18-011 - The Historic Commercial Heritage of Downtown Cherokee 1870-1948 Part2

NPS Form 10-900-a OMB Approval No.
1024-0018
(Rev. 8-861
United States Department of the Interior

National Park Service
National Register of Historic Places

Continuation Sheet
Section number _E Page 32
The Commercial Heritage of Cherokee, Cherokee County, Iowa 1870-1948 Cherokee County, Iowa
A downtown tragedy was the murder of Florence Porter by Harry Hartman which took place at
123 East Main (extant) on November 30, 1901. Hartman went to prison for life, escaping his initial death
sentence penalty. The year otherwise saw the organization of a local American Federation of Labor
chapter, the installation of long-distance phone service for the railroad, and the loss of a canning factory to
Pomeroy (The History of Cherokee, p 13).
II. Prosperity and Change (1902-1948)

The new state hospital officially opened on August 26, 1902 with the transporting of 300 patients
(another account claims 563 patients, and gives the opening date as August 29) from Independence. While
it is assumed that the opening generated local growth, much of the real growth had paralleled the institu-
tion's construction. After 1902, the economic impact of the hospital on Cherokee was equivalent to the
presence of a major employer, save for the fact that the town also realized considerable prestige by virtue
of having such a grand and splendidly appointed facility.
Mother Nature moved into the new Century along with Cherokee and struck the town with an
April 25, 1902 windstorm. The courthouse lost a bit of roof slate and the state hospital lost the tile roof on
the administrative building (The History of Cherokee, p. 13).
In 1903 a Mr. Dickinson built a new brick block at 223 West Main. He first had to take down the
frame storefront on the site. He evicted tenant photographer T. E. Bennett and tore down part of the
store, moving the remainder of the frame building into Main Street. He offered the moved portion for sale
suggesting "it will divide up into a good house or a splendid barn and can be had for half what the materials
would cost" (Times-Herald, April 16, June 29, 1903).
Many developments which followed the arrival of the new century were the expected ones. The
public library would finally gain its own facility if Cherokee could match a $10,000 Carnegie Foundation
grant with a $1,000 annual maintenance commitment. The completed building opened May 3, 1905, being
located on the southwest corner of South Second and West Maple, on the still-vacant site of the burned
Washington Hotel. The Cherokee Medical Hospital opened in October, 1903, built by Dr. Hornibrook.
The Cherokee Creamery obtained an option on a site in October 2, 1904 (The History of Cherokee, p. 13,
Times-Herald, October 8, 1903).
NPS Form 10-900-i OMB Approval No. 1024-001B
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Continuation Sheet
November 1903 View of Main Street, Southeast from the Courthouse

Prominent buildings, from left to right are the Peck Livery (foreground), Brummer Block (background), Lewis Hotel, (beyond
the tracks), Opera House (background), burned area from 1900 fire (to right of Lewis Hotel), depot, and Raymond Hotel
(Cherokee City Archives)
There were as many as 19 "frames" (wooden frame stores) on Main Street as of the turn-of-the
century. The Times reported "There is a rumor afloat that the few remaining frames on West Main
between Second and Railroad, streets are to be replaced by handsome bricks...The carpenters' hammer and
the painters' brush are swinging all over town, and with new additions and new coats of paint the
appearance of the residential district is greatly improved and is adding to the reputation of Cherokee as a
city of cozy homes" (Times-Herald, June 13, 1903).
The term "Boiler Avenue" was in use by 1903 when the city sheriff raided five "Grog Shops" on
West Maple or "Boiler Avenue" in late August 1903. The same nickname for the street is known to have
pre-dated that time however. The arrested patrons all had their names in print along with one fellow who
threw a brick at the constables (Times-Herald, August 27, 1903).
Several communication improvements took place in 1903. The homes and businesses were
promised free home delivery if they adopted the "Philadelphia System" of house numbering. This was duly
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done with Main Street dividing north and south running numbers and Second Street doing the same for
east-west running numbers. Phone lines linking Cherokee with Sioux City followed the railroad to town
and the public was promised more privacy than they received from the telegraph if they now used the
phone for long-distance calls (Times-Herald, November 5, December 7, 1903).
The Cherokee County Retail Organization organized on May 17, 1906 and had a rare county-wide
focus, likely reflective of the retailing and services domination by the county seat downtown. The
Cherokee Manufacturing Company reorganized that same year and rural areas enjoyed rural free delivery
for the first time. A storm moved a number of buildings from their foundations on May 25 1906. The
town moved the town hall location in late June and voted money to buy the new site and a new
combination jail and fire-house was completed in September 1907 (The History of Cherokee, p. 13).
Local cement block production began in 1907 when M. J. Gilleas purchased a gravel pit along Mill
Creek. A rusticated concrete block appears at this time in a few buildings, most notably the rear building
of 501 West Elm (fronts on South 5th, south of the alley), and 110 South 4th. The use of concrete block is
pretty minimal at least with regard to commercial buildings however (Ibid.).
An economic scare struck the downtown in late 1907 but the Times editor wrote it off by saying it
"belonged to the 1884 and 1900 class" of financial downturns. By January 1908 its effects had almost
disappeared. In mid-March came a report that the railroad division offices would be relocated to Fort
Dodge. While not true, the newspaper complained that "The cause is as unexplainable as some other
things the railroad has done" {Times, January 6, March 19, 1908).
The Pre-War and Wartime Building-Up, 1908-20:
The pre-war period of upbuilding begins in 1908, immediately after the slight 1907 downturn. The
construction of the new Democrat building at 108 North Second was the first of 22 (based on surviving
buildings) new downtown buildings which arose between 1908 and 1920. Two other buildings were built
in 1906. All in all this represents a major rebuilding of the downtown area.
Piety Hill's church grouping now began to break up and scatter. The Catholic Church was replaced
at a cost of $35,000 with dedication taking place on December 8, 1908. The Catholic congregation's
relocation was the first clear indication that Piety Hill was being transformed from church to commercial
uses. They simply moved west two blocks and their new church and school complex fronted on West
Cedar. The Catholic move left the Presbyterians exposed to commercial intrusions and they quickly
obtained an option on their future Willow Street site late in 1908. Their move would begin the emergence
of the area immediately northeast of the downtown as the preferred main-line church location in Cherokee.
A garage and skating rink occupied the site of the first Presbyterian church. Newer and smaller church
congregations formed but didn't locate on the hill. The First Church of Christ, Reorganized Church of
Latter Day Saints Chapel was established in 1909. The year 1908 was also a stormy one through the
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spring with several windstorms during February which damaged rural properties and nearly de-roofed the
roundhouse (The History of Cherokee, pp. 13-14).
The Franklin Automobile Garage opened for business on North 4th behind the First National Bank
(northeast corner Main and 4th) with Johnson and Dickey. The Times editor categorized the venture as "a
new industry in Cherokee. This was later called the Northwest Garage (Ibid., January 13, 1908).
Cherokee's first auto garage, 221 West Willow, view southeast

(unattributed local newspaper clipping, May 23, 1954)
The year 1909 saw the construction of two commercial buildings and several others completed the next
year. The Times lauded Hawley Allison's modern two story storefront at 222 West Main, offering the
standard accolade that "this will make a fine improvement on Main Street, but if rumor is correct, not the
only one." The Fair & Surles restaurant (117 South 2nd) would "make a fine improvement for that part of
the city." The residential area was growing as well. The same source observed
"There will be a number of dwellings erected and others remodeled and improved. There is
a great demand for modern dwelling homes and a capitalist could not make a safer
investment than to erect a number of them for rental."
Home building between 1910-20 would average ten houses annually for a total of 200 homes (The
History of Cherokee, p. 16, Times, April 8, 1909).
NPS Form 1 0-900-a OMB Approval No. 1024-0018
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Continuation Sheet
500-504 West Main, view northwest, c. 1919, 1913 street light

Note the use of a standard commercial building for filling station use and the agricultural implements dealership to the left
(Cherokee Area Archives)
The June 1909 Sanborn Fire Insurance Map depicts the downtown which largely survives today.
The brick storefront count is 38. Just 13 of these are east of Second, relatively little change in 10 years.
The big change is along South Second where four brick storefronts in place or under construction have
transformed that cross street. All of the banks remain west of Second but East Main claims the first
moving picture show (121 East Main). The hotel trade had consolidated to cluster immediately southeast
of the new depot with only the Trahn Hotel being located outside of that Maple Street area. Piety Hill was
under siege, with the Presbyterian Church already being flanked by commercial uses. West Main, beyond
the tracks and South Fifth Street had clearly emerged as the agricultural implement sector. Just one
implement dealership held out on East Main. Automotive uses first appear on this map. The North West
Auto Garage occupied former warehouses at North Fourth and Willow. The new city hall and firehouse
was just behind the new library building on Maple. Just two residences held out on the south side of the
200s block of West Maple. There the 1900 fire-cleared site of the liveries was still largely undeveloped.
NPS Form 1 0-900-a OMB Approval No. 102A-001B
(Rev. 8-86)


Continuation Sheet
In 1909 the city's industrial base was increased by the opening of a new mattress and awning
making firm, headed by James Brashear, which occupied the former Association of University Women Hall
near the Golden Eagle Clothing Store (201 West Main). The Nelson, Pelton and Geddess company
organized in 1910 to manufacture the self-closing "Kellar Farm Gate." The partners exhibited the gate at
the corner of Second and Main to promote its qualities. The Presbyterians on Piety Hill deliberated on
relocating and the final vote was a close one, between staying put and relocating to Willow and North
First. A minority supported moving to the corner of Fifth and West Cedar. In early November 1909,
sewer work continued into the west additions. Contractors Fraser and Danforth used "Parson's Ditcher"
to lay sewer two feet underground {Times, February 4, April 29, November 8, 1909, October 6, 1910).
North side, 200s block West Main, view to east, c. 1910

Note awning pattern, predominance of two-story brick fronts
The 1910 county population was 16,741. Cherokee's residents tallied 4,884. This represented an
overall increase of just one percentage point in ten years. The county seat population had increased 21
percent, offering a measure of both increasing urbanization and rural depopulation. The county seat
claimed 32 percent of the county residents as her own.
The opera house, which had suffered through lean times periodically was now flourishing during
1910. Smallpox ravaged the town beginning in February but no deaths are noted as having resulted. The
Bell Telephone Company was in the habit of placing its long distance service poles wherever it chose.
Henry Brummer, owner of the Brummer Block at Second and East Main obtained a court injunction
NPS Form 10-900-a OMB Approval No. ) 024-0018
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Continuation Sheet
against the phone company arguing that their poles were damaging his building. Securing a permanent
post office first became a local cause in 1911 but nothing came of the campaign. By this time Cherokee
was the second largest in its congressional district. The first recorded railroad strike took place. The
Presbyterians dedicated their new church on November 13, constructed by contractor C. F. Lender of
Cherokee (The History of Cherokee, p. 14, Times, May 5, June 27, 1910).
A major addition to West Main was the completion of the very modern Hawley Allison store at 222
West Main. The building featured the very largest second floor display windows of any downtown store
and for the first time the upper story was used as a merchandise display window. The construction was
linked to an old tradition, that of building moving, but offered a curious twist, parking the building in the
street temporarily. Allison moved the two story frame store off of his lot onto Main Street and advertised
it for sale. The First National Bank was busily remodeling its facilities at 228 West Main and used the
building for bank headquarters during its construction work (Times, August 23, 1910).
The first highway promotional effort came in late August 1910 with the "Hawkeye Highway"
proposal, planned to link Dubuque and Sioux City across the state, following the Illinois Central.
Correctionville and Schaller countered with a proposal to draw the route south to their communities. The
highway boosters threw a banquet in Cherokee mid-year to promote their vision (Ibid., August 29, 1910).
During 1911 the Texas border problems threatened the calling up of Company M, which was one
of a few guard units which were sufficiently ready to go into active field operations. The unit reorganized
and elected young Guy Gillette, a local lad, its captain. The Cherokee Steam Laundry, built and
immediately inundated in the flood of 1901, burned down in late January 1911 (The History of Cherokee,
p. 14, Times, January 23, 1911).
The first street paving, using brick, was laid during 1912 on Main and Second Streets and on
Fourth (or Railroad Street) between Willow and Elm. One alley, between First and Second, just north of
East Main, was paved, perhaps because it bore the heaviest traffic given the presence of the marble works
at its east end (The History of Cherokee, p. 14).
Cherokee sent her own son, Guy Gillette to the state Senate as a Democrat, as a result of the
January 6, 1913 election. An effort to fund a Y.M.C.A. building that year failed but the downtown streets
received new electrical lights on November 12, 1913. This was a real measure of progress downtown.
Parcel post service began in 1913 as well (The History of Cherokee, p. 14).
The year 1913 saw the beginning of an aggressive city promotional effort by the Commercial Club.
Its members made a 9-town auto tour in mid-June with over 100 businessmen participating. The Times
termed the caravan" the most important and beneficial event since the club's organization." The town
band went along and a photo was taken of the group at the Fountain House in Cherokee. The tour
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included Larrabee, Calumet, Sutherland, Marcus, Paullina, Cleghorn and Meriden and others. The tour
repeated a few days later with a smaller crowd, taking in Baumtown, Fielding and Washta (Times, June 9,
19, 1913).
The first building built to house a movie theater, called the Empress (224 West Main), opened on
September 5, 1914. It was located at the west of the business district on West Main, reflecting the growing
importance of that block and West Main was paved up Piety Hill. The old stone curbing and gutter was
replaced. The telephone company buried its lines downtown and the poles were fewer in number. The
tracks at the Main Street crossing had always been above street grade but this was finally remedied. Main
Street's sidewalks were widened by 3 feet, reducing the 80-foot street width just a bit. The first asphalt
paving was laid on the north-south streets above Elm as far as Willow. Main and Maple were paved over
their paving brick. The year was important for commercial construction. The theater, the Deleplane Shoe
store and the L.M. & S. Shoe Store were all completed. These buildings offered a new style of commercial
architecture, with their less elaborate facades and a stronger horizontal feeling (The History of Cherokee,
p. 15).
Main Street's new building construction paralleled paving on Main Street. The Times boasted
"There will be great activity along Main Street this summer, and the paving together with the new buildings
planned will make a wonderful improvement of the street." The city called for the "best paving regardless
of cost" and 42,000 square yards of Natural Lake asphalt paving and 12,000 feet of curbing was
contracted by Barber Asphalt Paving of Waterloo. The sidewalks along Main between First and Sixth
were actually widened and the street lights moved away from the stores. The 1914 list was impressive.
The A. H. Smith block, a three story brick, went up east of the Brummer Block at 105 East Main. The I.
R. Nelson brick store replaced his wooden one at 109 North Secon (non-extant). The Cherokee State
Bank was building a magnificent stone and terra cotta Classical Revival building on the northeast corner of
Second and Main (100 East Main). T. H. Steele was envisioning a new bank building on West Main. G. H.
Delaplane was planning a new shoe store in the same area. On West Main H. W. Miller was erecting a
large auto garage (505 West Main) and the Methodist Church, sticking to Piety Hill, authorized a $26,000
replacement of their old building at the top of the hill, opposite the courthouse. The architect was J. C.
Fulton of Uniontown, Pennsylvania, and Cherokee builder C. F. Lender had the construction contract.
Garfield school was modernized by applying a pebble dash coating and the school board made visits to
inspect new school buildings in Spencer and Storm Lake, preparatory to planning a new high school
(Times, February 26, March 5, 12, July 16, 30, 1914).
The Times crowed "Things Are Coming Cherokee's Way" in mid-March 1914, reporting "business
concerns are [being] attracted [to Cherokee] by our prosperity and desire to locate here." Secretary Little
of the Commercial Club credited City Clerk William Shardlow with some of the publicity, noting that the
Clerk "has seen to it that the paving and other public improvements have been mentioned in the trade
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journals." One added touch was the establishment of a two-man "Clean up brigade" garbed in white
uniforms and armed with a two-wheel barrel cart to collect the street's refuse. Telephone poles were being
pulled, and two of the largest at Second and Main disappeared. The Times offered "Main Street looks a
lot better every week as unsightly objects are removed and new buildings approach completion" (Ibid.,
March 16, April 9, October 1,1914).
South Second, view north to Main, c.1915

Note substantial two-story bricks on west side, awnings
The Commercial Club was founded on March 10, 1913 with just 28 members. By 1914 it was
sufficiently strong that it absorbed the work of the "Cherokee Good Roads Club" which disbanded and
turned its tasks over to the Commercial Club. Cherokee continued to enjoy protection from disastrous fire
and benefited when competing communities were devastated. Quimby lost five businesses to a June 1914
fire (Ibid., May 11, June 22, July 2, 1914).
The automobile phenomena was a major force by 1914. The Times reported that in town the
"Paving Spirit is Proving Contagious." The first major effort was made to cut down the steep East Hill
road grade that was "a terror to drivers of automobiles" entering the city from the east. The work was
finished in August but merchants wanted an even lower grade. Auto-related businesses boomed. The
Northwest Garage built a major addition and the Cherokee Manufacturing Company urged the public to
"Give us a trial...we are equipped for auto repairing and all kinds of machine and forge work." The
NPS Form 10-900-a OMB Approval No. W24-0018
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Lawrey, Melter and Pelton Garage sold the first automobile hearse to W. L. E. Appleyard, the local
undertaker (Ibid., June 1, July 6, August 24, September 28, November 12, 1914).
The year 1914 was one in which it was confidently thought that a federal postoffice building would
be obtained. The Federal Treasury Department authorized site acquisitions for 8 Iowa and South Dakota
towns and Cherokee received an appropriation of $10,500, the largest amount awarded. The lease on the
present postoffice wouldn't expire until 1918 so "even the choosing for the site in 1914 would be a great
satisfaction to Cherokee people...That would mean, at least, that we were pretty sure of the long lookout
for improvement to be here sometime in the sweet bye and bye." Nobody dreamed that the postoffice
would finally come 11 years later in 1925! The Times lectured community leaders in late 1915 when things
didn't move ahead after all,
"By keeping perfectly still and doing nothing Cherokee is losing out on a splendid
proposition, and other cities of less importance and doing less postal business are getting
fine federal buildings" (Times, July 20, 1914).
The December 1914 Sanborn Fire Insurance Map offers a good visual summary of the growing
impact of the automobile on Cherokee. The new commercial land use is the automobile garage/showroom,
six of which are now in operation, half of which occupied all-new buildings. These appeared at 235-37
West Maple, and continued at North Fourth and Willow. The majority of the garages had gravitated west
to where the liveries and agricultural implement firms had always gone, Elm Street and West Main, west of
the tracks. Four substantial garages clustered along the south side of the 500 block of West Main. The
former Catholic Church had first been shown as being converted for an auto garage, and it remained so,
joined on the east by a new garage building. The Peck Livery, 426-28 West Main, was now converted for
use as a garage. The new Presbyterian Church and the armory building were the only noteworthy new
buildings. Otherwise East Main Street had by this time largely replaced its remaining frame storefronts and
the commercial area west of the tracks was more solidly developed, with more substantial buildings in
place. The brick storefront count was 44, again exclusive of bricks on Maple and South Fourth (8 in
number). There were 16 bricks east of Second, and 28 west of that street. Just 5 frames survived west of
Second on Main, but there were 16 on East Main. West Maple now boasted the armory-government-
library complex and a new auto garage at 235 West Maple but its commercial buildings were still of frame
construction.
The prosperity of these years was driven by the outbreak of the First World War in Europe and the
related increase in agricultural prices. Cherokee residents were immediately transfixed by the developing
conflict and excitement followed the announcement that the first motion pictures which showed actual
fighting would be shown at the Grand Opera House on June 2, 1915. Company M was thrown into a
momentary panic when orders were received by Capt. Leroy A. Westcott to break up the unit. The state
was reorganizing her state National Guard units and the old 58th Regiment was no more. Within a month
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all was set to right and the unit was placed within the new 2nd Regiment. The company mustered up to 64
members and elected Capt. W. P. McCulla captain (Times, May 15, 31, June 21, 1915).
The downtown growth continued in 1915 with the completion of the Security National Bank, at
Second and Main. The postoffice added new lock boxes and the Times noted "the Post-office is generally
an indication of a town's prosperity." The new Methodist Church atop Piety Hill was dedicated and the
foundations for a new roundhouse were laid down. Neither the high school or the round house were
locally contracted. The school contract went to Payant and Bass of Faribault, Minnesota. The February 8,
1915 blizzard snuck up on the county and slowed trains considerably, but only by a few hours and service
was sustained.. Citizens objected to dumping sewage directly into the Little Sioux River and the sewer
system in Blair's Addition was improved to fix the problem (The History of Cherokee, p. 15, Times, June
10, August 2, 13, 1915).
Downtown boosterism continued through the year. The annual Commercial Club booster trip took
place in mid-June and sent 30 carloads of businessmen into the northern reaches of the county. "Cherokee
Night" was held at the Christian Church in mid-April. Mayor McNeal and others spoke and the new city
orchestra provided musical entertainment. As the Christmas shopping season approached, a "Buy It In
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Cherokee campaign unfolded. The city council was transformed into more business-like governing body
and the elections replaced all but one member. The members headed committees which were responsible
for streets and alleys, fire, sewers, finance, light and the cemetery (Times, April 8, 12, June 17, December
13, 1915).
A new high school building was completed April 1, 1916 at a cost of $85,000. The building
adjoined the business district, being at the northeast corner of Second and Willow. The annual February
blizzard chose February 5 as its date of arrival, this time combining extreme cold and high winds and trains
were sufficiently delayed that local supplies ran low. New Sioux Valley Hospital established (The History
of Cherokee, p. 15).
The Sioux Valley Hospital was finished in 1918 and the city water system was significantly
upgraded. The end of World War I on November 11 touched off a four-hour long afternoon downtown
celebration of whistle blowing and bell ringing. A bonfire, parade and decorated automobiles followed
Company M, 1,000 school children and the uniformed Red Cross. A Second Street street dance followed
in the evening, later adjourning to the armory on Maple Street (The History of Cherokee, pp. 15-16).
The return of the war veterans from France would take longer. The men of Cherokee saw service
in the 168th Regiment of the Rainbow Division. There were 67 men still in service, the regiment having
lost 673 deaths among its 3,600 members through the war. The Times "suggested that the business houses
be decorated with flags and bunting in honor of the return of the boys" and the town got ready for the
return of the men from Camp Dodge. Unfortunately "the boys" didn't know about the home coming and
they straggled in at the depot in small groups so the celebration was delayed until they could be gathered
together. Other servicemen returned even later and many resumed their pre-war trades downtown. The
local National Guard company was again reorganized, this time becoming Company I, 4th Iowa National
Guard Regiment. The local American Legion post was organized at the end of September, and was named
for Martin A . Treptow, the first Cherokee war death in France (Times, May 17, July 8, September 30,
1919).
The Cherokee Creamery added an ice-making plant in June 1919 and one of two movie houses, the
American Theater on East Main) closed down before it even opened. The elaborate double-storefront
building suffered delays in receiving materials even as labor and materials costs soared, bankrupting the
project. The empty shell stood there for several years. As the automobile became more dominant, the first
Cherokee auto insurance company was organized. The Influenza epidemic struck the winter of 1919-20
and again, to a lesser degree, the next winter. A new ball park was completed in June 1920 and a new
water plant was built (Ibid., p. 16).
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The war years brought both prosperity and inflation to Cherokee. Labor and materials costs soared
and began to have a chilling effect on construction by 1919. The Times reported "Cherokee Has Building
Year-Old Landmarks [are] Giving Way to Fine Modern Business Blocks-Labor Shortage Interferes." The
high cost of building materials combined with a scarcity of those materials and "the labor situation" were
the only impediments to keep the town "from making a record in building operations this year." Many
buildings were under way and others were being deferred a year. New projects included the Nelson
Building (not identified), three new West Main garages built by L. Florine, Salsbury, and Kressee &
Charles Jenkins (apparently 511-517 West Main, all non-extant), the notable Sachse, Bunn and Company
warehouse and office block at 201 South Fifth, which housed this key agricultural implements firm, the
Wall Building (old Millard Block, 104 East Main, now J. C. Penny Building), the Surles Block (115 South
Second), and the American Theater. Kingsbury Furniture was adding on with a 20-foot-long rear addition.
On the domestic side of things an estimated 50 houses were underway. Local principal house builder E. L.
Halford was "trying to keep up with the demands for modern homes in this city." The number of new
houses could have been doubled if the labor and materials were to be had. There was a large demand for
apartments. The "Kellastone" stucco exterior finish was popular and six new homes employed it {Times,
September 12, 1919).
The construction of the two-story Surles Block cited above reflected the growing prominence of
Second Street. The Times lauded the addition, noting that its location "is the most desirable available
site...[one that was] ...located on one of the busiest streets of the city" {Times, July 4, 1919).
This building rush was not only impressive but it was grandiose in scale. The same thing had
happened in 1914 when two Classical Revival banks arose simultaneously at Second and Main and the last
of the three-story buildings were built (A. H. Smith Building, 105 East Main). Now the projects tended to
broaden and a heightened emphasis upon decoration returned. The Sachse, Bunn & Company Building is
an outstanding example of a very fine large scale and highly ornamental building, and it was constructed in
the west district, across the tracks from the downtown. The premier downtown project was the American
Theater (108-10 East Main). Movie house operators Fiske and James had "remarkable success in the
[local] theater business" and they obtained a long-term lease on the Meeker lots on East Main and
announced plans to build a $65,000 modern movie house with 750 seat capacity. The building was
designed by St. Paul Architect G. L. Lockhart "who ranks as one of the greatest theatre architects in the
country." The Classical Revival design employed generous amounts of decorative stonework and
incorporated two leasable storefronts on either side of the theater front. A hint of trouble surfaced in late
August, 1919 when the design was scaled back by 50 seats due to increased material and labor costs. The
builders attempted winter construction so as to take advantage of the "slack construction period" and
presumed lower wage rates. Another sign of trouble was the need to form a joint stock company to fund
the construction and the marketing campaign got off to a late start. Shares of $100. were however fairly
well received and the promoters claimed that 125 of 187 prospects were receptive to investing. Work
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scheduled to begin in early October actually started two months later. J. A. McDonald Construction of
Minneapolis had the contract. The "Old American Theater" closed January 2, 1920 having no new
building to occupy (Time, May 9, June 3, August 5, 29, December 2, 1919, January 2, 1920).
The Knights of Columbus were equally emboldened and announced plans to construct a three or
four story tall combination storefront and hall at 110-14 North Second. There were three old frame
buildings on the site. The building plans envisioned a basement swimming pool, three storefronts,
professional offices on the second floor and hall on the upper floor or floors. The Times observed
"this adds another to the many big improvements scheduled for Cherokee during the present
year...the building will occupy a prominent corner and will replace three small buildings that
have long been entirely out of keeping with an up-to-date business section."
Not another word appears in the paper concerning this building. Curiously the Masons would propose the
same plan on the same site in 1924, and their building finally would be built immediately east of this corner
lot in 1931. That building included no storefronts and fronted north on East Willow Street (105 East
Willow) (Ibid., May 9, 1919).
The year 1919 was a busy year for the automobile dealers and fixers. All county car dealers
gathered at the Lewis Hotel in late January and formed the "Cherokee County Automobile Dealers'
Association." The list of Cherokee members is impressive to say the least;
Cherokee Tire Repair Company, W. H. Hardaker
Headley Garages, C. B. Headley
Florine Garage, P. and H. Florine
Studebaker Inn, Lawrence McCulla
Salsbury & Kress, F. G. Salsbury and P. Kress
Swanson Auto Company, Solomon Swanson
Northwest Garage, W. R. Johnson
Jenkin Brothers Repair Company, Leo Jenkins
Bovey and Leonard Tire Shop, Chas. Bovey and W. R. Leonard
Universal Tractor Company, F. C. Melter and W. B. Seipel
DeJarnette Auto Company, C. E. DeJarnette
Motor Inn Company, W. F. Flatten, Jr. and James A. Cary
Cherokee Radiator Repair Company, M.H. DeForce
Roadwork was being pushed to better link Cherokee and her trade service area. Paving was continuing
west up West Hill, running out Main Street beyond 11th Street. The work would be an "immeasurable
benefit both to the farmers and to the business interests of the city." A new filling station was promised for
East Main just east of the Hanford Cream Station. Thirty businessmen underwrote the plans of the
Davenport-based Community Service Station. Typically this facility was also to serve as a truck
distribution center for the county (Ibid., January 21, April 14, July 8, October 17, 1919).
NPS Form 10-90O-» OMB Approval No. 1024-0018
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Cherokee was an attractive location point for new industries and one new one arrived in 1919. The
Waterloo Creamery Company announced plans to build a branch in Cherokee, offering 75 jobs. Their
Mason City branch plant, established just a few years earlier, and was now expanding. Ben S. Allen of
Sioux City was investigating 3-4 potential hotel sites in town in early November. The local Stewart
Company, producer of the "Steward Crate" which was used to ship stock animals, relocated to south
Cherokee and built a new facility. The Times regarded the firm as "already one of the important
institutions of this city." One industrial casualty was the Larkin Tire and Rubber Plant which burned at
South Fourth and Elm. The spectacular fire threatened the Illinois Central freight depot immediately west
across Fourth (Ibid., August 5, September 30, October 24, November 7, 1919).
The Years Between The Wars:
The failure of the American Theater was the first warning that harder times were close at hand.
The theater site was quiet through much of the year, unable to obtain materials. Work resumed in early
August, 1920. The Knights were soon joined by other bold but unfulfilled building plans. The First
National Bank purchased an adjoining lot to the east and announced plans to construct a four-story
business block. They purchased the adjoining Empress Theater building to enlarge their parcel. They
decided to await better building conditions and simply remodeled their upper floor and that wait would last
until 1931. Hawley Allison planned to add two stories to his store but quietly added just an electric
elevator. Another unfulfilled plan was jeweler Christopher T. Bryant's proposed constructing a fireproof
two story block on Main Street, (the intended construction site was where the Gasthaus Restaurant is
today). Unfortunately Bryant, just 34 years old, unexpectedly died on February 17, a few weeks before his
building was to be contracted for and the plans necessarily were dropped (Ibid., January 17, February 6,
1920).
In early September the Rotary Club luncheon speakers H. H. Tomar and Charles Helin agreed that
the high prices which fed inflation would drop slowly and that wholesale prices were holding firm. More
ominous came the report in late October that farmers who grew oats and wheat in the state could no longer
produce those crops below their market worth. Fligh transportation costs were the main problem and the
Times offered "it is readily seen there is little left for the farmers" once the crops were marketed (Ibid.,
September 3, October 22, 1920).
Chain stores began to penetrate the Cherokee Main Street and the business community was
surprised to learn in late June that a major grocery firm, Bush & Stowell, had been bought out by the
Community Stores of Iowa. That large chain store had just established a branch store in Spencer, having
first obtained a pledge of support from 700 families in that community (Ibid., June 29, 1920).
NPS Form 10-900-J OMB Approval No. 1024-0018
(Rev. 8-861


Continuation Sheet
The State Hospital continued to periodically reinvest in its facility. An $80,000 water plant was
built in 1920 and several deep wells were drilled along North First Street, just north of the downtown. The
Caswell Factory on West Beech Street, rated "one of the most rapidly growing industrial concerns in the
city," purchased three adjoining acres along the railroad and promised to build a factory building (Ibid.,
April 20, December 10, 1920).
On the automotive front there were many changes and developments. Between July 12 and 17,
1920, volunteers in 94 Iowa counties ranged over the new highway system and painted signs for the newly
numbered routes. The Standard Oil Company built an oil distribution center facility at the corner of Main
and Pine to serve a growing county "demand for lubricating oil and grease." J. H. Spinharney started a gas
station building at West Willow and Pine, next to the Community Oil Station also underway. It was built
of concrete block but was eventually to be finished with Kellastone. The Motor Inn Corporation began the
construction of a $60,000 garage at South Second and Elm but the company sold its Cherokee, Aurelia
and Quimby facilities to a Michigan firm and abandoned its new building, already underway (a partial
building is at 215 South Second). A Cherokee-based automobile insurance company, titled the "Midwest
Automobile Insurance Company," was organized in late January. It quickly raised $110,000 in stock and
the Times advised that "The ease with which this company was financed shows that Cherokee capital is
ready when offered opportunities for conservative investment." The wildest rumor offered the promise of
another railroad, a northwest-southwest running line and a project delayed only by the war. Cherokee was
"one of the best sites in Northwest Iowa, and [the source, an unnamed Omaha railroad official] predicted
its rapid development within the next ten years. Two railroad companies were reported interested in the
idea. Nothing came of the rumor of course (Ibid., January 13, 20, February 10, March 26, July 2, 6, 9,
1920).
The town's population stood at 5,794 (one source gives the total as 5,824) as of 1920. This
represented a 16-17 percent increase in ten years. The county population was 17,760, an increase of just 6
percent. There was a scarlet fever outbreak in February 1921. The American Legion was organized on
March 21. Steele's Bank was robbed on May 23, this being the first bank robbery in the town. An alarm
system was installed as a result. The Lutherans determined to build a new church and in April, Guy
Gillette was chosen to run for the U.S. House of Representatives from the 11th Congressional District
(The History of Cherokee, p. 17).
No new downtown buildings were built in 1921-22 but there was a resurgence in 1923. In early
April the Times reported that "Signs Indicate More Building" and reported prospects for the erection of
two business blocks in different parts of the business section. One of these was a new garage at 505 West
Elm. The Country Club built a modest club house ($11,000) that year and the town established the
obligatory tourist camp. The most notable announcement came late in the year from Dale Goldie, who
acquired the still-unfinished American Theater in a Sheriff's sale for a mere $2,200 and promised to push
NPS Form 1 0 - 9 0 0 - a OMB Approval No. 1024-0018
{Rev. S-861


Continuation Sheet
the work forward. The Times was hopeful, noted that it would take a year to quiet any and all claims
against the property which was on rented ground, but offered "the structure, if completed as planned, will
be one of the very finest theater buildings in Iowa" (Ibid., April 4, 27, November 12, 1923, May 5, 1924).
Also underway during 1923 was a virtual rebuilding of the Illinois Railroad shops ($10,000) which
was completed by late January 1924. The value of firewalls was proven when 105 East Main, the Smith
Block, burned on February 1, 1924. The Ellerbroek Brothers ready-to-wear store and the L. M. & S. Shoe
Company were burned out and the basement and first floor were gutted. Another major fire gutted the
three storefronts and all floor levels of the Peck Building (422-26 West Main) in late December (Ibid.,
January 14, February 1, 13, December 29, 1924)
The most notable 1924 accomplishment was the starting of work on the long-awaited post office.
Plans were finished mid-year and the contract was finally awarded to contractor J. H. Olson of Wilmar,
Minnesota in late October. The building is very unusual as post offices go. A full year was allotted to the
contractor to complete the building, well beyond the standard 240 day allowance. The plan is very unusual
given the absolute absence of the projecting mailing platform (one was added later on), which in this
instance is incorporated into the broad rectangular footprint of the building. Two vaults are placed within
the interior of the plan and are unusual both as to their number and their not being placed along a side wall
on the plan perimeter. Finally the public lobby is short, yet broad, and does not extend fully across the
building front. The building finally opened in mid-October, 1925(Ibid., January 28, March 28, May 14,
September 8, 22, October 15, 20, 1924, October 16, 1925).
The Cherokee Creamery, just south of the downtown, doubled its size and added a second story.
The addition was raised over the existing building and the older part was razed when the new was ready to
be enclosed. Contractor L. H. Redenbaugh started the work in early November. The Sinclair Oil
Company selected Cherokee as an important distribution point and constructed two large storage tanks
(for gas and kerosene) and a warehouse, all on railroad land. The company had no filling station in
Cherokee but promised to erect one on the southwest corner of North Second and Willow where three
houses were replaced. The station was on the site by 1924 and gone by 1947 but it served to largely
commercialize the south side of the 200 block of West Willow. The State Hospital added a $150,000 wing
that year, the contract going to Max Middenstein of Cedar Rapids (Ibid., March 3, April 9, June 2,
November 3, 1924).
The year 1923 had seen a record-setting shipping of freight on the railroad and coal traffic was
nicely integrated into that steady stream. This was not the case in 1924 and railroad officials expressed
concern that the irregular car movements would hinder regular coal deliveries during the winter. Railroad
shipping rates remained high and construction costs were inflated by the rates to ship in lumber. The
Rotary Club resumed its thematic industry luncheon speeches. James Wearin, local lumber dealer,
(Rev. 8-861


Continuation Sheet
explained his trade and complained that it cost 70 cents to ship 100 pounds of lumber from the fir mills of
Washington, the dominant source of lumber to the region. He recalled that in 1889 the source was from
the Mississippi Valley and shipping cost just 8 cents (Ibid., June 11, September 24, 1924).
Cherokee was a regional leader in many things and one dubious role was that of Ku-Klux-Klan
activity. The Klan suddenly appears on the scene in considerable numbers in mid-1924. Its first "real"
public gathering took place on July 14 when 1,500 persons gathered in Fuhrmann's pasture off South
Second Street below the Little Sioux River. The next assemblage followed just a week later with a
meeting on the same site. 700-800 Klansmen, mostly robed, paraded four abreast through downtown
Cherokee, led by six mounted Klansmen who bore American flags, and followed by 30 automobiles. The
Klan conclave brought together members from seven Northwest Iowa counties. The Klan had offices in
the Peck Building complex but saved their effects from the late-year fire. By February 16, the group had a
"Klan Hall" at an unidentified location in town and its activities were considered sufficiently legitimate so
as to warrant notices of activities in the Times' Society Notes (Ibid., July 11, 1924, February 16, 1925).
The town police were more concerned about speeding automobiles on the city streets than the Klan
and they began issuing the first speeding citations to quite noisy "popular street race tracks" (Ibid., July 11,
1924).
The western commercial district began to assume quite respectable lines as W. R. Griffin continued
his commercial initiatives on West Main, beyond the tracks. His target now, announced in early July,
1924, moved to the north side of Main just east of the courthouse :square" (where the county jail was
familiarly termed the "Hotel Louie"). There was a grouping of two front-gabled frame buildings at 510-16
West Main. The westernmost of these had served as the Swedish Mission Church. The eastern building
was occupied by the Peterson Motor Company. Griffin first envisioned a simple remodeling of the
Peterson quarters but then thought bigger. He announced plans to build a 65x100 foot single story garage
with five rooms and a plate glass and copper front. The Times reported that Griffin "has commenced work
on an improvement that will make a great change in the appearance of West Main." It appears that Griffin
waited and again updated his plans, starting work the next year (Ibid., July 2, 1924).
The September 1924 Sanborn Fire Insurance Map depicts 21 bricks east of Second and 29 west of
Second. There are still 14 frames on Main Street alone. A single dwelling and 12 frames remain in the
200s block of West Maple. Curiously the 1900 fire-cleared area on West Maple was still not redeveloped
after 16 years. Just two dwellings remained on the south side of the 200s block of West Willow which was
also by this time largely commercialized. The real change was apparent west of the tracks where that
automotive-farm implement district had reached "critical mass" in terms of density and dominance. West
Elm had always had a large livery complex on its south side but by 1924 the eastern two-thirds of the 500s
block was fully occupied by sprawling liveries, garages and other repair shops. The two commercial
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(Rev. 8-86)


Continuation Sheet
concentrations were now unified by the completion of the impressive office/warehouse complex at 201-207
South Fifth.
Good things come to those who wait and Cherokee was satisfied twice in 1925 with the dedication
of its new postoffice in October and the opening of the American Theater on June 1. Dale Goldie
delivered on his promise to finish and open the facility and he installed a large illuminated American flag on
the theater front so as to "leave no question as to the name of the house." The postoffice quickly justified
its new quarters, posting a 14 percent increase in revenue in December and was nearly qualified as a
$40,000 class facility based upon total postal revenue. Once again the Evening Times observed "the post
office is considered the most reliable barometer of business in the district which it serves." No population
increase justified the growth so "the result is due, primarily, to the activity of Cherokee merchants who
went out for business and got it" (Ibid., May 20, December 28, 1925, January 4, 1926).
The year 1925 was an even better year for Cherokee. Some 500 state bankers gathered there in
late May and the consensus was that a "returning prosperity for agricultural Iowa: and a "gradual
advancement of farm land prices" would be achieved. The Evening Times similarly predicted prosperity
for agriculture in mid-year. The paper cited rising hog prices and hoped for the "promise of recovery in all
branches of the livestock industry." By year's end the same source reported "Business Field Shows
Growth-Cherokee Trade Region Shows Expansion in General Lines." Good roads and an aggressive
advertising campaign had quadrupled the Cherokee trade area exclusive of still local grocery and staples
purchasing. Catalogue sales through Sioux City business houses were being beaten by more competitive
Cherokee prices (Evening Times, May 20, July 31, 1925).
The aggressive Cherokee campaign was exemplified by events like Trade Extension Day held on
June 10, 1925, when "old friends" and those within "visiting distance" were invited to reacquaint
themselves with the "quality and variety of merchandise sold... [and the] kind of service afforded." Dollar
Day was held on July 15 and was supplemented with theater programs, sports events and concerts by the
Cherokee's Boys' Band (Evening Times, June 3, July 10, 1925).
Cherokee was selected as one often cross-country fast mail or air express landing fields at the end
of the year. Similarly Iowa Public Service purchased the Cherokee Electric Company and the Northwest
Light and Power Company bought the Cherokee Gas Company, integrating both utilities into their
respective regional systems. Cherokee also benefited from Larrabee's loss when that town suffered the
burning of two business houses and the Odd Fellows hall in October. Fire in other places benefited
Cherokee in another way. A. R. Loomis & Son owned cold storage plants in Cherokee and at Rockwell
City. When their Rockwell City plant was lost to fire, they simply consolidated and added on to their
Cherokee plant. It was described as the "most modern storage house in the Northwest" and the owners
indicated they would have built a larger plant had they owned the lot where the plant was. It stood on
(Rev. 8-86I


Continuation Sheet
railroad land and the owners didn't want to risk eviction from more posh quarters (Evening Times,
October 23, November 30, December 18 1925, January 1, 1926).
Cherokee's growing prosperity is reflected in her lack of hotel accommodations by 1925. The city
was increasingly a convention city and her newspapers are filled with reports on every sort of gathering.
Frequently private houses took in convention attendees. The Evening Times observed in late 1925 that
"the demand for rooms in Cherokee is not satisfied. Numerous traveling men who would make Cherokee
their home do not locate here because they have been unable to find rooms." The same source credited
good primary roads and rail transportation. The paper was careful not of offend the town's hotelkeepers,
adding "Hotel facilities are of excellent character but they have not expanded to keep pace with conditions
changed by road improvement and automobile traffic" (Evening Times, November 9, 1925).
Andrew Geary, owner of the Exchange Hotel in Sioux City, relocated to Cherokee in January,
1925 and immediately announced plans to erect a brick block on West Maple to house a hotel. He evicted
John Prichard, second hand good dealer and advertised in Western Contractor for bids for a two story
"slow-burning" brick building 42x75 feet in dimension, estimated to cost $40,000. The shack on the
property was removed in late January 1926 but there is no indication that a building resulted. Another
Cherokee new arrival was J. W. Sheldon, from White Lake, South Dakota. He too saw hotel possibilities
and purchased the Perrett Building on West Maple. He planned to add a floor, keeping the existing cafe on
the ground level. Again, there is no indication that he actually made any changes to the building although
he took down two buildings in early June 1926 (Evening Times, January 8, November 9, 1925, January 27,
June 4, 1926).
The Masons presented plans for a broad two-story temple valued at $160,000. The building
included three first-story storefronts and it fronted on North Second, with one corner storefront facing
East Willow. This was the site where the Knights of Columbus were to have erected their multi-story
building. The five-bay design envisioned a broad half-round central pediment on the front, set above its
entrance. Curiously L. H. Redenbaugh, a local contractor was responsible for the plan. While the effort
was to be credited, nothing would come about until 1931, still six years off (Evening Times, January 12,
1925).
W. R. Griffin returned with new announcements. He was going to erect a massive apartment block
next to the courthouse and gave to plumbing and heating contract to locals Swanson and Betsworth. The
statistics for the two story building were impressive. There were 80 glass and French doors and 200 inside
doors. There were 50 double hung windows and the building would consume 5.5 tons of nails and
hardware. Innovations included basement storage lockers for tenants and a common laundry room. The
Evening Times said it would be "the first apartment house in Cherokee." The "old frame" to the east was
still in place and would be used for construction storage and then removed. The entire grounds would then
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Section number_E Page 52
be landscaped in conjunction with the planned grading and landscaping of the adjoining courthouse
grounds. Griffin used pre-fabricated structural steel which was produced by his regular vendor,
International Steel and Iron Company of Evanston, Indiana. Griffin had purchased some used steel
originally but discarded it as too light and too difficult to re-fit on the site. The architect of this very
prominent and impressive building is not known, although Swanson & Betwsorth prepared an elevation
sketch for the paper (Evening Times, March 25, April 6, 15,1925
State primary road #5 (this number is is not identified) was the first cross-country state highway to
be completely paved or graveled with the completion of one last stretch in Butler County. This placed
Cherokee directly on a major east-west arterial link (Ibid., March 30, 1925).
The "battle royale" of 1925 was between Cherokee and Northwestern Bell Telephone Company.
The citizens were sufficiently unimpressed with the company's phone service and denied a franchise
renewal early in the year. The company threatened to cut services off in July but finally another vote was
held in October. Bell promised a "complete rebuilding of the plant" and an upgrading to the "common
battery system." The final result was a doubling of the telephone exchange building at 112 South Second.
One real benefit of the remodeling was the promise that patrons using the long-distance phone at the
exchange would no longer have to go downstairs to do this! (Ibid., April 24, July 21, August 5, 31,
October 2, 5, 7, 21, December 14, 1925).
West Maple was the scene of some considerable developmental interest in 1925. Several outside
developers announced building plans but it is doubtful that anything came of the plans. J. W. Sheldon,
from South Dakota, purchased the Perrett Building (212 West Maple, Little Panda Restaurant) and
announced plans to transform it into a hotel. Duffy's Cafe already occupied the first floor and Sheldon
wanted to add another floor. Andrew Cleary came to Cherokee from Sioux City and similarly planned to
erect a hotel. He evicted second hand goods tenant John Prichard (one of Cherokee's Black
entrepreneurs). Cleary demolished two West Maple buildings (likely those at 216 and 218 West Maple)
the next year, both considered landmarks on that street. One was described as "Klein's political
headquarters" and the other had housed Pritchard's second hand goods already mentioned. Cleary wanted
to build a one to four story building. Clearly might have constructed the one story garage which later
housed the Safeway Store.
The year 1926 brought with it no new buildings. Cherokee was selected as a divisional
headquarters for the electrical company in March and the railroad expanded its yards southward, adding a
modern coal chute along with other trackage and bridge improvements. The school district acquired an
11-acre playing field on South Roosevelt Avenue (Ibid., January 11, February 12, March 5, 1926).
(Rev. 8-86)


Continuation Sheet
The second "Trade Expansion" season unfolded with "another big trade event" in late April with 48
participating retailers. The Evening Times concluded
"...more and more Cherokee is becoming one of the big retail trade centers of Northwest
Iowa. Its stores have been greatly impressed within the past few years, with the installation
of handsome storefronts, the finest modern fixtures, and large stocks of the very latest
offerings of merchandise in all lines. Couple these with the drawing power of moderate
prices and high quality of merchandise and you have the secret for the rapid enlargement of
Cherokee's trade territory."
Splendid roads were the primary reason, but a fine movie theater "gives an added interest for the whole
family," offering another inducement for shoppers to visit Cherokee (Ibid., April 23, 1926).
1928 saw but one new downtown building and the two Cherokee newspapers, the Times and Chief
merged to form the Cherokee Daily Times.
1929 was a booming year for downtown growth. The Daily Times reported "Much Building in
Progress" as of early May. It elaborated "Cherokee's keeping step with other towns and passing some in
building programs this year. In addition to business houses several residences are in process of
construction." A second apartment house was underway at 305 North Second as was a large garage at
216-20 West Maple, a building that later housed the Safeway Store (non-extant). Teams of horses
remained integral to construction work and a team and wagon damaged the brand new front doors to the
garage {Daily Times, May 4, 21, 1929).
Another major auto garage was under construction at 505 West Main as H. R. Miller added onto
his 1914 garage facility. The vast sunken concrete basement was jokingly referred to as a "Swimming Pool
Site" if summer rains continued and kept it awash and the Daily Times invited readers to consider that its
location was "right handy for a dive off the courthouse tower" (Ibid., May 22, 1929).
The new garage on West Main underscored an increasing concentration of auto dealers in that part
of town. Virtually all of the dealerships were within two blocks of West Main, west of the tracks. C. H.
Smith was selling Oldsmobiles at Second and Pine. Miller's new garage housed Peterson Chevrolet Auto
Company, managed by Henry Siebl. The October 1929 open house drew 2,500 visitors and the front
display room was used as a dance hall with music provided by the Ruth Banister band. There were of
course garages on West Maple and West Willow and numerous scattered gas stations. Firestone occupied
the unfinished garage on the northwest corner of Elm and South Second and finally built a gas station after
several design overhauls. The main reason for the new plan was to economize on building costs (Ibid.,
May 18, July 1, 3, 31, September 27, October 7, 1929).
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Downtown all eyes were on the new J. C. Penney building at 104-06 East Main. That chain store
was downtown for several years in a standard storefront just across the street but now it had the chance to
build its own double storefront. The first floor was in place by late June and finally opened in mid-
September. The new store was claimed to be the "largest storeroom in Cherokee and what is said to be the
finest J. C. Penney Store in Iowa." The chain stores were taking their places along Main Street. The A&P
Company quickly occupied the former Penny's location and remodeled the front. Daylight for north-facing
storefronts remained a valued priority and the new front would "provide larger spaces for display and
furnish more daylight for the store's interior" (Ibid., June 22, August 20, September 12, October 7, 1929).
The Daily Times wondered "What Are Cherokee's Colors?" in late May, 1929. It noted the
downtown was festooned with various worn-out banners which appeared to date from the Civil War era.
The writer acknowledged "the Black C still shows up strong anyway." The same source once again styled
Cherokee the "convention center" and that activity continued unabated. Downtown promotion was
flagging a bit with just 25 participants in an August "First Cherokee Cooperative" joint promotion in
cooperation with the Cherokee Retail Trade Bureau and Chamber of Commerce. The Chamber replaced
the Commercial Club in 1923 (Ibid., May 18, August 5, 1929).
The still deliberating Masons were thrown into a tizzy when "a large [commercial] concern" offered
to occupy the entire ground floor of any building which they raised up. The Daily Times reported that the
offer "has brought sweat to the brow of the lodge's building committee. Even this offer, it is said, doesn't
inspire the lodge to start negotiating for building and the committee is naturally up in the air" (Ibid., May
10, 1929).
The October 1929 stock market disaster was duly observed as a distant national event but it was
some time before the financial constrictions of the ensuing Great Depression began to effect Cherokee. It
took an entire year to claim its first local bank. The newspaper very discretely reported the demise of the
First National Bank, simply stating in a small bottom of the page corner that the bank had failed to open its
doors the Monday after nervous depositors had withdrawn several hundred thousands of dollars the
previous Saturday. The Daily Times then simply noted on December 16 that "the bank situation in
Cherokee Tuesday had quieted down remarkably well and citizens are elated over the fact that there is no
cause for further alarm...Business at the Cherokee State Bank and Steele's bank assumed normal
proportions again Tuesday." There is at least a hint that these other banks had suffered runs by their
depositors on Saturday or Monday as well. The Times also asked, on behalf of the Federal Bank
Examiner, that boxholders at First National would desist from attempting to empty their boxes at this time
(Ibid., December 15, 16, 1930).
Within a week the same source reported a "need for another good bank" there being "business
enough in Cherokee for three banks." The only losers in the bank collapse were its stockholders and they
(Rev. 8-86)


Continuation Sheet
lost heavily. A new bank was quickly organized and investors were sought. James Wearin encouraged the
investment asking if it wasn't a better deal to invest in a new bank when farm land was worth just $100-
150 per acre as opposed to earlier times when the same land sold for $300-400? (Ibid., December 27,
1930).
Incredibly, the Masons made their decision to finally build their new hall, just a week before the
bank closing. The final plan was now within their collective means, meaning that money on hand would
pay for the project and the three story building was approved. In its final form, it faced north on East
Willow, leaving the lot to the west, at Willow and North Second, which could either be leased or sold off.
The hall construction marked the end of downtown building for three years (Ibid., December 12, 1930).
The next bank to close, the Security National Bank, at 203 West Main, waited only three months to
fail, closing on March 15, 1931. It was not reorganized and stood empty on West Main Street for years
before it became a bakery. The First National reorganized as Central Trust and Savings Bank and opened
on May 14, 1931. In a symbolic gesture, it remodeled its building on West Main Street (Cherokee Times
Centennial, 1970, Chapter 51).
Another symbolic change downtown in early May, 1930 was the replacement of the 1913 globe
cluster street lights with 72 new steel "So-Lux" lights. New lights were added on Maple and North
Second to light the postoffice (Times, May 7, 1930).
The town's 1930 population was 6,443, and that of the county 18,737. For the county this
translated to a five percent increase, and a 10 % increase for Cherokee. The county seat could claim 34
percent of the county population as residents.
Downtown rebuilding began anew in 1934 and 1935 with three new buildings, followed by one in
1937. The next new building came in 1944, and eight new buildings were built between 1944 and 1949.
Five buildings were added during the 1950s and six more in the 1960s. Just one new building arose in the
1970s.
The 1924/1947 Sanborn Fire Insurance Map depicts just two frames on West Main (208, 216 West
Main, and six frames or vacant lots on East Main. The downtown is now virtually all of brick or tile
construction. The 200s block of West Maple had just three left (and no, the fire district was still largely
undeveloped save for a large garage at 216-20). The hotel distribution pattern was much the same, save
for the Hillside by the courthouse, there were three hotels near the depot and one (the Iowa) on East Main.
The impact of the automobile is shown in the distribution of filling stations. Most clustered along Second
Street, the designated highway. There were gas stations at every intersection between Linn Street and
Locust except on Main. There were also gas stations on West Main, East Main and Euclid Avenue, North
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Section number _E Page _ 56
Fifth off of Main, South Fifth and Elm. Auto garages by this time were less centralized and tended to
cluster along the same major streets. The largest congregation remained west of the tracks although a
mini-auto node was well developed on East Main on the eastern outskirts of the town.
One final territorial Cherokee advantage was the price of haircuts in town. Dale Goldie owned the
majority of the buildings which housed barbers and he forced his barber shop-tenants to suppress their
prices, threatening them with eviction if they didn't abide. Goldie's standard was the price of a haircut in
Storm Lake. This story would have dated to the 1920s and later (Interview, Jim Adamson with Jerry
Namanny, January 17, 1998).
Cherokee Developmental Chronology. 1934-1980:
Existing community histories stop by the mid-1930s and the task of continuing a downtown
developmental history becomes both more complex and more difficult. Several critical trends take place
during the years 1935-1948.
The first of these trends has been described in its formative years, this being the development of a
strong commercial area to the west of the downtown, beyond the railroad tracks. This area specialized on
livery and agricultural implement-related services, and following the rising dominance of the automobile it
took on auto sales and repair services. By the mid-1930s "automobile row" located along the 400s block
of West Main was serving a broad regional sales market. Single-story dealership buildings displaced
churches from the east part of Piety Hill. W. R. Griffin's final building effort took place in the mid-1930s
when he constructed an international style modern grocery store at 116-18 North Fifth Street (Swanson's
Grocery). Reflective of the return of at least some sence of normalcy after the onset of the Great
Depression, two commercial buildings were constructed between 1930 and 1934, and three more during
the subsequent five years.
The second expected trend, that being commercial construction and building replacement right up
to the start of World War II, is reflected in these latter construction figures. The three 1935-39 buildings
and the single 1940-44 building represent the final pre-war construction efforts. Cherokee experienced no
war-related industrial conversion of any great scale or had any war-related military or governmental
installations. Commercial construction did not resume until after the war when seven buildings were
completed between 1945 and 1949. This building trend continued into the early 1950s with the building of
three more storefront properties. Since that time the only flurry of downtown construction of any scale
took place between 1960-64 when four buildings were completed.
William R. Griffin, credited with being "one of Cherokee's pioneer citizens and booster and builder
of city interests" died on June 30, 1947. Griffin was born in Steamboat Rock, Iowa and first came to
[Rev. 8-861


Continuation Sheet
Section number E Page 57
Cherokee in 1893. He enjoyed a varied career as a merchant, and a entertainment road and film show
manager. Griffin's particular developmental legacy to Cherokee was his substantial building up of the
western business district.
Aerial view north, Cherokee downtown, c. 1955

(Courtesy Gene Dorr)
NPS Form 10-900-. OMB Approval No. 1024-0018
(Rev. 8-861


Continuation Sheet
The following annotated chronology lists community events which influenced downtown prosperity
and development during the years 1934 through the present decade:
1934-The City of Cherokee purchased 102 acres for a municipal airport.

1935-The City built its first water tower built North 11th Street and the Country Club pool was
constructed.
1936-The Cherokee Courier was founded and remains in business today. Guy Gillette, a regional
Democratic Leader and U.S. Congressman, was elected to the United States Senate.
1939-The Rural Electric Authority was organized. The Bethlehem Lutheran Church disbanded and the
Congregational church moved to that building.
1940-The 7th Day Adventists dedicated a new church. The first natural gas supply was made available to
the city. The 1940 Census recorded 19,258 county residents and 7,469 residents in the city. The latter
number representeds less than a 3 percent increase in the county seat population over 1930 for the county
and a nearly 9 percent increase for Cherokee. Just over 38.5 percent of the county residents lived in
Cherokee.
1942-45-During World War II Cherokee suffered 48 dead in military service. The local National Guard
unit was gone by the war's start.
1949-The Jehovah's Witnesses church was founded.
1950-The population was 19,052 in the county and 7,705 in Cherokee. These figures marked the first
overall population loss for the county. The city again posted a 3 percent increase since 1940. City
residents constituted 40.4 percent of all county residents.
1951-The Sanford Museum opened, dedicated to Teal Sanford.
1952-The Trinity Lutheran Church and Central Church of Christ built new buildings. KCHE radio was
established.
1958-Gillette Park and Pool were dedicated.
1959-The Safeway Store occupied the former garage 216-20 West Maple (non-extant).
1960-The new courthouse replaced the older building. The Headley Garage (915-17 West Main) was
demolished to allow for the construction of the Methodist Church educational center.
(515-17 West Main).
1970-The county population was 17,269, representing a 9.5 percent decrease since 1960. There are 7,272
residents in Cherokee. This is the first county seat decline, a loss of 5.5 percent between 1860 and 1970.
The Cherokee residents account for 42 percent of county residents..
1980-The county population was 16,084, representing a 7 percent decrease since 1970. Cherokee had
7,004 residents. These numbers marked a 3.7 percent decline since 1970. Fully 43.5 percent of the county
population lived in Cherokee.
1985-Cherokee lost its third bank with the failure of Steele's Bank during the Farm Crisis of the early and
middle-1980s.
1989-The city demolished the railroad depot canopy.
NPS Form 10-900-a OMB Approval No. 1024-00 iB
(Rev. 8-86)


Continuation Sheet
1990-The population of Cherokee was 6,026, a 14 percent decline since 1980!
Demolition of Headley Garage, 1960, 517 West Main, view southeast, note 1931 streetlight
[Rev. 8-861


Continuation Sheet
Section number _F Page 60
F. Associated Property Types:
Property Type Description:
Property Type: Commercial Buildings in Cherokee, Iowa
Commercial buildings in this study comprise two closely related sub-types, the one and two part
commercial subtypes as defined by architectural historian Richard Longstreth. Longstreth defined 11 basic
commercial building types and his useful schema has been applied to the Cherokee commercial buildings.
His types are all defined by the fundamental massing and facade arrangement and each type more or less
persists over the years 1800-1950, and each tends to be influenced by the same styles, popular changes and
evolving technologies and the availability of new building materials.
The Two-part Commercial Block:
This type consists of two to four storied buildings. The facade is divided into two horizontal zones,
the public storefront level and the more private upper floor. In the earlier examples the upper level
ornamentation is additive and is generally not associated with the facade. This type was well adapted to
house a diversified range of commercial uses including banks, hotels, office buildings and department
stores. The type passed through a Victorian period of ornate exaggeration. The High Victorian years,
continuing into the early 1900s was particularly fanciful, employing varied window openings, a broad range
of materials, and fancy attics and turrets. Longstreth credits the Academic Movement (c. 1800s into the
1930s) with bringing about a more proportioned reordering of the decorative elements on the upper floors.
That level was more unified, with the decorative elements being subordinated to the overall facade. The
commercial building was to be unobtrusive and less ostentatious. Multi-colored brick and thin veneer
stone was now available. European modernism first influenced the type between the mid-1920s and mid-
19305. A vertical emphasis was added, tying the floors together. An enriched wall surface resulted. A
second period of influence (1930s-1940s) resulted in a strong emphasis on horizontally with decorative
banding, smooth wall surfaces and the integration of signs into the whole building design. Forty-one
surveyed properties fall under this sub-type.
The One-Part Commercial Block:
This is the single story version of the Two-part type, being essentially only the storefront
component, with or without a false front and cornice line above it. The origin of this type was the frontier
and suburb and it was commonly expressed in frame construction. This type also includes many later bank
buildings although it was overwhelmingly a retailing building type. The same general transitional phases
mark the evolution of this type. By the 20th Century detailing was simpler with a greater uninterrupted
NPS Form 10-900-. OMB Approval No. 1024-OOIB
(Rev. 8-86]


Continuation Sheet
array of display glass being possible. The Moderne influence resulted in a deeply recessed entrance with a
simple wall surface above. Forty-eight surveyed properties fall under this sub-type.
The following eight sub-type examples generally categorize the types of general commercial
buildings which were found in Cherokee. Excluded from this range are the higher-style exceptional
buildings such as temple-fronted banks and fraternal halls.
This sub-type of the two-part commercial building features a single unified upper level wall-window
plane. All upper windows are included in this area. A brick arch or a pronounced parapet base defines the
top of the wall plane. In this example a tin cornice line caps the clerestory. The elaborate projecting
parapet and pediment have been removed from this example.
Other Good Examples:

424-26 West Main
NPS Form 1O-90O-a 0MB Approval No. 1024-0018
[Rev. 8-86I


Continuation Sheet
Section number _JF Page _62
This sub-type of the two-part commercial building features a simpler flat upper wall surface with no
effort to break up that surface using either window or pilaster effects. The whole is blended in along with
copious amounts of decorative terracotta inlays. The parapet and cornice are simply designed and
constructed, using only brick in lieu of tinwork. This example retains a remarkably pristine storefront and
only the clerestory is covered over. The parapet wall base is flat-cut and frequently strongly defined, even
to projecting the parapet wall plane forward.

101-03, 120 East Main
214 West Main
(Rev. 8-861
United States D e p a r t m e n t of the Interior

Continuation Sheet
Section number F Page 63
•.-. : • • : - - . ' - . • • • ; . : •- ••• •• •••. •••.'•• -..-,: : -.'. ..•:•, . , . • • . . ' . . . • -. -. /..•
;^™^^>:W>:-:-!< : : : >:>X;x-:::y: : :
205 West Main, 1893, 18-00139

This sub-type of the two-part commercial building features multiple wall-window bays or panels
which are set between strongly defined vertical pilasters and projecting end walls. In this example the
decorative window hoods terminate the bay-effect, as does the corbelled parapet wall base and the tin
cornice and pediment.

102, 109, 123 East Main
201, 207, 213, 220 (metal front) West Main
NPS Form 10-900-i OMB Approval No. 1024-0018
[Rev. 8-86)


Continuation Sheet
223 West Main, 1906, 18-00152

This sub-type of the two-part commercial building is similar to the earlier example at 203 West
Main, the common quality being that the entire upper front is unified as a single wall-window plane and its
upper reaches are defined by a curved brick arch. In this example the wall-window plane is projected
forward as a bay window. The side walls flanking the storefront continue to be treated with stone. The
parapet is simplified in its materials but continues to be quite ornate and classically inspired. This example
had a centered pediment, with a rounded profile.
Other Good Examples;

108 North Second
225 West Main
NPSForm 10-900-a OMB Approval No. 1024-0018
(Rev. 8-86)


Continuation Sheet
Section number _F Page _65
126 East Main, 1912, 18-000132
This sub-type of the one-part commercial building features very simplified design and components,
the effect being visually stronger because there is only a single story and a high parapet wall. Decorative
sidewall inserts of stone frame the storefront and an exposed decorated I-beam, usually with florets, likely
caps the clerestory area. The parapet wall is divided into multiple recessed brick panels. These are defined
either by a projecting border, a projecting wall surface, or different materials such as stone corner blocks.
The parapet line is either flat or features a centered simple pediment. Date and name stones are frequently
inserted either in the pediment or the upper parapet front. A broader subset are the automotive garages
which employ a broader frontage, a flat brick wall plane, dog-toothed parapet walls and decorative
date/name stone inserts.

117 South Second
116 East Main
509 West Main

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United States Department of the Interior

National Register of Historic Places

II. Prosperity and Change (1902-1948)

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National Register of Historic Places

November 1903 View of Main Street, Southeast from the Courthouse

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National Register of Historic Places

The Pre-War and Wartime Building-Up, 1908-20:

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Cherokee's first auto garage, 221 West Willow, view southeast

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500-504 West Main, view northwest, c. 1919, 1913 street light

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North side, 200s block West Main, view to east, c. 1910

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South Second, view north to Main, c.1915

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The Years Between The Wars:

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