The Metropolitan Opera House (MOH) is an historic opera house in Iowa Falls, Iowa, United States. It was individually listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1975. In 2012 it was included as a contributing property in the Washington Avenue Commercial Historic District.
The Princess Sweet Shop is a historic building located in Iowa Falls, Iowa, United States. It is noted as "an outstanding example of Art Deco design from 1935. The Carrara Glass façade, and streamlined woodwork are typical of Art Deco design of the 1920s and 1930s, but a rarity in a small town in Iowa." E.J. Karrys opened the Princess in 1915, and the Sweet Shop opened by H.K. Pergakis two years later. Both Karrys and Pergakis were Greek immigrants, a group who were known to establish candy shop around the U.S. They combined their operations at the Princess location in 1928. The building was destroyed in a fire on December 25, 1934. Local architect L.L. Klippel designed the new building, which was completed in 1935. It was the first building in Iowa Falls that was air conditioned. Members of the Perkagis maintained ownership until 1987. The business is still in operation as a soda fountain under different ownership.
The Adair County Courthouse, located in Greenfield, Iowa, United States, was built from 1891 to 1892. It was individually listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1981 as a part of the County Courthouses in Iowa Thematic Resource. In 2014 it was included as a contributing property in the Greenfield Public Square Historic District. The courthouse is the third structure to house county courts and administration offices.
The W.R.C. Hall is an historic building located in Iowa Falls, Iowa, United States. Built in 1898, the building has segmented arched windows and a bracketed metal cornice, which are features of the Italianate style.
The Benson Building, also known as the Union Bus Depot, was an historic building located in downtown Ottumwa, Iowa, United States. The Tudor Revival style commercial building was completed in 1930. The one-story structure was composed of highly textured, painted brick. The façade featured a steeply-pitched gable roof and half-timbering. The building was originally used as an indoor miniature golf course. Its significance was attributed to its architecture. It was individually listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1995 as a part of the Ottumwa MPS. In 2016 it was included as a contributing property in the Greater Second Street Historic District.
The Hampton Double Square Historic District is a historic district located in Hampton, Iowa, United States. It has been listed on the National Register of Historic Places since 2003. At the time of its nomination it contained 43 resources, which included 28 contributing buildings, two contributing sites, 10 non-contributing buildings, one non-contributing site, one non-contributing structures, and on non-contributing object. The town of Hampton was laid out by H.P. Allen, who was the county surveyor, in June 1856. The original plat was eight blocks by eight blocks in the shape of an “L”. Near the center of the “L” was the two-block, or double, square. While many county seats in Iowa have a courthouse square, the double square is a rarity. Four double squares were platted in Iowa, but only those in Hampton and Sidney survived their early period of development. Estherville's square was platted as a four-block square, but its development created a double square instead. Hampton has the only symmetrical double square plan in the state. The double square exemplifies the two primary functions of a public square, both commercial and public development.
The Oskaloosa Fire Station is a historic building located in Oskaloosa, Iowa, United States. It was designed by Des Moines architect Frank E. Wetherell, an Oskaloosa native, in the Renaissance Revival style. It was originally designed along with the adjoining city hall in 1905. The buildings were designed for phased construction, and the city council decided to build the fire station first. Completed in 1908, it is a three-story brick building with a 4½-story bell tower. The fire station was individually listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1991. Previously it had been included as a contributing property in the Oskaloosa City Square Commercial Historic District.
The Cundill Block is a historic building located in Maquoketa, Iowa, United States. Local photographer Will Cundill had this two-story brick commercial building constructed in 1882. His studio was originally located on the second floor before he moved it to the main floor in 1895 when he built an addition onto the back. A variety of retail businesses have occupied the commercial space over the years. The building is representative of the brick commercial buildings that were built in Maquoketa in the 1880s and the 1890s. It features simple brick hoodmolds over the windows and a brick patterned cornice across the top. Although covered, the iron storefront remains in place. The building was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1991.
The Lyon Block is a historic building located in Maquoketa, Iowa, United States. Built in 1900, the significance in this building is found in its use of brick. It introduced the use of warm brown into the downtown color scheme. Brick is also the main design element of the building as found in the rhythmical arches above the second floor windows. The color and texture of the wall surface are now the important decorative features and not that which was applied to it. The man floor storefront has been altered, but the significant historical elements of the building have been left in place. The building was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1991.
Chariton Public Library is located in Chariton, Iowa, United States. The Library and Reading Room Association was formed in Chariton in 1879, but it was short-lived. The county superintendent of schools started a teachers' library in the courthouse sometime afterward. By this time the community had a library of 800 volumes. There was an effort by study clubs in town in 1898 to raise money and establish a free public library. The Chariton Federation of Women's Clubs took the lead and opened a library with the books from the courthouse in two rooms above Gibbons Drug Store on the town square. Citizens approved a local tax to support the library the following year.
Chariton City Hall and Fire Station is located in Chariton, Iowa, United States. The combination building was designed by city engineer William L. Perkins, who had become known for designing residential and public buildings. The new facility came about because of the inadequate wood frame facilities they shared, and it was underscored by a fire that destroyed the center section of the south side of the town square in March 1930. While its dedication did not take place until March 1932, the city took possession of the completed facility in December 1931. An addition for the fire department was completed in 1979. While the asymmetrical facade and the recessed limestone surround of the main entrance reflects the Art Deco style that was popular at the time, the building's styling reflects the Neoclassical style. It is primarily found in the pilasters that flank the entrance, and the low relief emblems and festoons on the stone panels. The city hall\fire station was individually listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2006. In 2014 it was included as a contributing property in the Lucas County Courthouse Square Historic District.
The Chariton Herald-Patriot Building is located in Chariton, Iowa, United States. This is the earliest known building designed by Local architect William L. Perkins, who had arrived in town the year before the building was completed in 1918. The two-story hydro-stone block structure features a three bay, symmetrical facade, a simple classical cornice, and simple pilasters on the first floor with plain capitals that divide the bays. The significance of the hydro-stone, which is a type of concrete block, is its use as a then new building material. The building was individually listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2006. In 2014 it was included as a contributing property in the Lucas County Courthouse Square Historic District.
Hotel Charitone is a historic building located in Chariton, Iowa, United States. Local architect William L. Perkins designed the building in the Neoclassical style. It was his second major commission in town after the Chariton Herald-Patriot Building (1918). Local contractor P.E. Johnson constructed the building. It opened on November 5, 1923 and remained in operation as a hotel with some apartments under various owners. The buildings had fallen into disrepair and was vacant when Hy-Vee, a grocery store chain that had been headquartered in Chariton for years spearheaded the renovation of the building as an act of gratitude for the community's support.
G. Kerndt & Brothers Office Block, also known as the Kerndt Brothers Building, is a historic building located in Lansing, Iowa, United States. The four Kerndt brothers were all German immigrants who settled in the Lansing area by 1854. Gustav, William and Mortiz established a broom factory and cigar business in town while Herman farmed and provided the broom corn for the factory. In 1861 they built the first part of this building to house their general store. They were so successful they expanded the building in 1866. In addition to the store they also owned a gran elevator along the Mississippi River. Added to this they started in private banking as a part of their mercantile business. In 1908 it was incorporated by the family as the Kerndt Brothers Savings Bank. This building now houses the Kerndt Brothers Savings Bank Community Center.
The Lansing Main Street Historic District is a nationally recognized historic district located in Lansing, Iowa, United States. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2014. At the time of its nomination the district consisted of 51 resources, including 42 contributing buildings, 8 non-contributing buildings, and one non-contributing site. The district covers most of the central business district, which is generally along Main Street. The commercial buildings are mostly masonry structures constructed with bricks or native limestone. A few buildings are frame construction with gable roofs. The buildings are from one to three stories in height, although most are no taller that two stories. The Italianate architectural style dominates. Most of the upper stories in the buildings housed retail or office space, but a few were residential. The commercial buildings that did not house retail establishments were located near the Mississippi River and were industrial in nature. The G. Kerndt & Brothers Office Block (1861) and the G. Kerndt and Brothers Elevator and Warehouses, No. 11, No.12 and No. 13 (1868) are individually listed on the National Register. Three public buildings are located in the district: the former jail and fire station, the Art Deco former City Hall (1938), and the modern U.S. Post Office.
Grand Avenue Historic Commercial District is a nationally recognized historic district located in Spencer, Iowa, United States. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2004. At the time of its nomination the district consisted of 57 resources, including 39 contributing buildings, and 18 noncontributing buildings. The district cover's most of the city's central business district, mainly along Grand Avenue, but on some of the intersecting streets as well. In addition to commercial buildings, the district also includes the post office, a theater, and a fraternal lodge. The commercial Romanesque Revival and Neoclassical styles are dominant. The period of significance begins in 1913 when a building boom of more "modern" construction began and ends in 1935. A fire started by fireworks destroyed nearly two full blocks, and affected 70 businesses and professional offices. The architects who designed the new buildings went for a unified approach utilizing a Spanish/Mission influence. The Iowa Legislature passed a law banning the sale of fireworks throughout the state.
The Sentinel Block is a historic building located in Iowa Falls, Iowa, United States. Previous commercial blocks in Iowa Falls tended to follow the more ornate Italianate style. This building, completed in 1905, marks a departure from those older structures. Rectilinear brick panels above the windows replaced the decorative hoodmolds, and the brick patterned cornice with a plain stone cap replaced the heavy metal cornice. The building also features an oriel window with a crenelated parapet. The building housed the Iowa Falls Sentinel for over 20 years. It began as the Eldora Sentinel in 1857, relocated to Iowa Falls in 1865, and was bought out by its competitor, the Hardin County Citizen, in 1927.
The Ellsworth–Jones Building is a historic building located in Iowa Falls, Iowa, United States. Eugene S. Ellsworth was a land broker, town developer, and philanthropist. This building was the headquarters of his firm Ellsworth and Jones, who sold land throughout Iowa and other states in the Midwest. While Iowa Falls was their headquarters, they also had offices in Chicago, Boston, and Crookston, Minnesota. The three-story, brick Neoclassical building was completed in 1902. It features Ionic and Doric columns, egg-and-dart motif on the lower level columns, round arches, acanthus leaf keystones, foliated decorative elements, a dentils on the cornice.
The Washington Avenue Commercial Historic District is a nationally recognized historic district located in Iowa Falls, Iowa, United States. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2012. At the time of its nomination the district consisted of 59 resources, including 42 contributing buildings and 15 non-contributing buildings. The district takes in most of the city's central business district. The buildings here were generally used for retail and office purposes. An opera house and theater are also located here. Around the edges of the district are buildings that housed automobile dealerships. The buildings generally range from one to two stories, but a couple structures are three stories in height. Built between the 1857 and 1960, the buildings are composed of masonry construction. The commercial Italianate and Classical Revival styles are dominant.
First National Bank is a historic building located in Iowa Falls, Iowa, United States. The bank traces its founding to 1882 when the Commercial Bank of Iowa Falls was established. Its name was changed to First National when they built a two-story brick building at this location two years later. In 1917 the bank decided it needed a new facility, so they turned to the Lytle Company of Sioux City, Iowa, which specialized in designing bank buildings. They designed this two-story brick Neoclassical structure. A rich surface pattern on the building was achieved with the use of terra cotta and special colors of brick. First National continued in business here until December 21, 1932 when it closed its doors. Iowa Falls State Bank was organized and opened in this building on May 25, 1933. In more recent years they expanded into the modern building immediately to the west.
