1897 - Dixon Block - Oskaloosa, Ia. - Dated Buildings and Cornerstones on Waymarking.com

Date of Construction: 1897

Information taken from page 16 of the pdf for Type IV buildings and pages 84 & 85 of the pdf on the specific building.

Type IV Building - Type IV buildings belong to the transitional years, 1890 to 1910. Bold departures stylistically from their Victorian predecessors, Type IV buildings are an evolutionary link between nineteenth century commercial Victorian architecture and the simplified commercial architecture of the twentieth century. The scales of these buildings is larger and produces a heavier, more massive less vertical appearance than earlier types. The detailing is less ornate, with cornices, window arches, and banding generally executed in brick rather than wood, metal, or stone. Based upon information from Sanborn Insurance maps of the district, the five year period between 1891 and 1896 was the busiest of all periods between 1885 and 1927 for new construction and remodel work. These were the first years for Type IV buildings; of the 11 buildings built in the district from this period, 6 were of the new Type IV. One remodeling project was also a Type IV.

Of the total 16 known Type IV buildings or blocks built within the district boundary, 12 currently exist substantially intact, 2 are intrusive due to contemporary alterations which could be removed, 1 has been permanently altered, and 1 has been completely replaced.

Type IV buildings were built as single bays or as larger blocks. The single bay buildings are two-stories tall with a front facade characterized by a large, segmental, second story arch spanning over an expansive Chicago style window or projecting bay. The large second story arch often spans the full width of the facade. The windows beneath are double-hung with large single pane sashes. Projecting bays are three sided. Type IV blocks were either two or three bays wide (40' - 60') with central emphasis, or were built more simply as repeating bays or as multiple bays without central emphasis. Of both single bays and blocks, common features include: the standard commercial box form with load-bearing brick walls, rectangular plan and elevation, and flat roof behind a cornice parapet; the use of smooth bricks for the front facade with contrasting rough faced bricks for arches; banding, cornices, pilasters, and ground level piers and side walls; and the use of a darker brick and, in some examples, the use of contrasting colors as well as textures of brick. Large, dark, and heavy, the influence of the Richardson Romanesque style which was popular in the United States between 1870 and 1890 is apparent in these buildings. Storefronts were generally exposed cast iron; only the cast iron posts of building #94 are still visible.

Specific to building - Architect is unknown. Storefront altered - 1970s. Turret caps removed after the 1940s

Relatively intact, this is a key example of Type IV architecture. Influences of the Chicago School can be seen in the overscaled arch with large bay window, rough brick (textures were requested by architects often enough to warrant their production in mass quantities), and beehive or pineapple finials (no longer extant). Similar finials can be seen in the Rookery by Burnham & Root, Chicago, 1836. Also, they could be seen on the building now occupied by Holton s/Carousel (#57, #58) before its facade was changed in the '30s, and also the Evans block (#78).

History of the building tenants:
1889 - C.M. Dixon, Loans, U.P. Hawkins & Co., Shoes
1902 - E.D. Brewer, Shoes; Upper-J.P. Hiatt, Ins.
1911 - Hamilton Hardware
1925 - Barnhouse Piano Co.
1936 - Oskaloosa Cafe
1954 - Shrago's, Men's Wear

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