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Davenport City Hall

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1894–1895, John W. Ross. 226 W. 4th St., northeast corner with Harrison Ave.
  • Davenport City Hall (David Gebhard and Gerald Mansheim)

This Richardsonian Romanesque city hall was designed by the Davenport architect John W. Ross after he won a national competition for the building. Ross employed the usual array of design features that had come to be associated with the style: a central open tower (more Spanish Romanesque than French) that works into the side of the principal gable; a round bay tower at one corner; a square hiproofed tower at the other end; and, of course, the familiar wide arched openings. The building's steel frame is clad in horizontal blocks of rough and smooth sandstone. The building was “restored” during 1979–1981. Regrettably the new metal-framed windows have been brought out close to the adjoining masonry walls, thereby destroying the quality of the original design.

Writing Credits

Author: 
David Gebhard and Gerald Mansheim
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Data

What's Nearby

Saint Anthony's Roman Catholic Church
Kahl Building / Capitol Theater
American Commercial and Savings Bank (now Davenport Bank and Trust)
Scott County Jail
Row of Retail Commercial Buildings

Citation

David Gebhard and Gerald Mansheim, "Davenport City Hall", [Davenport, Iowa], SAH Archipedia, eds. Gabrielle Esperdy and Karen Kingsley, Charlottesville: UVaP, 2012—, http://sah-archipedia.org/buildings/IA-01-ME122.

Print Source

Buildings of Iowa, David Gebhard and Gerald Mansheim. New York: Oxford University Press, 1993, 71-71.

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