Heritage Center Museum
The Heritage Center Museum opened in 1898 as the Burlington Public Library. One hundred years later, the Des Moines County Historical Society renovated the historic building, preserving the detailed woodwork, the elegant, open spaces, and many other architectural features. Combining 19th century elegance and 21st century technology, the DMC Heritage Center exhibits the history and creative spirit of the many people who have lived in Des Moines County, Iowa. Come visit the Museum during our open hours Tu-Sa 10a-5p and Su 1-4p.
William Foster 403 Court
Mr. Foster was a prominent banker at the First National Bank. He started as a Messenger and after 27 years at the bank became one of its Vice Presidents. Mr. Foster was born in Galt, Ontario, Canada. He also served in the civil war for the forty-seventh Iowa Volunteers in company H. He was a devoted member of the Presbyterian Church.This home is a two story brick with rusticated ashlar used for the foundation, lintels, and sills. The entry has double doors with leaded glass transoms. At the side of the property is the original carriage house.
602 North 4th
At six stories, mercy is the tallest and largest building in the district. It was constructed by the Leitner Brothers construction Co. of Cedar Rapids. RT Hartman was a civil engineer who did the structure design. Two unusual paroputs on the roof have a Gothic flavor. This building was originally constructed to be a hospital. It currently houses several radio stations, Martini's fine dining restaurant, offices and the Chamber of Commerce. On the very top floor are two exclusive condos.
River Bridge - Originally the McCarthur Bridge then 1970 Hwy 34 bridge
Two bridges are seen in the picture. On the left is the old MaCarther bridge built in 1920. On the right is the new Highway 34 bridge constructed in 1989 and completed 1992. The new bridges main spar is 320 feet high. The bridge cost $30 million in 1990. River clearance during a normal part of the year is 55 feet in the middle part. It took 1245 days to complete this project.
Christ Episcopal Church 623 N. 5th (1884)
Designed by Burlington architect Charles A. Dunham, Christ Episcopal Church was originally referred to as an early English type architecture. A round tower terminating in a square belfry covered with a high-pitched gallery is one of the more unique features of the building. The original interior walls were decorated in polychrome by Burlington artist David H. Johnson, who also did the interior of the first Baptist Church. The side windows of colored glass were made and designed by Dr. Johnson, the rector. This church has endured two fires. The one thing that has not been harmed in each of these two fires is a stunning stained glass window that was created by Tiffany.
Obediah H. Schenck House 621 N. 5th (1840)
Obadiah Schenk, along with Lewis Dalhoff, were partners in the pork packing business. This two-story brick home is an example of an early Italian style with a hip roof, paired eave brackets, off-center doorway and stone lintels. The classic doorway with transom and sidelights is covered by a curved top canopy supported by curved brackets. On the South side or pair of arched doorways in the center of the home which leads to the side yard. An attic dormer has been added to the north side as well as a chimney. Stone steps lead from the East entry to the yard. On the northeast corner, a second set of stone steps leads from the yard through the limestone retaining wall to the sidewalk. Originally built as a private home, it was used for a time as rector of the Episcopal Church next door.
Ellery-Kratz House 613 N. 5th 1869
Isabel Madison Kratz and Dr. Delbert John “Doc” Kratz who made their home on North 5th Street Delbert was a Dentist in Burlington.Walter B. Eaton also lived at this address in 1920. Walter B Eaton was the Secretary of the Chittenden & Eastman company. He came to Iowa in 1856 and built the Des Moines Valley Railroad. During the Civil War he was the employee of the government, having charge of the transportation of troops and superintending the operation of the Ohio & Mississippi Railroad for the government. Following the close of the war he became a large contractor, conducting a most important business of that character.Mr Eaton owned a 50 foot yacht called the "Shokoquon". Mr Eaton had a gardener and chauffer, Raisuke Yamamoto that lived at 621 N. 5th.This house exhibits Second Empire features in the fish scale shingled mansford roof on the east façade, tall narrow paired windows, and heavy window hoods and surrounds. The porch across the eastern façade is a later addition.
Thomas Hedge, Sr. 607 N. 5th (1859)
Thomas Hedge, Senior made his fortune as a wholesale merchant, and then later became a lumberman with the firm of Gilbert and Hedge. Thomas Hedge., a pioneer of Burlington, was born at Yarmouth, Massachusetts, February 14, 1815, of English ancestry. His immigrant ancestor was a sea captain and sailed from London to Boston in 1638 and affected his settlement at Yarmouth. James Hedge, the father of Thomas Hedge was also a sea captain.In 1836, Thomas came to Burlington during its infant days and engaged in the mercantile business for three years. He then returned East and married Eliza B. Eldridge in 1843 and then returned to Burlington where he opened a general store. Later, he engaged in the banking business. In 1865 he joined the lumber firm of Gilbert Brothers with which he was associated for the remainder of his life. His life paralleled that of Burlington and he became a major part of its history.During the Gay 90s and later Hedge Hill was the center of much of the social life of the city. There Sunday night supper's were famous and it was considered really prestigious to be included in those affairs.Hedge Hill is one of the most ornate residents in the district. It shows some influences of rominisque revival but is generally Italianate in style.
Adolphus Delahaye House (421 Court) 1860
Hans Thielson Burlington And Mississippi R. R. Chief Engineer. Mr Thielson spent 50 years in the railroad business. His first engineering job was to build Michigan Central railroad. He was then engaged to build the Burlington Missouri railroad His final railroad engineering was in Oregon. He partnered with Delahaye in a Distiller, Rectifier of Wine and Liquor Distributorship.This house is from the Gothic Revival era. It could be called “Carpenter Gothic”. This was originally a single story family dwelling.
Robert Moir, Jr. 521 N. 5th (1905)
Robert Moir's family was the owner of a local button factory. His home, Moir Hall with its eclectic sort of Georgian revival house built in Flemish brick bond. Features include multiple hip roofs, modillion blocks, corner quoins, and a stone string course between the second and third floors. On the majority of the Windows, the lintels are stone in an ornate three-part variation of the jack arch. there is notable art class in the oriel window and entryway..
Silas Hudson House 501 N. 5th (1845)
Born in Mason county, Kentucky, Dec. 13, 1815. He was descended from one of the old families of England established in Virginia in colonial days. In 1857 Silas A. Hudson sent him to Denver, Colo., where he opened a supply store, being one of the first settlers in that place. He was among the discoverers and aided in the early development of the mines at Breckenridge. During the first year of the war of the rebellion he was driven away by the Indians, and he returned to Burlington to join General Grant's staff. The first national election in which he took part was in the presidential campaign of 1836, when he gave his support to General Harrison. He was clerk of the Territorial Legislature. He was from early life an intimate friend of Abraham Lincoln who recognized his great qualities, and ask him to become a champion of his cause in connection with the presidency when the subject of the choice of a candidate was being discussed by the people in 1860.
Benton J. Hall 422 Columbia 1850
Benton Hall was born in 1835. Lived fifty-nine years. He was an Esteemed Lawer and Statesman. He was Commissioner of Patents in Gover Cleveland's administration.
The Hudson Annex 510 Columbia (1870)
The northwest corner of the Hudson Annex is the original structure. Tradition holds that it was built as the Silas Hudson carriage house to 501 North 5th., which sits adjacent to it. It has wood sills and no lintels as opposed to the segmental arches on the newer South facade. The newer part of the home is a two-story, rectangular Italianate structure with a low hip roof. The symmetrical façade is a five bay front with 2 over 2 windows. The central double doorway with transom is highlighted by one-story entry portable with Italianate detail. There is a one-story gabled row of brick extension with chimney on the northeast corner. A low limestone retaining wall borders the house on the South side, with stone steps leading from the South wall to the yard above. At one time this house have a widow’s walk on the roof. The current owners anticipates putting that Widows walk back.
Charles E Schramm House (512 Columbia) 1893
The Charles E. Schram home is a two-story Queen Anne structure built of coarsed ashlar limestone blocks. The home's outstanding feature is a large stone porch with an entryway highlighted by two massive stone arches that go to the ground unsupported by columns a feature of the Richardsonian Romanesque movement. Other features include a two-story circular bay with conical roof on the west side, a large two-story wooden aureole directly to the south of the bay, to fly at oriole windows on the ease in double decked porches with ornate radials and balusters on the rearview side. The multiple gable roofline is Slate with dormers and tall chimneys with corbel talks. The property is bordered by a limestone retaining wall on the south side of East alley sides.
Swan-Schramm House 520 Columbia (1850)
The Swann - Schram home is two stories, stucco over brick construction with stone lentils. The first-floor windows or six over six and all second-floor windows are three over three. The doorway is a classic Greek revival style with rectangular transom and sidelights. The one-story front porch with square wood columns extends along the entire south façade. Around 1872 rooms were added to the rear of the house. At the rear of the property is a one-story frame garage, with Gable roof and clapboard siding.
6th street turn
You are turning onto 6th street where most of the well to do an influential lived from the mid 1800s to the late 1900s. These families were significant to Burlington's development. The Crapo's lived in the second house on the left and the Carsons on the end of the street.
Roads-Gardner House (521 Court) 1854
Absalom Roads 1810 – 1874, engaged in the mercantilebusiness early in his career later embarking in the real-estate and loan business. E.T.Gardner 1802 – 1881, Mr. Gardner was VP & treasurer of the Gardner & GouldCompany, which manufactured candles and confectionary supplies.The house was built in 1854, it has a gentle pitched gable roof with broad “winged’eaves supported by 2 types of eave brackets that is characteristic of the Italian Villastyle. It exhibits the Italian Villa “L of T’ shaped plan of intersecting rectangles in anirregular massing. The house is of brick with curved stone lintels. There are 6 over 6windows with closing shutters and a brick walkway. The front porch has squareposts, small eave brackets and a balustrade. The main entry features a double doorwith fanlight and tracery. There is a one story wood addition that was constructedsometime after 1886. It is on a stone foundation and has eave brackets like thoseon the main house. An enclosed one story sun porch was added later.. It has aconcrete foundation and clapboard siding with wood panel insets around thewindows. At the rear of the property is a one story hip roof, frame garage withclapboard siding and a sliding garage door.
Edwin T. Gardner House 629 N. 6th 1900
Edward T. Gardner was born January 05, 1861 in Burlington, Iowa. He was the son of ET and Louisa Webster gardener. On June 01, 1900 he joined with E C Gould and formed Gartner in Gould company who manufactured candies and sold confectioners' supplies. The business was located in third Street and Elm. This house was originally a two-story frame Queen Anne structure. The home features a Polygonal turret on the northeast corner, a multi-gabled roofline, a second-floor curved bay front, one first floor bay on the north side, and an oriel window on the east: all contributing to the asymmetrical appearance of the home. The home has been considerably modified. The front porch has been enclosed and the entire house has been covered with a blond brick veneer.
Thophilus G. Foster House 624 N. 7th 1860's or 70's
Mr. Foster was a DFirector for Burlington Lumber4 Co., Valley Lumber -Ea Claire, Wisconsin and City vWater company Burlington, IA. He was a long time member of Presbyterian Church.
Goodrich - Buhrmeister House 623 N7th 1860
(Yesteryear) 620 N. 7th 1860 or 70's
Dr. Joseph C. Stone House 613 N. 7th 1860
During the Civil War Dr. Joseph C. Stone, of Post No. 5, at Burlington, was appointed to fill the vacancy as Provisional Commander. Stone was born in New York in 1829 and had come with his father to the Territory of Iowa in 1844. He had studied medicine and entered the practice of his profession in Burlington prior to the Civil War. In June 1861, he enlisted in the First Iowa Cavalry and was successively promoted to the adjutant, captain, and assistant adjutant general. Returning to Burlington at the close of the war, he was one of the first to be interested in the work of the Grand Army. Stone's term of office as Provisional Commander was of brief duration, for in September 1876 — the year of his election — he resigned and was succeeded by Comrade Albert A. Perkins.
Ernest McMillian
611 N 7th is the second home on site. A Colonial-Georgian Revival was one of the first homes on N. 7th Street. The first owners of the property were Edward and Catherine Murphy building in 1865, he owned a paint and wallpaper store on N 5th and later on the 300 block of Jefferson. E.P. Eastman bought the property from Mrs. Murphy in 1904, built a new home for his sister, Mabel Eastman MacMillan as a wedding gift . She and husband Ernest moving from Salem, Ohio moved into their new home, he ran a major hardware store downtown and paid Mr. Eastman off in 1909. The first 3 owners of the property were executives with Chittenden and Eastman. The home was built with redwood ordered from Michigan and remains on the house today. Mrs. Mabel Eastman MacMillan was a entrepreneur , supporting the community in Burlington along with helping to build the YWCA and Mercy Hospital. She left her estate to the YWCA, Mercy Hospital and many local charities. The house has been totally renovated with no structural rebound and remains one of the better built homes on Heritage Hill.
Charles H Phelps House 605 N. 7th (1933)
Charles Henry Phelps Judge First Judicial Diostrict of Iowa. Born Middlbury Vermont March 27 1825. Mr Phelps was also a Telgrapher by trade before becoming a Lawer and then Judge. The Phelps intended the house to look slightly English and employed a Gothic arch at the front door.The hopuse has intersecting gabel roofline.
Rand -Blaul House 622 Court (1886)
In 1879 Wyman became associated with C. W. Rand as a member of the Wyman-Rand Carpet Company, and later they added a stock of furniture, queensware, glassware, curtains, and other household furnishings. C.W. was president Northwest Manufacturing Company. Mr. Rand died in 1897. C.W. created The Rand Lecture Fund to bring prominent people to lecture in Burlington. The lectures were to improve the morals and intelligence of the Burlington residents.622 Court is a 3 story Queen Anne Victorian. This home features clapboard siding on the 1st floor, shingle siding on the 2nd floor and fish scale siding on the 3rd floor (all original). There have been modifications to the front porch. The home features original stained glass windows and multiple fireplaces. The original carriage barn remains on the property.
Simeon Russell House (521-523 N. 7th) 1855 - 1870
This home was constructed as a duplex and serves as the example of homes which transitioned from the early classic style to the Italian modes. The original 1855 house is the south half of the façade. The north half was added in 1870 by the original owner, Simon Russell, who operated an early brickyard in Burlington. The two halves are completely separated by a double wall. The main portion of the house is rectangular and symmetrical with the low pitched gable roof, paired chimneys on either side and numerous eave brackets. The house is constructed of brick with stone lentils on the front and brick segmental arches in the rear, 6 over 6 windows in original shutters remain. on the east side a double set of limestone steps enters through a low limestone retaining wall to the main entry door.
Italianate House 714 Court (1888)
Fey - Frudeger House 721 Court (1906)
George Paul Frudeger owned a Bread Bakery that produced Bamby, Han-D-Maid and Sapphire Bread.
Corner Court and 8th
William R. Lemon House 505 N. 8th (1925)
William Lemon was Mrs. Mabel Eastmans, personal gardener. He took care of Mrs. Eastmans hidden Japenese garden behind and down the south side of her house. Mrs. Eastman loved tulips. She had Mr. Lemon create a garden behind his house to cultivate tulips. This enabled Mrs. Eastman to change tulip colors when she wanted.
John Lockwood Corse House 718 Columbia (1870)
John Lockwood Corse 718 Columbia St. 1870. John L. Corse was one of the originating fathers of Burlington. He was in the very first legislature of Burlington. He served in the House of Representatives. He came from by Vannuchi, Italy. He started as a model wax figure builder. His first business in Burlington was a coach factory on Jefferson Street. He then created a bookstore and stationery establishment with his son John M. Corse. His son John M. Corse was a Brigadier General in the Civil War. John M. Corse has a statue that memorializes him as a Brigadier General from the Civil War in CRAPO park. John L. Corse served as a state senator and mayor of Burlington.John Lockwood Corse 718 Columbia St. 1859. John L. Corse was one of the originating fathers of Burlington.
Smith - Eastman Estate 719 Columbia (1872)
Frederick Alonzo Smith - an entrepreneur who opened the 1st tobacco store and began manufacturing of cigars, also dealing in all goods of that line. He was also instrumental in establishing the Burlington Pickle Factory. Mr. Smith built the Italianate 719 Columbia. The house was built in 1872 with the primary character of this house being Italian Villa with a very low pitch mansard roof and dormers. The tower is Italian Villa in scale rather than being the taller uniquely shaped tower that is traditional for Second Empire structures, The house is of red brick with ornamental stone lintels. The main entry is flanked by paired columns and the roof is metal.A permastone addition was added in the 1950’s to the front of the building with a low sloping roof and carport to accommodate a funeral facility. The house was later converted back to a large single family home. There is a 1 ½ story brick carriage house to the southeast of the existing house featuring a metal hip roof with numerous dormers, jack arches, and a loft door. The carriage house also had a greenhouse on the south side which served the garden in the rear.Mr Eastman lived in this house after marring mille Eastman. Mr. Eastman 1860 – 1925, together with Henry W. Chittenden operated the most extensive wholesale and manufacturing furniture establishment in the State of Iowa The carriage house is not part of the original construction and was probably built by E.P. Eastman circa 1900.
Queene Anne 706 Columbia (1890 Moved 1970)
Original home was at the corner Spring Street and Central. Home was moved to Central Ave. Overpass area in 1950. It was then moved to the current location in 1960.
The Mauro House 702 Columbia (1858)
William H Mauro was one of the pioneer businessmen who laid the foundation of Burlington's commercial importance. He was born in Washington DC in 1806. In 1839 he moved to the west to take charge of the Burlington ferry. At the same time he established a general merchandise store on Water street near the ferry landing. He was a familiar figure on Burlington streets. Mr. and Mrs. Mauro had a family of six children. He died in 1894.W. H. Mauro Junior was born in this house and spent his entire life here. He secured a position in the bookstore of Wesley Jones, where he continued until about the year of 1881, when he bought out Wilsons interest and continued the partnership under the name Mauro and Wilson. They had a wholesale and retail book dealers , stationary and wallpaper business. There were great friends with the Phelps. and the Garrets.
McCash House (421 N. 7th (1844)
McCash House 1844. Mr. McCash came to Burlington at a very young age on horseback. His horse went lame so he decided to stay a while in Burlington. He created a livery business here and ended up being an investor. His brick house was originally one story second empire, with a mansard roof. The location of the house half way down the hill between Washington and Columbia was not an accident. He owned all of the land in the 700 block of Jefferson and wanted eye site of that land. It was not until 1947 that the mansard was removed and the second story of brick was added with a hip roof. Original features include floor length, narrow windows on the south and west, a square bay with dental work on the east, and an Italianate style front porch. The front porch extends across the south facade and originally wrapped around to the east. This private residence is in excellent condition. There is an attached enclosed sun porch on the west side.
John S. Schramm House 616 Columbia (1850)
.S. Schramm moved to Burlington in 1842, initially working as a printer for the Gazette and then for Edwards at the Hawk-Eye. In 1844, he started in the grocery business and manufactured vinegar, the first in Burlington. In 1853, he shifted exclusively to the dry goods business with brother Charles F. Schramm. Schramm built Mozart Hall at Main and Columbia in 1856 (later bought by the county for the courthouse). He then moved to 212 Jefferson in 1858 after C.F. Schramm retired from the business. His stock occupied both the first and second story in 1875. He was a director of the German-American Savings Bank when it formed in 1874, and he served as president from 1877 to 1886. It is now a Bed and Breakfast with 4 guest beds.
Mabel Eastman MacMillan House 619 Columbia (1925)
This house was built for Mabel Eastman Macmillian. She was Philip Eastman's sister. Built in 1925. There have been four homes on this location with first being a rectory for the UCC church on Snake Alley. This house became the UCC rectory in 1953. It is privately owned currently.
First German Evangelical Church 601 Columbia (1925-27)
The congregation started in 1841, as a gathering of German worshipers meeting in homes and local buildings. Our first building was built on this site and dedicated in 1851. That church faced east and was the worship center prior to the completed construction of snake alley. The building was completed in 1920 as congregation continued to grow and prosper. By 1926 that first church building was razed and a new cornerstone for the present building was laid, with the front door facing north. Our old sanctuary has been preserved since that time, and we value the tradition of our pipe organ, lovely stained-glass window. The West Wing of this church was added in 1965.
Snake Alley
"The Crookedest Street in the World"Located between Columbia and Washington StreetsHistoryThe Burlington business district was built in a natural amphitheater surrounded by hills. With all commerce situated in this valley, transportation was extremely difficult for the residents living on the steep hills surrounding the downtown. Burlington citizens realized that a new and improved form of road system was needed for travel to and from the residential area and the business district.In 1894, Snake Alley was constructed with an experimental street design. It was devised by three Germans who replicated the vineyard paths in France and Germany.Charles Starker was a German-trained architect and landscape engineer who settled in Burlington partly because it reminded him of southern Germany. He took a prominent role in many of Burlington's development projects, including Crapo Park, which was built at the same time as Snake Alley. William Steyh, the city engineer, was well respected for his engineering capabilities and his enthusiasm for park projects. Steyh was also involved in developing Crapo Park, as well as the street railways and stone viaduct construction. George Kriechbaum, a paving contractor, was a Burlington pioneer whose parents had emigrated from Germany. He constructed the first brick paving in Burlington in 1887. The brick paving of Snake Alley is still the original brick that Kriechbaum provided in 1894.In 1974, Snake Alley was nominated to the National Register of Historic Places. The homes surrounding the street were standing before construction began, thus giving the street the appearance of an alley. There is a legend that the fire department used this alley to test horses. If a horse could take the curves at a gallop and still be breathing when it reached the top, it was deemed fit to haul the city's fire wagons. Unfortunately, many teams would run out of control or stumble over the limestone curbing, sometimes resulting in a broken leg.Construction/LogisticsSnake Alley is composed of tooled, curved limestone curbing and locally-fired blueclay bricks. The constantly changing slant from one curve to the next required a complicated construction technique to keep the high grade to the outside. Snake Alley consists of five half-curves and two quarter-curves over a distance of 275 feet, rising 58.3 feet from Washington Street to Columbia.The craftsmanship and soundness of materials used in the construction of Snake Alley have made it a durable street. Today, the brick paving is still the original used in construction more than one hundred years ago.With its many twists and turns, Robert Ripley of Ripley’s Believe It, Or Not! named Snake Alley the “Crookedest Street in the World.” Snake Alley rivals Lombard Street in San Francisco for the honor. Visitors are encouraged to travel this landmark and symbol of heritage, in Burlington by foot, bicycle, or motorized vehicle.
Garrett/Phelps House
William Garrett 1844 – 1920, graduated from Phillips Academy, Andover, Mass., in1861, Yale College in 1867, and Columbia College Law School, New York City, in1869; was admitted to the bar in New York in 1869 and commenced practice inBurlington. Served as a private during the Civil War in Company E and as secondlieutenant in Company G, One Hundred and Sixth Regiment, New York VolunteerInfantry, in 1864 and 1865; resumed the practice of law in Burlington, Iowa; electedas a Republican to the Fifty-sixth and to the three succeeding Congresses (March 4,1899-March 3, 1907). Charles Phelps 1825 – 1891, Mr. Phelps formed a law practicewith the Hon. J.C. Hall, he was appointed to the Circuit Judgeship of the 1st JudicialDistrict of Iowa.The house was built in 1851 it is a 2 story brick with a gable roof. A gable end facedColumbia street with a 2 story porch running the length of the east façade. Therewas a 1 story frame wing on the south side. Windows were 6 over 6 with stonelintels. IN 1871 major additions were made and the main house doubled in size. Theaddition of a mansard roof on the 3rd floor gives the house an appearance of SecondEmpire style. Also added were eave brackets and the Italian Villa entrance towerwith its 2 balconies that face Columbia. The house is bordered on the east by alimestone retaining wall and cobblestone alley on the west by Snake Alley. From1894 – 1899 it was loaned to the Burlington Hospital.
William A. Baldwin House 501 N. 6th (1892)
William W. Baldwin 1845 – 1936 obtained his law degree from Iowa Law college andlater became the land commissioner for the Chicago, Burlington, Quincy Railroad Company. Heserved as president of the school board of Burlington for many years and was also a trustee of thepublic library.The house was built in 1892, this Queen Anne home is a 2 story brick with a multiple gablerooflines, slate shingles on the main roof and in the gable ends. The brick used has a smoothtexture and fine mortar joints. Window openings are edged with curved, pressed brick that turnsinto the window frames. Other features include a polygonal dormer, a first floor curved brick baywith pressed brick. Slate shingles overhangs the first floor and extend into the gable. The use ofCroisette (cross) and other transomed windows on the first floor shows some influence from the‘chateauesque style, as does the use of slate, the high pitched roof, and the curved brick whichenhances the massive character. Originally the house featured a semi—circular porch with turnedspindles which extended across the east facade from the entry south, a smaller second-floorbalcony above it, a porch in the southwest corner also with spindles, and a back porch. In 1971 thefront and back porches were removed; the second-floor balcony was simplified and retained witha small entry porch beneath it. 'The porch on the southwest corner is now enclosed. A lowlimestone retaining wall surrounds the half block and is interrupted here for east and south sideentrance steps and iron gates. The location of the east side steps was changed at some early date.An 1896 photo of the Baldwin home shows the east side steps still in their original location.
Nelson-Crapo House 515 N. 6th (1860)
Phillip Crapo 1844 – 1903, a special agent for the Connecticut Mutual lifeinsurance company. In addition to his extensive business interest, Mr. Crapo was activelyconcerned in local affairs, at one time being the local editor of the Hawk Eye. He wasinstrumental in obtaining funds to build the 1st bridge across the Mississippi River andbecame the president of the Burlington & Illinois Bridge Company which secured acharter from Congress authorizing the construction of the bridge.)Mr. Crapo is perhaps known best for its two major contributions to the city of Burlington: the public library and Crapo Park.The 2 story, brick house was built in the 1860’s on a raised limestone foundation is anearly Italianate structure. The house features detailed stone lintels on the east side withplain stone lintels on the rest of the house and the transom over the off center doubledoor entry. Most of the numerous, ornate corbelled chimneys have been rebuilt in aplain style. The body of the house is rectangular with set back projections containingentryways on both the north and south sides. The side entryway has been changed to awindow. According to photos, the second set back on the south side was added to thehouse in the same style sometime after 1888. The design of the porches was Italianate,with a balustrade over the square columns and heavy, turned spindles below. The porchon the north side has had the balustrade and columns removed, but the original rail andspindles remain. Original stone steps come from the main entry through the limestoneretaining wall, flanked by decorative stone pillars.
First United Methodist Church Parsonage 521 N. 6th (1912)
This house was built to be the Parsonage for the First Methodist Church.This is a two-story, hard brick, Georgian Revival. The façade is symmetrical with a central entry door, transom and side lights. Features include corner quoins, leaded glass windows and oriel windows one on the north and one on the south. A one-story column front porch extends across the entire east facade. There is a one-story back porch with square posts. Stone steps lead down from the front porch through the stone retaining wall, which borders the property on East. This residence is in great condition. At the rear of the property facing Court street is a hip roofed garage.
Carson - Tracy House 601 N. 6th (1888)
William Carson 1859 – 1938 entered the lumber business with Rand Lumber Company, he was later selected for the 1st National Bank of Burlington.), Mr. Tracy (1860- 1932) graduated from Notre Dame and completed his law degree at Iowa City, he was appointed county attorney and was twice reelected on the democratic ticket. In 1874 Mr. Carson moved to Eau Claire, to take over the management of the Valley Lumber Company, in which he and Mr. Rand had bought a large interest, and of which he had been elected treasurer and president. That was perhaps his leading position in the business world for a number of years, though at the same time his official connection and investment in other enterprises were of an important nature. He was interested in the Rand Lumber Company, and the Burlington Lumber Company, both at Burlington, Iowa, and in the Carson-Rand Company, of Keokuk, Iowa. Mr. Carson was connected with several large lumber companies in Wisconsin and was looked upon as one of the representative lumbermen of the state.The house was built in 1888. It is a 2 ½ story, frame and stone Queen Anne structure. The roofline has multiple gables and projections with dental work under the eaves. The gable ends and the entire second floor is covered with fish scale shingles. The 1st floor is a coursed ashlar with curved top windows. On the left front side of the building is a 3 story octagonal tower with decorative wood panels in the top floor and a domical roof. The house was remodeled at the turn of the century with the addition of a large intersecting gable second floor supported bystone columns. A canopied porch was added along with palladian type windows were put in the gable ends. There was also some infill between the second-floor addition and the tower on both the second attic stories. A 4” limestone retaining wall borders the property. Two sets of ornamental stone steps come through the wall with a pair of stone greyhounds flanking the main entry steps.
