Bever Woods Historic District

Last updated
Bever Woods Historic District
USA Iowa location map.svg
Red pog.svg
Usa edcp location map.svg
Red pog.svg
LocationGrande Ave. SE, 21st St. SE, Bever Ave. SE, Cedar Rapids, Iowa
Coordinates 41°59′07″N91°38′02″W / 41.98528°N 91.63389°W / 41.98528; -91.63389 Coordinates: 41°59′07″N91°38′02″W / 41.98528°N 91.63389°W / 41.98528; -91.63389
NRHP reference No. 100008668 [1]
Added to NRHPMarch 2, 2023

The Bever Woods Historic District is a nationally recognized [historic district located in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, United States. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2023. [1] Sampson Cicero Bever with his wife and children, moved to Cedar Rapids in 1852. He opened the city's first bank and was involved in bringing the first railroad to Cedar Rapids. [2] He also donated the land for Bever Park, which is on the east boundary of the district. The historic district is a residential area made up of about 150 single-family homes. [3] Sampson Bever's grandson James had the area platted in 1916 and developed the homes in the 1920s.

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cedar Rapids, Iowa</span> City in Iowa, United States

Cedar Rapids is the second-largest city in Iowa, United States and is the county seat of Linn County. The city lies on both banks of the Cedar River, 20 miles (32 km) north of Iowa City and 100 miles (160 km) northeast of Des Moines, the state's capital and largest city. It is a part of the Cedar Rapids/Iowa City region of Eastern Iowa, which includes Linn, Benton, Cedar, Iowa, Jones, Johnson, and Washington counties.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Paramount Theatre (Cedar Rapids, Iowa)</span> United States historic place

The Paramount Theatre is a 1,693-seat theater in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. It was individually listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1976. In 2015 it was included as a contributing property in the Cedar Rapids Central Business District Commercial Historic District.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Peoples Savings Bank</span> United States historic place

The Peoples Savings Bank in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, was designed by Louis Sullivan. It was the second of a number of small "jewel box" banks in midwest towns designed by Sullivan during 1907 to 1919. It was built in 1911, and it was individually listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1978. In 2014 it was included as a contributing property in the West Side Third Avenue SW Commercial Historic District.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mother Mosque of America</span> Historic mosque in Iowa, United States

The Mother Mosque of America, once known as The Rose of Fraternity Lodge, in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, United States, is the oldest standing purpose-built mosque in the United States, having been completed in 1934. The Al-Sadiq Mosque in Chicago and the Powers Street Mosque are older by a decade but were converted from existing buildings to be used as a Muslim house of worship.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">National Register of Historic Places listings in Linn County, Iowa</span>

This is a list of the National Register of Historic Places listings in Linn County, Iowa.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">St. Joseph's Roman Catholic Church (Stone City, Iowa)</span> United States historic place

St. Joseph's Roman Catholic Church is a former parish church of the Archdiocese of Dubuque located in Stone City, Iowa, United States. Catholics in Stone City were initially served by priests from Cedar Rapids and Anamosa. Mass was celebrated in parishioner's homes until 1881 when permission was granted to use a large hall in Stone City. The parish was established in 1901 and the cornerstone for the church building was laid in 1913. It was completed later the same year. The church was designed by Dubuque, Iowa architect Guido Beck. The stained glass windows of the church were imported from Germany. The limestone used for the building was donated by city quarries. Otto Braun served as the contractor, and the labor to construct the church was also donated by local quarry businesses. The lower level of the building houses the parish hall. The rear of the church can be seen anchoring the left side of Grant Wood's painting Stone City (1930). The parish started to lose parishioners in the 1920s when the stone quarries started to decline. Its size increased again in the 1950s before economic factors once again caused it to decline. The archdiocese closed the parish in 1992, and church building became an oratory.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bethel African Methodist Episcopal Church (Cedar Rapids, Iowa)</span> United States historic place

Bethel African Methodist Episcopal Church is located in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, United States. The congregation was established in either 1870 or 1871, which makes this the oldest historically African American church in the city. It had 23 pastors from its inception to 1928, which followed the African Methodist Episcopal Church's practice of itinerant pastors. The congregation grew slowly over this same period. Many African Americans came to Cedar Rapids after the coal industry in Southern Iowa began to collapse. The Rev. Benjamin Horace Lucas, who became pastor here in 1928, was also a catalyst for growth in the congregation. Completed in 1931, this brick Colonial Revival structure replaced a wood-frame structure from 1876. Since its completion, it has served the social and religious needs of the community. It is one of the few surviving links to Cedar Rapid's early African American community as this neighborhood has been nearly obliterated by the development of Mercy Medical Center. The church building was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2013.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">First Universalist Church of Cedar Rapids</span> United States historic place

The First Universalist Church of Cedar Rapids, also called the Peoples Church Unitarian Universalist is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Built in 1875, it served the Unitarian Universalist community of Cedar Rapids, Iowa, USA, for more than 135 years. Because of the high cost of upkeep and diminishing membership, the congregation voted to sell the building and grounds in May 2010. It was demolished in October 2011.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Burlington, Cedar Rapids and Northern Railway</span>

The Burlington, Cedar Rapids and Northern Railway (BCR&N) was a railroad that operated in the United States from 1876 to 1903. It was formed to take over the operations of the bankrupt Burlington, Cedar Rapids and Minnesota Railway, which was, in turn, the result of merging several predecessor lines, the construction of which began in 1869. The corporate headquarters were in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, and it had operations in Iowa and in Minnesota. It was succeeded by the Chicago, Rock Island and Pacific Railway.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cedar Rapids Post Office and Public Building</span> United States historic place

The Cedar Rapids Post Office and Public Building, also known as the Witwer Building, is an historic building located in downtown Cedar Rapids, Iowa, United States. It was individually listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1982. In 2015 it was included as a contributing property in the Cedar Rapids Central Business District Commercial Historic District.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">William and Sue Damour House</span> Historic house in Iowa, United States

The William and Sue Damour House is a historic house located at 1844 Second Avenue SE in Cedar Rapids, Iowa.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Philip A. Wolff House and Carriage House</span> Historic house in Iowa, United States

The Philip A. Wolff House and Carriage House, also known as Belmont Hill, is a historic building located in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, United States. An Ohio native, Wolff lived in several states and the West Indies before settling in Maquoketa, Iowa. He moved to Cedar Rapids where he established a brickworks with his son. Wolff had this two-story vernacular Italianate house and accompanying carriage house built in 1883 with bricks made at his business, which was on the same grounds. At the time it was built, the house was located in a suburban area of Cedar Rapids. This was during a period of economic growth for the city. The house features paired brackets under the eaves, the windows have brick arches above and limestone sills, a three-sided, two-story bay, and a projecting center pavilion. The carriage house is architecturally similar to the main house. They were listed together on the National Register of Historic Places in 1982.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lattner Auditorium Building</span> United States historic place

The Lattner Auditorium Building is a historic building located in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, United States. Paul Lattner, who owned Cedar Rapids Auto & Supply Company, had this building constructed for his business in 1910. The first floor was an automobile showroom, the second floor was used for auto storage, and the third floor housed a neighborhood dance hall. Because this is an early example of an automobile related business, the dance hall/auditorium may have been included to ensure the building's economic viability given the nature of the automobile business at that time. Various auto-related businesses continued to occupy the building until 1935.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">James W. and Ida G. Bowman House</span> Historic house in Iowa, United States

The James W. and Ida G. Bowman House is a historic building located in Marion, Iowa, United States. The Bowmans hired the Cedar Rapids architectural firm of Dieman & Fiske, and specifically partner Charles Dieman, to design this two-story wood-frame house that combines American Craftsman and Prairie School influences. Local contractor Charles I. Wilson completed construction in 1910 in a neighborhood populated by prominent citizens. The wide overhanging eaves with exposed rafter ends reflects the Craftsman style, while the square massing and horizontal emphasis of the siding and roofline of the porch are typical of the Prairie School style. The house was individually listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2002. At the same time it was included as a contributing property in the Pucker Street Historic District.

The Second and Third Avenue Historic District is located in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, United States. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2000. At the time of its nomination it consisted of 186 resources, which included 176 contributing buildings, and 10 non-contributing buildings. This area was developed as a streetcar suburb at the turn of the 20th century. It includes single-family dwellings, apartment buildings, and two churches. The upper part of the district is called the Sampson Heights Addition. It was developed by Ellen Bever Blake and realtor/developer Malcolm Bolton. Blake's brothers James and George Bever developed the lower part of the district that they called the Bever Park Addition. The family members were in litigation for four years over the development as the two Bever sisters maintained that the three brothers received a disproportionate share of the property in their father's estate, and that they never paid for their stock in the Bever Land Company. In the end, their father's will was set aside and the five children agreed to divide the estate equally.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Redmond Park-Grande Avenue Historic District</span> Historic district in Iowa, United States

The Redmond Park-Grande Avenue Historic District is a nationally recognized historic district located in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, United States. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2001. At the time of its nomination it consisted of 196 resources, which included 193 contributing buildings, one contributing site, and two non-contributing buildings. This area was developed as a streetcar suburb at the turn of the 20th century. It includes single-family dwellings, two churches, and an apartment building. The southern part of the district, known as the Bever Park additions, was developed by brothers James and George Bever. The northern part of the district, known as Grande Avenue Place Addition, was developed by several developers, including the Bevers. The people who lived here were middle and upper income households. Local business leaders and professional people lived alongside salesmen and railroad workers.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cedar Rapids 2nd Avenue SE. Automobile Row Historic District</span> Historic district in Iowa, United States

The Cedar Rapids 2nd Avenue SE. Automobile Row Historic District is a nationally recognized historic district located in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, United States. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2015. At the time of its nomination it consisted of 24 resources, which included 17 contributing buildings, two contributing sites, four non-contributing buildings, and one non-contributing structure. This is a collection of commercial buildings that were built along the old Lincoln Highway between 1912 and 1953 to house automobile dealerships. They feature broad fronts with large display windows and open interiors. Auto repair shops were generally located at the rear of a dealership, but some were located in their own utilitarian buildings. Some of the corner lots were taken up by small gas stations. In later years, sales lots were placed adjacent to dealerships in order to display a larger number of cars. Other lots were occupied by used car lots. Prior to being converted into an automobile-centric commercial area, the district was a Victorian-era residential neighborhood. The multi-family dwelling at 309 8th St. SE remains as a reminder of that era, and it is one of the contributing properties.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cedar Rapids Central Business District Commercial Historic District</span> Historic district in Iowa, United States

The Cedar Rapids Central Business District Commercial Historic District is a nationally recognized historic district located in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, United States. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2015. At the time of its nomination it consisted of 60 resources, which included 46 contributing buildings, one contributing structure, 12 non-contributing buildings, and one non-contributing structure. Cedar Rapids was platted on the east bank of the Cedar River as Rapids City in 1841, and it was incorporated under the same name in 1849. Kingston was established on the west bank of the river in 1852. The two smaller communities consolidated in 1870 as Cedar Rapids. The streets were laid out parallel and perpendicular to the river, which flowed from the northwest to the southeast. The Chicago, Iowa and Nebraska Railroad was the first to arrive in the community in 1859 and the tracks were laid on Fourth Street on the eastern edge of the central business district. The first bridge across the river was built at Third Avenue in 1871.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">West Side Third Avenue SW Commercial Historic District</span> Historic district in Iowa, United States

The West Side Third Avenue SW Commercial Historic District is a nationally recognized historic district located in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, United States. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2014. At the time of its nomination it consisted of 10 resources, which included seven contributing buildings and three non-contributing buildings. Cedar Rapids was platted on the east bank of the Cedar River as Rapids City in 1841, and it was incorporated in 1849. Kingston was established on the west bank of the river in 1852, and it was annexed by Cedar Rapids in 1870. The streets were laid out parallel and perpendicular to the river, which flowed from the northwest to the southeast. The Chicago, Iowa & Nebraska Railway, later the Chicago & North Western Railway, was the prominent railroad on the west side of town. The first bridge across the river at Third Avenue was built in 1871. The current bridge was completed in 1912. Prior to a bridge, Rapid City and Kingston were connected by a ferry operated by David W. King, the founder of Kingston.

The Dr. Percy and Lileah Harris House is a historic building located in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, United States. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2021.

References

  1. 1 2 "National Register of Historic Places Program: Weekly List". National Park Service. March 3, 2018. Retrieved 2023-03-05.
  2. Izabela Zaluska (September 13, 2019). "Bever Woods neighborhood under consideration for historic landmark status". Cedar Rapids, Iowa: Little Village Magazine. Retrieved 2023-03-05.
  3. Brian Morelli (October 29, 2019). "Cedar Rapids history baked into Bever Woods neighborhood". The Gazette . Cedar Rapids, Iowa. Retrieved 2023-03-05.