Schmidt Block
Encyclopedia
The Schmidt Block is located in downtown Davenport, Iowa
, United States
and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places
. It is immediately adjacent to the Union Arcade
building, which is also listed on the NRHP.
foundation. The main façade
was designed in the Romanesque revival style made popular by Henry Hobson Richardson
. It features large round arched windows with tuned-stone surrounds on the third floor, roughly dressed stone and stunted columns on the attic level arcade that are topped by a cornice
. While the storefront has been modernized, the building retains its recessed entrance into the first floor commercial space and transom signage. The building immediately to the east has since been torn down and a sheltered outdoor seating area for the restaurant has been added that looks over the urban style park that sits between the Schmidt Block and the RiverCenter, the city’s convention center.
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...
and is 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...
. It is immediately adjacent to the Union Arcade
Union Savings Bank and Trust
Union Savings Bank and Trust is located downtown Davenport, Iowa, United States, and it is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The building is now known as the Union Arcade. The Schmidt Block, which is immediately to the east of the Union Arcade, is also listed on the...
building, which is also listed on the NRHP.
History
The building was built by Fritz T. Schmidt in 1896 to house his wine and liquor business, which was known as Fritz T. Schmidt and Sons. In the late 1970s and 1980s the building housed an upscale restaurant called J.K. Frizbee’s. Duck City, another upscale restaurant, occupies the building now.Architecture
The Schmidt Block is a three-plus story building constructed of red stone that was built on a 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:...
foundation. The main façade
Facade
A facade or façade is generally one exterior side of a building, usually, but not always, the front. The word comes from the French language, literally meaning "frontage" or "face"....
was designed in the Romanesque revival style made popular by Henry Hobson Richardson
Henry Hobson Richardson
Henry Hobson Richardson was a prominent American architect who designed buildings in Albany, Boston, Buffalo, Chicago, Pittsburgh, and other cities. The style he popularized is named for him: Richardsonian Romanesque...
. It features large round arched windows with tuned-stone surrounds on the third floor, roughly dressed stone and stunted columns on the attic level arcade that are topped by a 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...
. While the storefront has been modernized, the building retains its recessed entrance into the first floor commercial space and transom signage. The building immediately to the east has since been torn down and a sheltered outdoor seating area for the restaurant has been added that looks over the urban style park that sits between the Schmidt Block and the RiverCenter, the city’s convention center.