Nicholas J. Kuhnen House
Encyclopedia
The Nicholas J. Kuhnen House is located in central Davenport, Iowa
, United States
. It has been listed on the National Register of Historic Places
since 1983.
and immigrated to the United States in the 19th century, settling in Davenport. He set up a small tobacco shop in 1854. Prior to the American Civil War
he expanded his business to include cigar wholesaling and manufacturing. He became one of four cigar manufacturers in the city. In the 1860s he distributed free tobacco seeds to area farmers in the hopes of acquiring a reliable local supply of tobacco. By the 1880s he had the largest cigar factory north of St. Louis, Missouri
and west of Chicago
and at times employed 500 people.
He had to deal with two labor strikes in the 1880s. The workers were protesting low pay, poor working conditions and long hours. The first strike ended after a short time because of the workers' fear of the management. The second strike had the assistance of the International Cigar Makers Union under the leadership of Peter Knickrehm, a cigar maker himself and a Socialist. It weakened the company financially, but Kuhnen emerged from the strike victorious and the company continued in business until 1915.
, Kuhnen built his home on the east side of town. It is a two story Italianate structure that features bracketed eaves
, a central pavilion that protrudes from the main façade, a porch that covers two-thirds of the front of the building and a bay of windows on the right side of the front of the house, as well as on the sides of the house.
The house was designed by architect John Ross
.
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.
Nicholas J. Kuhnen
Nicholas Kuhnen was born in PrussiaPrussia
Prussia was a German kingdom and historic state originating out of the Duchy of Prussia and the Margraviate of Brandenburg. For centuries, the House of Hohenzollern ruled Prussia, successfully expanding its size by way of an unusually well-organized and effective army. Prussia shaped the history...
and immigrated to the United States in the 19th century, settling in Davenport. He set up a small tobacco shop in 1854. Prior to the American Civil War
American Civil War
The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
he expanded his business to include cigar wholesaling and manufacturing. He became one of four cigar manufacturers in the city. In the 1860s he distributed free tobacco seeds to area farmers in the hopes of acquiring a reliable local supply of tobacco. By the 1880s he had the largest cigar factory north of St. Louis, Missouri
St. Louis, Missouri
St. Louis is an independent city on the eastern border of Missouri, United States. With a population of 319,294, it was the 58th-largest U.S. city at the 2010 U.S. Census. The Greater St...
and west of Chicago
Chicago
Chicago is the largest city in the US state of Illinois. With nearly 2.7 million residents, it is the most populous city in the Midwestern United States and the third most populous in the US, after New York City and Los Angeles...
and at times employed 500 people.
He had to deal with two labor strikes in the 1880s. The workers were protesting low pay, poor working conditions and long hours. The first strike ended after a short time because of the workers' fear of the management. The second strike had the assistance of the International Cigar Makers Union under the leadership of Peter Knickrehm, a cigar maker himself and a Socialist. It weakened the company financially, but Kuhnen emerged from the strike victorious and the company continued in business until 1915.
Architecture
Unlike many German immigrants to Davenport who lived on the west side of town, especially in what is now known as the Hamburg Historic DistrictHamburg Historic District (Davenport, Iowa)
Hamburg Historic District is located on a bluff north of downtown Davenport, Iowa, United States. It is listed on the Davenport Register of Historic Properties and on the National Register of Historic Places. The historic district is where the city’s middle and upper income German community lived...
, Kuhnen built his home on the east side of town. It is a two story Italianate structure that features bracketed eaves
Eaves
The eaves of a roof are its lower edges. They usually project beyond the walls of the building to carry rain water away.-Etymology:"Eaves" is derived from Old English and is both the singular and plural form of the word.- Function :...
, a central pavilion that protrudes from the main façade, a porch that covers two-thirds of the front of the building and a bay of windows on the right side of the front of the house, as well as on the sides of the house.
The house was designed by architect John Ross
John W. Ross (Iowa architect)
John Wesley Ross was an architect in Davenport, Iowa.John Wesley Ross, originally of Westfield, Massachusetts, moved to Davenport in 1874 or 1876. His son, Albert Randolph Ross, was a draughtsman in John W...
.