Central Office Building
Encyclopedia
Central Office Building is located in downtown Davenport, Iowa
, United States
. It has been listed on the National Register of Historic Places
since 1983. It is on the same block as the American Commercial and Savings Bank
, Henry Berg Building
and 202 W. Third Street
all of which are on the NRHP.
on Second and Main Streets. Petersen was prominent in wholesale and retail goods in the city and his buildings housed his various interests. The building was constructed with retail businesses housed on the street level and office space above. Some of the early businesses included Spencer Furniture Company, Schiller Piano Company and the Huebotter Furniture Company. Multiple retailers continue to fill the street level. Architectural firm Clausen & Kruse, formerly known as Clausen & Clausen, had offices on the third floor of the Central Office Building.
. The façade is divided into seven bays with three bays on either side of a central bay that contains a stairwell to serve the upper floors. While it appears symmetrical at first closer inspection reveals that it is not. The bays on the west are sized to accommodate groups of three double-hung windows. The bays of the east are narrower and are designed to accommodate a pair of double-hung windows. The building also features pilasters with rolled edges and homed gargoyles that run through the upper elevation of the building. A simple cornice
tops the building and raised parapet
s mark the two portions of the building.
The building shows elements of the Victorian
and the Chicago Commercial
styles. The cornice and the grotesques on the capitals are all Victorian while the expression of the structure in the façade reflects the Commercial.
Davenport, Iowa
Davenport is a city located along the Mississippi River in Scott County, Iowa, United States. Davenport is the county seat of and largest city in Scott County. Davenport was founded on May 14, 1836 by Antoine LeClaire and was named for his friend, George Davenport, a colonel during the Black Hawk...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. It has been listed on the National Register of Historic Places
National Register of Historic Places
The National Register of Historic Places is the United States government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects deemed worthy of preservation...
since 1983. It is on the same block as the American Commercial and Savings Bank
American Commercial and Savings Bank
American Commercial and Savings Bank is located at 201-209 Main Street, Davenport, Iowa, United States. It is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The building is known locally as the Wells Fargo Bank building.-History:...
, Henry Berg Building
Henry Berg Building
The Henry Berg Building is located in downtown Davenport, Iowa, United States. It has been listed on the National Register of Historic Places since 1983. It is on the same block as the American Commercial and Savings Bank, Central Office Building and 202 W. Third Street. It is also next to the...
and 202 W. Third Street
Building at 202 W. Third Street
The Building at 202 W. Third Street is located in downtown Davenport, Iowa, United States. It has been listed on the National Register of Historic Places since 1983...
all of which are on the NRHP.
History
The Central Office Building was built in two phases. Gustav Hansen designed the first phase in 1904. Two years later Clausen & Clausen designed the second phase. The building was designed for H.F.C. Petersen who also owned the J.H.C. Petersen's Sons' StoreJ.H.C. Petersen's Sons' Store
The J.H.C. Petersen's Sons' Store also known as the Redstone Building, is a four-story building in Davenport, Iowa, United States. It is listed on the Davenport Register of Historic Properties and on the National Register of Historic Places. Designed after the Rookery Building in Chicago, this...
on Second and Main Streets. Petersen was prominent in wholesale and retail goods in the city and his buildings housed his various interests. The building was constructed with retail businesses housed on the street level and office space above. Some of the early businesses included Spencer Furniture Company, Schiller Piano Company and the Huebotter Furniture Company. Multiple retailers continue to fill the street level. Architectural firm Clausen & Kruse, formerly known as Clausen & Clausen, had offices on the third floor of the Central Office Building.
Architecture
The building is four stories and constructed of brickBrick
A brick is a block of ceramic material used in masonry construction, usually laid using various kinds of mortar. It has been regarded as one of the longest lasting and strongest building materials used throughout history.-History:...
. The façade is divided into seven bays with three bays on either side of a central bay that contains a stairwell to serve the upper floors. While it appears symmetrical at first closer inspection reveals that it is not. The bays on the west are sized to accommodate groups of three double-hung windows. The bays of the east are narrower and are designed to accommodate a pair of double-hung windows. The building also features pilasters with rolled edges and homed gargoyles that run through the upper elevation of the building. A simple cornice
Cornice
Cornice molding is generally any horizontal decorative molding that crowns any building or furniture element: the cornice over a door or window, for instance, or the cornice around the edge of a pedestal. A simple cornice may be formed just with a crown molding.The function of the projecting...
tops the building and raised parapet
Parapet
A parapet is a wall-like barrier at the edge of a roof, terrace, balcony or other structure. Where extending above a roof, it may simply be the portion of an exterior wall that continues above the line of the roof surface, or may be a continuation of a vertical feature beneath the roof such as a...
s mark the two portions of the building.
The building shows elements of the Victorian
Victorian architecture
The term Victorian architecture refers collectively to several architectural styles employed predominantly during the middle and late 19th century. The period that it indicates may slightly overlap the actual reign, 20 June 1837 – 22 January 1901, of Queen Victoria. This represents the British and...
and the Chicago Commercial
Chicago school (architecture)
Chicago's architecture is famous throughout the world and one style is referred to as the Chicago School. The style is also known as Commercial style. In the history of architecture, the Chicago School was a school of architects active in Chicago at the turn of the 20th century...
styles. The cornice and the grotesques on the capitals are all Victorian while the expression of the structure in the façade reflects the Commercial.