The downtown district of West Branch, Iowa is part of the West Branch Commercial Historic District. Multiple architectural styles are represented. The historic and endangered[2]Gruwell and Crew General Store is also part of the district.
The West Branch Commercial Historic District recognizes sixteen buildings that reflect the evolution of West Branch, Iowa into an important commercial center. This change largely occurred around 1900, when wooden storefronts were demolished in favor of ornate commercial blocks.[3]
The oldest building in the district, the Grinnell Building at 112 West Main Street, may date back to 1869. Shortly after it was built, Nate Crook opened a restaurant and barber shop in a building at 102 W. Main. He later expanded the building to become a hotel and livery. The West Branch Bank opened at 104 W. Main in 1875, though it moved across the street three years later. The next period of growth was the 1890s. The Union Block, Citizens' Savings Bank, Gruwell and Crew General Store, Patterson-Leech Building, and Rich and Bailey Block were built during this decade. The 1890s also saw the construction of the ornate Opera Block, commissioned by Charles A. Macomber. Three stores shared the first story, while the second story was used by the Freemasons and had a 500-seat theater.[3]
On April 7, 1987, the district was recognized by the National Park Service with a listing on the National Register of Historic Places. The Gruwell and Crew General Store had previously been recognized individually on September 9, 1982. Additional buildings were added to the district on February 23, 1990 and April 7, 1995. The 1907 Winery Building, which served as West Branch's post office and later a full-service gas station, collapsed on June 11, 2010.[4]
Contributing propertiesedit
The 1907 Winery/Post Office in June 2009, collapsed June 2010.
west, branch, commercial, historic, district, downtown, district, west, branch, iowa, part, multiple, architectural, styles, represented, historic, endangered, gruwell, crew, general, store, also, part, district, national, register, historic, placesu, historic. The downtown district of West Branch Iowa is part of the West Branch Commercial Historic District Multiple architectural styles are represented The historic and endangered 2 Gruwell and Crew General Store is also part of the district West Branch Commercial Historic DistrictU S National Register of Historic PlacesU S Historic districtShow map of IowaShow map of the United StatesLocationN Downey and E and W Main Sts West Branch IowaCoordinates41 40 17 N 91 20 48 W 41 67139 N 91 34667 W 41 67139 91 34667Area1 acre 0 40 ha ArchitectMultipleArchitectural stylePrairie School Commercial StyleNRHP reference No 87000028 1 original 90000158 increase 1 95000386 increase 2 Significant datesAdded to NRHPApril 7 1987Boundary increasesFebruary 23 1990April 7 1995 Contents 1 History 2 Contributing properties 3 References 4 See alsoHistory editThe West Branch Commercial Historic District recognizes sixteen buildings that reflect the evolution of West Branch Iowa into an important commercial center This change largely occurred around 1900 when wooden storefronts were demolished in favor of ornate commercial blocks 3 The oldest building in the district the Grinnell Building at 112 West Main Street may date back to 1869 Shortly after it was built Nate Crook opened a restaurant and barber shop in a building at 102 W Main He later expanded the building to become a hotel and livery The West Branch Bank opened at 104 W Main in 1875 though it moved across the street three years later The next period of growth was the 1890s The Union Block Citizens Savings Bank Gruwell and Crew General Store Patterson Leech Building and Rich and Bailey Block were built during this decade The 1890s also saw the construction of the ornate Opera Block commissioned by Charles A Macomber Three stores shared the first story while the second story was used by the Freemasons and had a 500 seat theater 3 On April 7 1987 the district was recognized by the National Park Service with a listing on the National Register of Historic Places The Gruwell and Crew General Store had previously been recognized individually on September 9 1982 Additional buildings were added to the district on February 23 1990 and April 7 1995 The 1907 Winery Building which served as West Branch s post office and later a full service gas station collapsed on June 11 2010 4 Contributing properties edit nbsp The 1907 Winery Post Office in June 2009 collapsed June 2010 nbsp The Gruwell and Crew General Store References edit National Register Information System National Register of Historic Places National Park Service March 13 2009 Iowa Historic Preservation Alliance http www preservationiowa org programs endangeredArchive php endangered year 2008 a b http www presidentialinn biz attractf historicdistrict bldgbro pdf dead link Historic building collapses in West Branch Iowa City Press Citizen http www press citizen com article 20100612 NEWS01 6120326 Historic building collapses in West BranchSee also editHerbert Hoover Presidential Library and Museum Herbert Hoover National Historic Site adjacent to the district Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title West Branch Commercial Historic District amp oldid 1169593940, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
