Architecture
Annette Scherber, 2012
 Fox House (1863), 404 W 2nd St |  Fox House (1863), 404 W 2nd St |  Old Post Office (1919), 217 Washington St |
|---|---|---|
 Union Block Building (1887), 212 Main St |  Former Security Savings Bank (1907), 226 Main St |  Former Cedar Falls National Bank (1907), 223 Main St |
 Former Graham Co (1897), 301 Main St |  Former Odd Fellows Building (1901), 401 Main St |  Severns House (1890), 613 Main St |
 Mully House (1860), 123 E 7th St |  Howe House (1900), 802 State St |  Sessions House (1870), 1021 Clay St |
 Melichar House (1941), 1103 Franklin St |  Bailey House (1924), 1113 Walnut St |  Grau House (1890), 715 W 12th St |
 Harris House (1917), 601 W 12th St |  Conyes House (1900), 323 E 12th St |  Jean House (1915), 1220 Washington St |
 Hazlett House (1890), 1303 Washington St |  Skubinna House (1951), 1222 Catherine St |  Haas House (1972), 1501 Catherine St |
 Anderson House (1966), 1034 W 15th St |  Tostlebe House (1927), 1603 Tremont St |  Rassmussen House (1910), 1603 Franklin St |
 Barton House (1915), 1610 Washington St |  Hugh Mullarky House (1920), 1715 Clay St |  Curtiss House (1890), 1715 Tremont St |
 Fleming House (1954), 1926 Merner Ave |  Starbeck House (1915), 2310 Tremont St |  Kramer House (1964), 715 W 29th St |
 Brandt House (1974), 2507 Willow Lane |  Moes House (1969), 2438 Hawthorne Dr |  Palmer House (1938), 2117 California St |
 Guralnik House (1917), 2103 Rainbow Dr |  Waterman House (1916), 2410 Greenwood Ave |
In 1893, Peter Melendy wrote in The Historical Record of Cedar Falls, “The homes of Cedar Falls and their furnishings and surroundings give evidence of a taste and appreciation of the more elevating influences of life.”[1] What Melendy wrote then is just as true today, as a great number of beautiful homes and buildings represent an array of architectural styles from the past to the present. From the simple pioneer homes to the beautiful, detailed Victorian styles to the clean lines of Contemporary architecture, these examples of local architecture are rich in their design.
The town of Cedar Falls was originally laid out in 1853.[2] From there, housing and building expanded. From 1861 to 1863 128 houses and 35 stores/warehouses were built.[3] The first homes were simple folk houses made from local materials. The advancement of the railroad network into the area, the end of the Civil War, and new technologies allowed more detailed styles of buildings to be constructed. Individuals also began to accrue small fortunes and desired their homes to reflect this status. Smaller houses depicting the growing middle class also began to appear.[4]
Popular styles that appeared in Cedar Falls include the Queen Anne Victorian (1880-1910), American Four Square (1900-1920), Craftsman (1905-1930), Ranch (1935-1975), and Split Level (1960 to Present). The superbly detailed, complex Queen Anne became possible and affordable once mass production of doors, windows, and other decorative ornamentations was achieved. This style often was used to present high social status of its owners to the community.
Other grand styles are evident in public buildings and stores, such as Neoclassical and Beaux Arts Classicism that add beauty to the architectural landscape. These styles are evident in two former banks in downtown Cedar Falls, the old Cedar Falls Nation Bank and Security Savings Bank on Main St. Italianate and Colonial Revival styles have also made their mark in other public buildings and store fronts in Cedar Falls.
There are a variety of beautiful examples in Cedar Falls of the Queen Anne, such as the Harris House and the Severns Home In response to the Queen Anne, the American Four Square and Craftsman styles were simpler and economical. Examples of such stark contrasts in town include the Mullarky Home (American Four Square) and Palmer House (Craftsman Bungalow). Entire houses of the American Four Square and bungalow varieties of the Craftsman could be order through the mail from companies like Sears. The Ranch style is more modern version of an economical home, and the Split Level became a popular style with the advent of the TV.[5]
Other styles, such as Colonial Revival, Tudor Revival, and Contemporary have also made their mark in Cedar Falls, diversifying our streets and neighborhoods. Enjoy the beauty and variety of architecture the town of Cedar Falls has to offer.
1. Fox House (1863), 404 W 2nd St.
The low pitched hip roof with wide overhanging eaves and decorative brackets are a dominant feature that signify the Italianate style of this home. Other contributing features are the hood moulds over the segmentally arched windows and the simple “L” shaped floor plan. This style draws on Tuscan villas. Notice in the historical photo included that the home used to have a belvedere on top and a wraparound porch, both significant features of the Italianate style.[6]
2. Old Post Office (1919), 217 Washington St.
The Classical Revival style is apparent in this old federal building. The 3 large fanlights above the front doors and windows, contribute to the overall style. The partial balustrade, stone entablature, panels, and medallions along the façade also add to its solemnity.[7]
3. Union Block Building (1887), 212 Main St.
Many of the features of this building could be labeled as Italianate. Namely, the detailed, bracketed cornice with semicircular parapet and of the cast iron columns along the storefronts. The windows in the upper story were once much taller with ornate window hoods, characteristic of the Italianate style.[8]
4. Former Security Savings Bank (1907), 226 Main St.
This exquisite building belongs to the Beaux Arts style, which originated in Paris. The medallions and highly detailed stonework and carvings around the door pediment and above the windows represent the Beaux Arts movement. Also notice the gorgeous stained glass window above the door that contributes to this profusely detailed style.[9]
5. Former Cedar Falls National Bank (1907), 223 Main St.
This building exemplifies the Neoclassical style, a style that became exceedingly popular for public buildings after Chicago’s Columbian Expedition in 1893. Features of this style include a classical pediment, two story Corinthian pilasters, and a symmetrical composition.[10]
6. Former Graham Company (1897), 301 Main St.
Here is an interesting example of a Colonial Revival building. Admire the top portion of the building, which contains an upper projecting cornice decorated with dentils and modillions, and the extremely detailed frieze below. The decorative elements of the building are repeated around the windows of the second floor, which are complete with brick trimming and ornate transom panels. These traits combine to create this eclectic building.[11]
7. Odd Fellows Building (1901), 401 Main St.
This is a prime example of Beaux Arts architecture in downtown Cedar Falls. The brick and stone detailing and semicircular arched windows in the top and main floors are characteristic of this style. Also the granite Ionic pilasters add a classical touch, which is part of the highly detailed Beaux Arts style.[12]
8. Severns House (1890), 613 Main St.
Here is a fine example of the Queen Anne style. Admire the fish scale shingles on the characteristic squared pointed tower with its circular attic windows. The front facing, decorated gable also characterizes this style. The use of Ionic columns and overall asymmetry are also prominent Queen Anne features present.[13]
9. Mully House (1860), 123 E 7th St.
This is one of the few surviving examples of a Folk house in Cedar Falls. Characteristics of this style still inherent in this home include the “L” shaped floor plan, moderately steep roof pitch, and overall simplicity. While the front porch has been enclosed and the original soft brick exterior covered over with stucco, the folk style is still evident.[14]
10. Howe House (1900), 802 State St.
The Howe House is one of the more intriguing examples of the very popular American Four Square style in Cedar Falls. The square floor plan, central dormer and 2 stories with attic are the principal features of this style present. Also admire the single story front porch with classical columns which is a primary characteristic of the American Four Square. However, some added touches make this unique from other examples: the natural wooden columns, turquoise paint detailing, and decorated front door, which may be mimicking the “painted lady” style that was often present in Victorian homes.[15]
11. Sessions House (1807), 1021 Clay St.
This is one example of the Gothic Revival Style in Cedar Falls. The steep rooflines and centered gable represent this style. Also notice the intricate gingerbread style bargeboards, a common decorative feature in this style.[16]
12. Melichar House (1941), 1103 Franklin St.
Here is an exceptional example of a Tudor Revival home. Most striking is the very steep pitch of the multiple gables and the wall dormer to the left side in the top story. The classic use of stucco, false half timbering, and the brick lower story also reflect the style.[17]
13. Bailey House (1924), 1113 Walnut St.
This is a very large variant of the Craftsman home. Gable ends with brackets, deep overhanging eaves and half-timbered upper gables mark it as a Craftsman. Tapered square columns and the use of mixed materials are also significant features.[18]
14. Grau House (1890), 715 W 12th St.
The colorful shingles that decorate the upper gables are indicative that this charming home is a Queen Anne. The large wraparound front porch and the turret with a pinnacled, pointed tower are also significant stylistic features. A fall-away bay on the left is also a key element of the style as it is a feature common only in the Queen Anne house. A steeply pitched gabled roof and an asymmetrical façade are also prime characteristics of the style.[19]
15. Harris House (1917), 601 W 12th St.
This home is a great example of a Queen Anne, one of the most exquisite styles around the Turn of the Century. Perhaps the most striking feature of the home is the 2-story porch with classical columns. If you look closely, you can see intricate detailing on the doors on the first and second stories of the porch, which add to this elaborate style. Also notice the beautiful 3 story polygonal bay with turret roof on the right side of the home.[20] Consider that the home originally a large single story wraparound porch, instead of the two-story structure today, which was typical of the Queen Anne style.[21]
16. Conyes House (1900), 323 E 12th St.
This cute home is one of the few examples of the Second Empire style in Cedar Falls. The major feature of this style is its hipped mansard roof. The hooded windows featured in the front bay window are also a part of the style.[22]
17. Jean House (1915), 1220 Washington St.
The front porch under the extension of the main roof and the tapered square columns contribute to the Craftsman style. A large front gabled dormer is another prominent feature of the style that is present in this fine home.[23]
18. Synder/Hazlett House (1890), 1303 Washington St.
This is a stunning example of a Victorian Queen Anne. The ornamental dormer above the polygonal bay window, Palladian window in the front gable, and the wraparound front porch with pediment combine to create a lovely representative of this style. The fallaway bay featured on the left side of the home is another common feature. Admire its classic features of the Queen Anne, such as the asymmetrical façade, steep gabled roof, and bracketed eaves. Lastly consider the wide overhanging eaves and bracketing, both characteristic of the style.[24]
19. Skubinna House (1951), 1222 Catherine St.
This is a cookie cutter example of the split-level home, as it contains multiple levels, with a cantilevered upper level, a horizontal feel, and large front driveway, and what used to be an attached garage. It also has a large front picture window, shutters, and simplicity common in the split-level style.
20. Haas House (1972), 1501 Catherine St.
This house is a prime example of the Contemporary style. Appreciate the blocky design and straight lines that create the interesting shape of the home. The flat roof and the simplified use of traditional materials, such as wood and brick, are other Contemporary features present. Lastly, consider how the lack of ornamentation and the limited windows to the street in the home portray the simple, clean feel of the Contemporary style.[25]
21. Anderson House (1966), 1034 W 15th St.
Notice the overall simplicity in this home that marks the Contemporary style of this home. The lack of windows to the street and smooth vertical board cladding achieve such a feeling. Also admire the boxy feel, flat roof, and bubble sky lights that complete this modern style.[26]
22. Tostlebe House (1927), 1603 Tremont St.
The symmetrically located prominent front entrance with Georgian influence and a partial pediment instantly indicates the Colonial Revival style of this stately home. The two stories, symmetrical façade, and evenly spaced windows also reflect the style.[27]
23. Rassmussen House (1910), 1603 Franklin St.
While the front porch has been enclosed, this home still retains many characteristic attributes of the American Four Square. Such features include the boxed overhanging eaves and central dormer. Also notice the simple wood siding and square floor plan that contribute to this simple style. The bay window on the 2nd floor also adds a touch of interest in this clean cut home.[28]
24. Barton House (1915), 1610 Washington St.
This is a classic example of the vernacular bungalow, a simple home that many working class families purchased from manufacturing companies like Sears, in kits in the early 20th century. The simple floor plan and wooden clapboard siding made it extremely economical. Notice the columned front porch under the main roof and front dormer window, which contribute to the style.[29]
25. Hugh Mullarky House (1920), 1715 Clay St.
This is a clean-cut example of the very popular American Four Square. Many central features of this style, such as the square floor plan, 2 stories, and a large central dormer are present here. Other such features include the wide overhanging boxed eaves and single story front porch with squared columns.[30]
26. Curtiss House (1890), 1715 Tremont St.
This home would be considered a decorated Folk house as it displays some Italianate influences, such as the low-pitched roof, and cupola. The roof balustrade and side porches are also Italianate. However, its “L” shaped floor plan and overall simplicity within the main structure indicate that it is a Folk house.[31]
27. Fleming House (1954), 1926 Merner Ave.
This is an interesting example of the split-level home. The multiple levels, asymmetry, deep eaves, and minimal decorative elements indicative of the split level are all present. However, the large chimney, brickwork, and glass block window add a more contemporary feel to the home.[32]
28. Starbeck House (1915), 2310 Tremont St.
The barn-like shape of this home alludes to its Dutch Colonial Revival style. Such features as the gambrel roof and curved eaves mark this style.[33]
29. Kramer House (1964) 715 W 29th St.
Here is a classic example of the Ranch home, a style of home that reached popularity after WWII as returning soldiers needed an economical housing option for their families. The horizontal feel, single story, and large front bay window are all characteristic of the ranch style. The addition of shutters on the other windows is also a common touch.[34]
30. Brandt House (1974), 2507 Willow Ln.
Here is a Contemporary home with some shed style influence. Admire the variety of rooflines present in this home, including the shed roof projection, the flat roof, and prominent central gable. Also notice the simple vertical board cladding and large glass windows along the side of the front door that are part of this style.[35]
31. Moes House (1969), 2438 Hawthorne Dr.
A later example of the Spanish Colonial Revival is found at this location. The red tiled roof, stucco exterior, and arched loggia and doorways all draw on Spanish roots.[36]
32. Palmer House (1938), 2117 California St.
This charming home is a Craftsman bungalow. Indicative of this style is the home’s 1 ½ stories and wood exterior. The full width front porch with squared columns and triangular knee braces under the eaves of the roof are also common cCaftsman features. This home is located on a block lined with bungalows. Not coincidentally, the street is named “California,” not after the state, but for a type of bungalow very popular in the United States, according to a local architectural historian.[37]
33. Guralnik House (1917), 2103 Rainbow Dr.
A striking example of a Spanish Colonial influenced Craftsman sits on this corner in Cedar Heights. The red tiled roof and glazed wall tiles both indicate Spanish touches.[38] However, the gabled dormer and significant overhanging eaves with exposed beams and rafter ends are a dead giveaway of the Craftsman.[39]
34. Waterman House (1916), 2410 Greenwood Ave.
Here is a stunning Colonial Revival style home. Its prominent Georgian front porch with classical columns and sidelights indicate the Colonial Revival style. The smooth brickwork, symmetrical façade, and adjacent pairs of dormers also exemplify the style.[40]
[1] Peter Melendy, Historical Record of Cedar Falls: The Garden City of Iowa (Cedar Falls, IA: Peter Melendy, 1893), 16.
[2] Roger Leavitt, When Cedar Falls Was Young (Cedar Falls, IA: Record Press, 1928), 7.
[3] Leavitt, When Cedar Falls Was Young, 13.
[4] Wesley I. Shank, The Iowa Catalog: Historic American Buildings Survey (Iowa City: University of Iowa Press, 1979).
[5] Architectural Styles of Cedar Falls Homes Presentation, Parts I and II by Daryl Anderson. Presented September 6, 2012 and September 11, 2012 at the University of Northern Iowa.
[6] Cyril Harris, American Architecture: An Illustrated Encyclopedia (New York: W.W. Norton, 1998), 184-185.
[7] Harris, American Architecture, 63-64.
[8] Harris, American Architecture, 184-185.
[9] Harris, American Architecture, 28.
[10] Harris, American Architecture, 224.
[11] Architectural Styles of Cedar Falls Homes DVD, Part I by Daryl Andersen.
[12] Harris, American Architecture, 224.
[13] “Antique Homes: Queen Anne Style,” accessed October 24, 2012, http://www.antiquehome.org/Architectural-Style/queen-anne.htm.
[14] Architectural Styles of Cedar Falls Homes DVD, Part I by Daryl Andersen.
[15] “1895-1930: American Four Square,” accessed October 24, 2012, http://architecture.about.com/od/periodsstyles/ig/House-Styles/Foursquare.htm
[16] Architectural Styles of Cedar Falls Homes, DVD Part I by Daryl Andersen.
[17] Architectural Styles of Cedar Falls Homes DVD, Part I by Daryl Andersen.
[18] Architectural Styles of Cedar Falls Homes DVD, Part II by Daryl Andersen.
[19] Architectural Styles of Cedar Falls Homes DVD, Part I by Daryl Andersen.
[20] Architectural Styles of Cedar Falls Homes DVD, Part I by Daryl Andersen.
[21] Brian C Collins, Cedar Falls, Iowa (Charleston, SC: Arcadia, 1998): 73.
[22] Architectural Styles of Cedar Falls Homes DVD, Part I by Daryl Andersen.
[23] Architectural Styles of Cedar Falls Homes DVD, Part II by Daryl Andersen.
[24] “Antique Homes: Queen Anne Style,” accessed October 24, 2012, http://www.antiquehomes.org/Architectural-Style/queen-anne.htm.
[25] Architectural Styles of Cedar Falls Homes DVD, Part II by Daryl Andersen.
[26] Architectural Styles of Cedar Falls Homes DVD, Part II by Daryl Andersen.
[27] Harris, American Architecture, 68.
[28] “1895-1930: American Four Square,” accessed October 24, 2012, http://architecture.about.com/od/periodsstyles/ig/House-Styles/Foursquare.htm
[29] Architectural Styles of Cedar Falls Homes DVD, Part II by Daryl Andersen.
[30] “1895-1930: American Four Square,” accessed October 24, 2012, http://architecture.about.com/od/periodsstyles/ig/House-Styles/Foursquare.htm
[31] Architectural styles of Cedar Falls Homes DVD, Part I by Daryl Andersen.
[32] “Split Level Type Homes,” accessed October 24, 2012. http://www.antiquehome.org/Architectural-Style/split-level.htm.
[33] Architectural Styles of Cedar Falls Homes DVD, Part I by Daryl Andersen.
[34] “1945-1980: Ranch Style,” accessed October 24, 2012, http://architecture.about.com/od/periodsstyles/ig/House-Styles/Ranch-Style.htm.
[35] Architectural Styles of Cedar Falls Homes DVD, Part II by Daryl Andersen.
[36] Harris, American Architecture, 309.
[37] Architectural Styles of Cedar Falls Homes DVD, Part II by Daryl Andersen.
[38] Harris, American Architecture, 309.
[39] Architectural Styles of Cedar Falls Homes DVD, Part II by Daryl Andersen.
[40] Harris, American Architecture, 68.