TOUR OF HISTORIC DISTRICTS

START AT THE CORNER OF PEARL STREET & FIRST AVENUE

GOING WEST TO S. SEVENTH ST.

On the right:

Bayliss Park Hall – Built in 1901 as Elks Lodge – Colonial Revival

Council Buffs Clinic – This example of the Classical Revival/Neoclassical  style was built in 1928

Also on the right is the YMCA Building- Listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

TURN LEFT ON SOUTH SEVENTH STREET.

Around the corner, on the right are two examples of the double houses that were popular at the beginning of the 1800s – even the affluent kept boarders.

Bloomer School – named for Dexter Bloomer, husband of women’s rights activist Amelia Bloomer, the first Superintendent of Schools in CB, and an organizer of the Republican Party in the state of Iowa.

On the next corner, (502) - C.R. Cornelius built this Queen Anne/Free Classical style house in 1900. Second owners were their daughter, Marie, and her husband, Dr. A.V. Hennessey.

On the corner of Sixth Ave. and S. Seventh St. (705) is the Italianate house, built in 1877 for  A.B. Walker, Steward at the Iowa School for the Deaf, then a partner at the real estate firm of Squire & Walker.  The house next door was built in 1889 for his mother, Mary B. Swan, and his two oldest daughters..

Next door, on the corner (616), is the O.P. Wickham House –  Queen Anne/Eastlake style built in 1882. It remained in the Wickham family until 1962. O.P. Wickham was a well-known brick manufacturer and contractor in the metro area. His company laid many of the brick streets in Omaha and Council Bluffs and built many commercial buildings. Listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

At SOUTH EIGHTH STREET turn right

At Fifth Avenue, on the corner – right, with a wraparound porch -  is the Jacob Simon House, built by the owner of a meat market – later became Omaha Steaks.

Continue across Fifth Avenue – on the right (413) is the John and Louisa Murphy  House. This Second Empire/Italianate house, built in 1885 by John P. Murphy, owner of J.P. Murphy Co., manufacturer of sash, doors, and blinds. It was sold to implement dealer Charles McDonald in 1901who remodeled it but lost it in 1896, at a sheriff’s sale – a victim of the Depression of 1903. It was purchased by  at at sheriff’s sale to  is a wonderful example of the elaborate ornamentation used during the Victorian period.

The Douglass House (405) - This Victorian Dutch Colonial was built in 1898 by Wilbur Douglass, President of   Eagle Laundry.  The architectural firm of J.C. and W. Woodward designed this home as well as the Carnegie Library.  Eagle Laundry was the first dry-cleaning establishment in the area and was later sold to Max I. Walker Cleaners.  Mrs. Douglass was related to President Andrew Jackson.

The Loomis House, (331) - W.W. Loomis, agricultural implement dealer, was the original owner of this house built in 1889 when the Queen Anne style was at its peak.

Shea House (309) – This brick Queen Anne house was built in 1887 for John Shea, who lost it in bankruptcy in 1895.  Timothy G. Turner purchased the house in 1900.  Mr. Turner and his brother-in-law, C.R. Hannan, Sr. started City National Bank, now US Bank. Listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Look to the left (803 Third Ave.) - W.J. Hancock, of American and Wells Fargo Express, had this Victorian home built in 1880 and left town shortly thereafter.  The second owner was E.H. Merriam.  The Merriam Block stood on the present site of the downtown Omni Centre.

Back to the right (301)  - Farnsworth House. This Queen Anne was built in 1886 for banker Shepard Farnsworth.  Judge John P. Tinley was the second owner.

Next door on the corner (295) -This 1904 Queen Anne was the home of Thomas Farnsworth, owner of a furniture company and the son of Shepard Farnsworth.

On the left are two large, two-story houses. The first (224), with the columns, was built in 1906 for H.H. Van Brunt, carriage dealer, and his wife whose parents lived next door on the corner.  The Van Brunt’s daughter, Barbara, became the voice of silent film stars when talking movies became popular.  She was also the voice of cartoon characters. One of her husbands was the legendary Sky King.

On the corner (802 /second Ave.) - This Free Classical Queen Anne was built in 1885 by Charles R. Hannan, Sr. who became President of one of the largest banks in Iowa.   

At FIFTH AVENUE turn right –

The Squirrel Cage Jail and the Carnegie Library on the left, and look to the right to see THE HAYMARKET - The open area between South Main and Pearl Streets that begins at Broadway and merges at Sixth Avenue is called the “Haymarket”.  It derived its name from the farmers market and public scales placed there in the 1890s to weigh agricultural commodities.  The building were erected between 1856 and 1900. The Haymarket District is a Local Landmark and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

THE WATERING TROUGH FOUNTAIN – installed at Fourth and Broadway in 1911, The small fountain below is for dogs.

At THIRD STREET turn right

We are now entering the Willow/Bluff/Third Street Historic District, recently listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Third Street was known as the “Street of Generals”, as four generals lived on it, -two of them, Frank and George Everest, at the top of the hill, out of sight.

Look to the left: the large Arts & Crafts/Prairie style house (on the far corner was built in 1911-1913 and was the home of J.G. Wadsworth.

The house behind, (facing Fifth Avenue), was the home of Carolyn Dodge, attorney, daughter of Nathan P. Dodge and niece of Gen. Grenville Dodge.

Right: (526) Brick house: This 1918 Prairie School/ Italian Renaissance home was built for Fred R. Davis, founder of the Pioneer Implement Company.

Across the street: (605)Historic General Dodge House – This French Second Empire mansion was built in 1869 at a cost of $35,000. General Grenville M. Dodge, a Civil War general, became the chief construction engineer for the Union Pacific Railroad.  The house was purchased by the city in the 1950s and restored as a house museum.  It is open to the public and is a National Historic Landmark.

The Colonial Revival home next door (621) was built in 1899 for August Biersheim, banker, who was elected to the legislature in 1871.  Listed on the National Register of Historic Places, it is now the orientation center for the Historic General Dodge House.

The brick house on the corner across Ninth Avenue (903) is the Martin Hughes house.  He built this Queen Anne house in 1888 for the sum of $25,000.  It is said that he incorporated the many decorative design elements to showcase his work as a contractor.  It is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Turn right on NINTH AVENUE

Turn right on BLUFF STREET

The Gothic house on the right (625) was one of the earliest - built in 1862 by Xenophon Kynett, local druggist.

Next block, on the left (226)  - The Queen Anne was built in 1896 for Andrew Brock, bookkeeper for Peregoy & Moore, a cigar manufacturing company.

Next door, (220) This Queen Anne-style house was built for Albert Annis, dealer in real estate, abstracts, loans.

Pull over, if possible, in the middle of the block.

Next door (216) - Frederic Empkie was the first owner of this 1900 Queen/Anne Free Classic – Empkie owned a wholesale hardware firm.

The Italianate house with the green roof (333), corner of Bluff and Willow, was built in 1880 by John Bennett, an early pioneer who opened a lumber yard, a grocery store, then was a founder and Cashier of State Savings Bank, and served as Mayor.  The Bennett Building and Bennett Ave. are named for him.

Look left (203) - Henry Van Brunt built this Queen Anne house in 1890.  VanBrunt was a dealer in carriages, buggies, wagons, and harnesses.

Across the street on the left (332) - O.P. Wickham built this as a Queen Anne in 1878 and sold it in 1882 to P.C. DeVol , who renovated it as Italianate/Prairie School.  DeVol was a hardware dealer.  Known as the Wickham DeVol House, it is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

The corner house on the right (133) – Judge Samuel Clinton, built in 1868 for attorney Samuel Clinton. Second owner was Louis Cutler, founder of Cutler Funeral Home.

Next door (229) is an 1877 early English Tudor Revival- the Metcalf house, restored to a single family residence. Metcalf owned a Millinery store. Also known as the Joe Smith House, owner of a premier clothing store on Broadway.

St. Peters Catholic Church (One Bluff Street) – Victorian Gothic was built in 1887 as the German parish. The rectory was built in 1895.  Both are listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

We are about to enter the Fairmount Park Historic District, listed on the National Register of Historoic Places.  Originally the bluffs were much higher, forming deep valleys, or “hallows” between.  Glen Avenue was called “Hang Hollow”, or “Hangman’s Hollow” because an immigrant accused of murder was hung here by the Vigilance Committee.

At GLEN AVENUE turn right

The house on the left (135) is the home of Calvin Beebe, built in 1885 in the Queen Anne style. Beebe came this far with the Mormons, and started a furniture store at 201 West Broadway.  The business grew to become the Beebe & Runyan Furniture Company in Omaha, now newly opened as upscale condos.

On the right (136) –  George & Marie Pfeifer built this Spindlework Queen Anne in 1891. Early records show small, irregular parcels of land that were put together to make up some of the lots on Park and Glen.

On the left: (137) – Neoclassical, built in 1893 for Peter Jensen, cigar manufacturer, likely designed by architect J. Chris Jensen. His wife, Mabel, played violin with the Omaha Symphony and gave violin lessons here.

On the right, corner (304) - William Keeline built this three-story mansion after the turn of the century.  It remains a single-family residence. It was in this yard that the lynching took place.  The large elm tree was blown over in a storm in 1935.

Across the street, past the corner (407) - Iowa Supreme Court Judge Joseph R. Reed built this home in 1871. Judge Reed collaborated with H.H. Field, whose home you will see on the next street, in writing The History of Pottawattamie County.

Left on PAMONA for one short block, then another left on

PARK AVENUE, first known as Market Street, that leads to the north entrance of Fairmount Park, up the hill.  The city built a six-foot wide sidewalk on this street to accommodate the many people who walked to the park by this route.

On the corner to the right (331) - This Colonial Revival house dates back to before 1876 when it was a one-storey building.  A subsequent owner added the second storey and gave it the style that it is today.  Its first owner, John Oliver, was the first merchant taylor to open a shop in the city.

Down the street on the right (231) - the red brick house with circular drive and white picket fence was the home of Thomas H. Benton, banker and relative of Senator Thomas Hart Benton of Missouri.  The house was built in 1857, with Georgian and Federal style elements.

Next door (223) S.S. Evans built this home in the Southern style in 1862.  Twin curving staircases originally led to the formal main entrance on the second story.  The house was extensively remodeled in the1880s, and the staircases were removed.

Across the street (228) – German immigrant Jacob Neumayer was the first owner of this home, built in 1903, and of the Neumayer Hotel downtown, on the present site of the Omni Centre.  Behind the hotel was a stable that held 150 horses. Neumayer was one of the founders of St. Peters Church.

Back across the street on the right (209) -  Thomas and Harriet Tostevin built this Tri-Gable farmhouse style home in 1859.  He was appointed by the governor to survey the original squatters claims.  He became mayor in 1868 and was a founder of the local temperance movement.

Stop at the set-back Tulleys house (151) - Civil War veteran Col. Lysander Tulleys built this brick Victorian Gothic home for his family in 1877.  Tulleys was a lawyer and real estate agent, and started the first farm loan business in the area. The house and carriage house (behind the house) are listed on the National Register.

Across the street on the left (150) - Thomas Cavin, with the help of his father-in-law H.H. Field, built this home for his family in 1887.  It features elements of several styles: Queen  Anne, Gothic, and Neocolonial. It was converted to apartments in 1961 and in 1990 the present owners bought the house and restored it to a single family home. It is listed on the National Register.

Next door (134) - the house under renovation is the Eiseman, house, built by one of the founders of the Eiseman Store, forerunner of the Peoples Department Store.  As with the Cavin house, it was converted to apartments. It is being restored to its original condition.

H. H. Field built this Spindlework Queen Anne house (126) in 1890. Field, an early pioneer, was- among other things, Sheriff, Chief of Police, Justice of the Peace, conducted the draft for the Civil War, was a talented violinist, organized shows at the opera house, played on Missouri River showboats, and at the age of 80 began work as co-author, with Judge Reed, of The History of Pottawattamie County.

Cross Pierce St. and pause at Broadway: look to the left to the Historic 100 Block, listed on the National Register and is a Local Landmark.  Buildings were constructed between 1850s and 1900.

Cross Broadway to KANESVILLE BLVD.  and turn left

To NORTH SECOND STREET

We are now entering the Lincoln Fairview Historic District, recently named to the National Register.

The house on the right (154) is the Elder House, built in1869in the Gothic Revival style. Thomas Elder owned a considerable amount of property and wrote for the Daily Nonpareil.

STOP - Ruth Anne Dodge Memorial – erected and dedicated in 1919 to the wife of General Grenville Dodge by her daughters, it commemorates a dream described by Mrs. Dodge on the three nights preceding her death.  The sculptor was Daniel Chester French, whose other works include the seated Lincoln in the Lincoln Monument in Washington, DC and the Minuteman in Corcord, Massechusetts.

FAIRVIEW CEMETERY ON THE RIGHT, where many of the pioneers who founded the city are buried. At the top, in Soldiers Circle, is the Kinsman Monument, dedicated 39 years after the death of Col. William H. Kinsman on a Southern battlefield. Born in Nova Scotia, Kinsman moved to Council Bluffs, was a school teacher, a reporter, a lawyer, a politician, and a military hero.  In mid-morning of May 16, 1863, the 29-year-old Kinsman, commanding officer of the 23rd Iowa Volunteer Regiment, led the regiment in a classic infantry charge aross a cotton field toward Confederate lines and was fatally wounded. Four decades later, his remains were recovered and returned to Council Bluffs by General Grenville Dodge. As you leave the cemetery….

LOOK AHEAD TO THE LINCOLN MONUMENT

STOP

Erected in 1911 by the Daughters of the American Revolution,  the monument commemorates a visit by Abraham Lincoln to Council Bluffs in 1859 to check on some real estate and visit former neighbors from Illinois.  While here, he was brought to this spot and decided that Council Bluffs would be the eastern terminus of the first transcontinental railroad.

Turn left on OAKLAND AVENUE and go slowly down the hill.

The house on the right (624) - Cunningham R. Scott, attorney, built this Italianate house in 1875. The house was built of brick from a local brickyard and faces west, with a view of the Missouri River valley.

The brick house on the right 608) -: Carlton H. Woodward built this Arts & Crafts home in 1914. He was the son of famed candy-maker John Woodward. The Woodward Candy Company stood at the corner of Broadway and Glen Avenue.  It was at one time the largest employer in Council Bluffs, shipping candies all over the world.  Some of the recipes were sold to Russell Stover Candies in the 1930s.

Across the street (615) was built in 1900 for George Williamson, vice president of Woodward Candy Co. This highly decorative Queen Anne cottage was home for two generations of the William Keenan family, owner of Keenan Glass & Paint.

Next (606) - Maurice Wollman, jeweler and sculptor, was the first owner of this Tudor Revival house built in 1900. The sculpture of the fireman at the Oak Street fire station is his work.  He also owned the first automobile in Council Bluffs.

The house on the right with the brick addition was built by Lucius Wells, John Deere Implement dealer. Wells was the Iowa representative for Omaha’s Trans-Mississippi Exposition of 1898.

Stone house on the right (510) - Finley Burke Burke built this Richardsonian Romanesque home for his family in 1891.  He came here as an infant in 1855 and in 1874 at age 19 he was licensed to practice law, becoming the youngest attorney in the state of Iowa. The second owner was John C. Woodward, owner of Woodward Candy Co., who lived here for many years.

This Arts & Crafts-inspired bungalow (520) was built by local architect J. Chris Jensen and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Jensen also designed Thomas Jefferson High School, Bloomer School, the YMCA on First Avenue and the Chevra B’nai Yisroel Synagogue (both listed on the NRHP), and City Hall.

WEST ON KANESVILLE TO MAIN STREET AND TO STARTING POINT

You will pass Old Rusty – the fountain installed in Bayliss Park in 1905.  It was moved to the Dodge House in the 70s, and recently restored and relocated to this little park.

 GO ON, TAKE A HIKE!

Get your copy of the Historic Homes of Council Bluffs Walking Tour booklet

$5.00

Proceeds go to support Preserve Council Bluffs’ mission.

You can purchase your own copy of the walking tour at:

The Historic General Dodge House
605 South 3rd St,
Council Bluffs, IA 51503