurley Title Mayor Reason(s) for recommendation: 3. Professional Evaluation: ❑ Recommendation of National Register eligibility ❑ Recommendation of National Register ineligibility Signature Date Print Name Title Reason(s) for recommendation: RETURN TO: State Historical Society of Iowa, ATTN: National Register Coordinator, 600 E. Locust, Des Moines, IA 50319 CLG NATIONAL REGISTER REVIEW CLG Name Waterloo Date of Public Meeting Property Name The Fowler Co. Building, 226-228 E. 4th Street Waterloo, Black Hawk County 1. For Historic Preservation Commission: O Recommendation of National Register eligibility O Recommendation of National Register ineligibility Signature Date Print Name Title Reason(s) for recommendation: 2. For Chief Elected Local Official: O Recommendation of National Register eligibility O Recommendation of National Register ineligibility Signature Date 5/ 18/2 009 Print Name Tim Hu r 1 e Title Mayor Reason(s) for recommendation: 3. Professional Evaluation: O Recommendation of National Register eligibility O Recommendation of National Register ineligibility Signature Date Print Name Title Reason(s) for recommendation: RETURN TO: State Historical Society of Iowa, ATTN: National Register Coordinator, 600 E. Locust, Des Moines, IA 50319 CLG NATIONAL REGISTER REVIEW CLG Name Waterloo Date of Public Meeting Property Name The Fowler Co. Building, 226-228 E. 4th Street, Waterloo, Black Hawk County 1. For Historic Preservation Commission: ❑ Recommendation of National Register eligibility ❑ Recommendation of National Register ineligibility Signature Date Print Name Title Reason(s) for recommendation: 2. For Chief Elected Local Official: ❑ Recommendation of National Register eligibility ❑ Recommendation of National Register ineligibility Signature Date 5/ 18/2 00 9 Print Name Tim Hurley Title Mayor Reason(s) for recommendation: 3. Professional Evaluation: ❑ Recommendation of National Register eligibility ❑ Recommendation of National Register ineligibility • Signature Date Print Name Title Reason(s) for recommendation: RETURN TO: State Historical Society of Iowa, ATTN: National Register Coordinator, 600 E. Locust, Des Moines, IA 50319 MAR 1 0 2009 NPS Form 10-900 OMB No. 1024-0018 (Rev. 10-90) United States Department of the Interior National Park Service NATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES REGISTRATION FORM This form is for use in nominating or requesting determinations 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"x"in the appropriate box or by entering the information requested. If any item does not apply to the property being documented,enter"N/A"for"not applicable." For functions,architectural classification,materials,and areas of significance,enter only categories and subcategories from the instructions. Place additional entries and narrative items on continuation sheets(NPS Form 10-900a). Use a typewriter,word processor,or computer,to complete all items. 1. Name of Property historic name The Fowler Co. Building other names/site number 2. Location street& number 226-228 E. 4t''Street not for publication N/A city or town Waterloo vicinity N/A state Iowa code IA county Black Hawk code 013 zip code 50703 3. State/Federal Agency Certification As the designated authority under the National Historic Preservation Act of 1986, as amended, I hereby certify that this X nomination request for determination of eligibility meets the documentation standards for registering properties in the National Register of Historic Places and meets the procedural and professional requirements set forth in 36 CFR Part 60. In my opinion, the property X meets does not meet the National Register Criteria. I recommend that this property be considered significant nationally statewide X locally. (_See continuation sheet for additional comments.) Signature of certifying official Date State or Federal agency and bureau In my opinion,the property meets does not meet the National Register criteria. (_See continuation sheet for additional comments.) Signature of commenting or other official Date State or Federal agency and bureau 4. National Park Service Certification I, hereby certify that this property is: Signature of Keeper Date of Action entered in the National Register _See continuation sheet. determined eligible for the National Register _See continuation sheet. determined not eligible for the National Register removed from the National Register other(explain): The Fowler Co. Building Black Hawk County, Iowa Name of Property County and State 15. Classification Ownership of Property Category of Property Number of Resources within Property (Check as many boxes as apply) (Check only one box) Contributing Noncontributing X private X building(s) 1 0 buildings public-local district sites public-State site structures public-Federal structure objects __object 1 0 Total er of contributing Name of related multiple property listing Nu seed in the National rReg Register previously (Enter"N/A"if property is not part of a multiple property listing.) N/A 0 11 6. Function or Use Historic Functions Current Functions (Enter categories from instructions) (Enter categories from instructions) COMMERCE/TRADE/warehouse WORK IN PROGRESS COMMERCE/TRADE/business 7. Description Architectural Classification Materials (Enter categories from instructions) (Enter categories from instructions LATE VICTORIAN/Queen Anne foundation STONE/Limestone roof WOOD walls BRICK other Narrative Description (Describe the historic and current condition of the property on one or more continuation sheets.) The Fowler Co. Building Black Hawk County, Iowa Name of Property County and State 8. Statement of Significance Applicable National Register Criteria Areas of Significance (Mark"x"in one or more boxes for the criteria qualifying the property (Enter categories from instructions) for National Register listing) COMMERCE X A Property is associated with events that have made ARCHITECTURE a significant contribution to the broad patterns of our history. B Property is associated with the lives of persons significant in our past. X C Property embodies the distinctive characteristics of a type, period, or method of construction or Period of Significance represents the work of a master, or possesses 1884-1937 high artistic values, or represents a significant and distinguishable entity whose components lack individual distinction. D Property has yielded, or is likely to yield information important in prehistory or history. Criteria Considerations(Mark"X"in all the boxes that apply.) Significant Dates Property is: 1884 A owned by a religious institution or used for religious purposes. B removed from its original location. Significant Person (Complete if Criterion B is marked above) C a birthplace or a grave. D a cemetery. E a reconstructed building, object, or structure Cultural Affiliation N/A F a commemorative property. G less than 50 years of age or achieved significance within the past 50 years. Architect/Builder UNKNOWN Narrative Statement of Significance (Explain the significance of the property on one or more continuation sheets.) 9. Major Bibliographical References Bibliography(Cite the books,articles,and other sources used in preparing this form on one or more continuation sheets.) Previous documentation on file(NPS) Primary Location of Additional Data preliminary determination of individual listing(36 CFR 67) has been X State Historic Preservation Office requested. Other State agency previously listed in the National Register Federal agency X previously determined eligible by the National Register Local government designated a National Historic Landmark University recorded by Historic American Buildings Survey # Other recorded by Historic American Engineering Record# Name of repository: The Fowler Co. Building Black Hawk County, Iowa Name of Property County and State 10. Geographical Data Acreage of Property less than one acre UTM References (Place additional UTM references on a continuation sheet) Zone Easting Northing Zone Easting Northing 1 15 554644 4705374 3 2 4 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 Jan Olive Nash, Historian&Architectural Historian organization Tallqrass Historians L.C. date January 2009 street& number 2460 S. Riverside Drive telephone 319.354.6722 city or town Iowa City state IA zip code 52246 Additional Documentation Submit the following items with the completed form: Continuation Sheets Maps A USGS map(7.5 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 the SHPO or FPO.) name Fowler Project L.L.C. (c/c James E. Walsh, Jr.) street& number 315 E. 5th St. telephone 319-287-5389 city or town Waterloo state IA zip code 50703 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.). Estimated Burden Statement: Public reporting burden for this form is estimated to average 18.1 hours per response including the 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 Project(1024-0018),Washington,DC 20503. NPS Form 10-900-a OMB No.1024-0018 (8-86) United States Department of the Interior National Park Service The Fowler Co.Building NATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES Black Hawk County Iowa CONTINUATION SHEET Section 7 Page 1 7. Description Summary Paragraph The Fowler Co.Building(Fig. 1)is a three story,flat roofed,commercial edifice constructed in 1884 on a busy corner of the two-block long eastside business district in Waterloo,Iowa.' The building is situated at the southeast corner of the intersection of Lafayette and East 4th streets,not far from the Cedar River,the historic power source for a generation of nineteenth-century mills along East 4th. The Fowler Co.'s decision to build at this corner put its new offices and wholesale grocery warehouse at the heart of the robust and growing eastern Iowa prairie town.Though no building current exists along Lafayette between the Fowler building and the alleyway behind it,The Fowler Co.Building has handsome brick commercial buildings of a similar age and style as its immediate neighbors along East 4`h.Constructed of red brick and trimmed with limestone details,the Fowler building's pattern of windows,stonework,and ornate pressed metal cornice render this building not only stylish and visually interesting, but also a lasting tribute to the wholesale grocery business and the local family who grew the business and constructed the building. THE FCWLER Ce. . M ,'s i'i t's1'! 1`1,4 t Vi # iF{�eF � } A A. a iri }�. �:. l 6,4•16 y 4 w Y Figure 1 The Fowler Co.Building in 2008,rehabilitation complete. Photo by Douglas J.Steinmetz,2008 The historic name of this building best reflects the way the public would have viewed the name,from the still prominent name block on the building itself,to the company's signage and its frequent advertisements(see Figs. 5 and 10). NPS Form 10-900-a OMB No.1024-0018 (8-86) United States Department of the Interior National Park Service The Fowler Co.Building NATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES Black Hawk County Iowa CONTINUATION SHEET Section 7 Page 2 Exterior Though generally rectangular in shape,the corner of the Fowler building that faces the center of the intersection is canted in a width sufficient to accommodate the front entrance at ground level and a single window on each floor above.The building's common red brick walls sit on a limestone foundation.Its window sills are also limestone.At the roofline,the walls are capped with a highly ornamental metal cornice.The stamped metal cornice on the primary 4th St. facade and the canted corner have central pediments flanked by taller finials and supported by massive brackets with smaller interstitial brackets(Fig.2).Between each small bracket and on the face of each large bracket are circular designs,mildly floral in nature.The large,4th St.cornice pediment bears the date"1884"(Fig. 3).Under this on the masonry wall are the words"The Fowler Co." Segmental-arch window headers throughout are composed of soldier bricks separated by stone keystones,with flat stone drops incised with circles on either side. Wall surfaces along the Lafayette St. elevation are decorated with widely- spaced horizontal courses of single bricks turned to expose a corner,which creates a dark contrasting shadow on both sides and results in an animated visual pattern across the wall. Wide,deep,brick corbels above the top floor windows on both streetside elevations form a strong,rhythmic horizontal band and draw the eye towards the ornate metal cornice at the roofline.The brickwork on the primary East 4th St.façade and canted corner is further differentiated by pilasters. Windows are located within inset brick panels between these pilasters. + r,.N } • yee- 06 Figure 2 Detail of metal cornice atop the canted corner. Photo by Tallgrass Historians L.C.,2008 NPS Form 10-900-a OMB No.1024-0018 (8-86) United States Department of the Interior National Park Service The Fowler Co.Building NATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES Black Hawk County Iowa CONTINUATION SHEET Section 7 Page 3 ,333 ' Figure 3 Detail of signage and metal cornice atop East 4th Street facade. Photo by Tallgrass Historians L.C.,2008 Upper floor fenestration on the 4th St. façade is regularly space on the top or third floor.On the second floor,the historic 4th St. fenestration pattern has been restored by removal and replacement of two large windows that replaced the four original windows,probably in the 1930s(Fig.4).Upper floor fenestration on the long elevation fronting Lafayette Street is vertically balanced but not horizontally symmetrical. The windows on the rear half of the Lafayette side are widely spaced,but the spacing on the front half becomes irregular.Also one of the windows here is wider than all the others on this side of the building and once accommodated or illuminated a doorway(nonextant)reached by an exterior side stairway(nonextant).Ground floor fenestration on the 4th and Lafayette streetsides was altered, probably in the 1950s,by replacement of the original pilasters,wall surfaces,and windows with modern plate glass display windows supported by steel posts.Over these new sidewalk display windows, a concrete-clad rigid awning was attached to the building,also probably in the 1950s. On the roof,the tall crown chimneys seen in a historic photograph(Fig. 5)were removed at an unknown date. NPS Form 10-900-a (8-86) OMB No.1024-0018 United States Department of the Interior National Park Service The Fowler Co.Building NATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES Black Hawk County Iowa CONTINUATION SHEET Section 7 Page 4 As a result of the current rehabilitation project(for which tax credits were sought),the awning was removed and the sidewalk level fenestration was returned to a more historically appropriate configuration,though the Lafayette St. side remains open and glazed(refer back to Fig. 1). Fenestration on the rear wall,which was once narrowly separated from The Fowler Co.'s other building(nonextant), was irregular and lacked the ornamentation of the two public sides. Most of these have been filled in and the entire wall is painted a brick red color. There is no fenestration on the 4th side,a party wall shared with the adjacent"Haffa Building" (1880s). Windows on both public elevations were replaced recently with new units approved by the Iowa State Historic Preservation Officer and the National Park Service as acceptable matches to the historic windows. fr bi p 1 ;-- -- -_ i. i.,,,, ,,:..„6- - . 16.., ti ,.ti.. f.......'V= .,... 'k - 2.. , -I _ , Yf Z.7 b } err s'+z ."`", , t x'y<� t -.l Z. - '< t x-- c ;.1 -- sae n Eli.,- ,*'—'-'''" . Figure 4 The Fowler Co.Building in 2005,before the present rehabilitation. The building's brick and stone walls were painted gray with the ornate cornice a darker battleship gray. Note the large second story window on the East 4th Street facade(right)and the heavy-looking hanging canopy over the sidewalk on both elevations. All these alterations were reversed.Photo by Tallgrass Historians L.C.,2005 NPS Form 10-900-a OMB No.1024-0018 (8-86) United States Department of the Interior National Park Service The Fowler Co.Building NATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES Black Hawk County Iowa CONTINUATION SHEET Section 7 Page 5 __„...-'1,,..,,.- ',..-1, 1,-,1 4' ,;0 9.41.c,`,, a.,4.—ti , , • .', ,,---- . ; , ,,,i,-„-4...,,, 1,5,, L ,yc . s: ,-.1.3., 1 f �..tea S k K�.;� r °R'.+'. -a_y3 �� � � • � '� a � »sue... �t'' -e W �"to ` .�- � � . asp � O t"• 1 .ti l.sEi Yf�`',r " "ram 'f i i . ae i..+ . ffic. A_. �•:».� • ,Y,y�r,t o ti. v x !$ ..t z 4'r y , e�yr z -.' '' : '1- T' i .�{`'S' . e 2 , ^fa fur - ' ._ �.iu $�y,,,�{ a ���`� .s �� _ �i�y ;.^ ,Yt� P4...^4 2:.:Y`r.., �-�xa�.�.��yF��...�c s"4�'f.(. Figure 5 This well-known historic photograph of The Fowler Co.Building existed by 1894,when the second Fowler building at the far left was constructed. The same photograph,with its distinctive team of gray horses and push cart,also appeared on the front page of the Waterloo Daily Reporter's November 23, 1896 issue illustrating an article about a fire in the second building. Taken from Souvenir[of[ Waterloo, Iowa(1899),Leonard Ratoski Collection,Grout Museum of History and Science Interior Over the years,most of the interior surfaces throughout the building had been remodeled and modernized. Some of this work was required after a fire in the building in 1896;other renovations were probably needed after an 1899 fire in the adjacent Fowler building due to smoke and water damage. Various tenants long had occupied parts of the building and,especially after 1937 when the Fowler Company moved to a new location beyond the downtown area,tenant requirements would have resulted in additional interior changes.3 Prior to the current rehabilitation project,the basement housed the lower floor of the bar that occupied the street level floor.The second floor remained open warehouse space in the rear of the building,with 1930s vintage partition walls for office space in the front part facing East 4th St. Above this, on the top or third floor,the space lacked partition walls but the 2 Iowa State Reporter,November 27, 1896;Iowa State Reporter,October 17, 1899. 3 Fowler Company entries in the Waterloo city directories indicate the business moved to Center Street in 1937.