2008 Most Endangered

2008 Most Endangered Buildings

RenovateDSM — Tue, 14 Oct 2008 13:33:40 -0700

A charred Sherman Hill mansion and a former one-room schoolhouse have been named to the Des Moines Rehabbers Club's 2008 list of “Des Moines Seven Most Endangered Buildings”.

In no particular order, the following structures were selected as the 2008 finalists.

692 17th - Sherman Hill House

RenovateDSM — Tue, 14 Oct 2008 20:44:51 -0700

This Victorian-style home was built in 1893. It has been used as a private residence and a nursing home. The first floor housed a restaurant in 1988 when a blaze ruined the interior. The house is listed on the National Register of Historic Places as a contributing resource in the Sherman Hill Historic District.

This house is on the DSMRC 2008 list of Des Moines' Seven Most Endangered Buildings.

Don's Service Station - Move Prep

RenovateDSM — Fri, 27 Mar 2009 11:24:49 -0700

A bobcat positions the steel beams underneath the former Don's Service Station building in preparation for the move.

Kitchen

RenovateDSM — Wed, 17 Dec 2008 10:12:25 -0800

The house currently has no utilities. A previous owner had started to install some newer cabinets, but had not updated the systems. [photo by Teva Dawson]

Officers' Quarters Photos - Page 3

RenovateDSM — Tue, 21 Oct 2008 11:52:35 -0700

The person who nominated the Fort Des Moines former Officers' Quarters forwarded these photos taken circa 1986 and 2004, excerpted from an unknown book.

Officers' Quarters Photos - Page 2

RenovateDSM — Tue, 21 Oct 2008 11:51:42 -0700

The person who nominated the Fort Des Moines former Officers' Quarters forwarded these photos taken circa 1986 and 2004, excerpted from an unknown book.

203 East Grand - Service Station

RenovateDSM — Tue, 14 Oct 2008 21:03:52 -0700

This building was erected in 1931 by Continental Oil as a training station for gasoline dealers. It is architecturally significant because underneath the current exterior paint, the building is terra cotta. It was recently sold to a new owner.

This building is on the DSMRC 2008 list of Des Moines' Seven Most Endangered Buildings.

1021 26th - Drake Neighborhood House

RenovateDSM — Tue, 14 Oct 2008 20:55:45 -0700

Built in 1895, this late Victorian illustrates the effect of Drake University’s innovative financing techniques on the planning and development of the residential neighborhoods surrounding its campus. This structure is listed in the National Register as a contributing resource in the Kingman Place historic district.

This house is on the DSMRC 2008 list of Des Moines' Seven Most Endangered Buildings.

Historic Gas Station Sold to Collector; Will Remain in East Village

RenovateDSM — Wed, 22 Jul 2009 12:23:01 -0700

The Historic East Village, Inc. (HEV) Board of Directors today inked an agreement with Jerry Bassman to finalize the purchase of the building formerly known as Don’s East Grand Texaco.

The gas station, removed from its original location at 203 E. Grand in April, has been sitting on a temporary site at E. 3rd and Walnut while HEV sought a buyer and worked to raise money to offset moving expenses. In May, the Board voted to list the building on eBay. Bassman, an antiques collector and regular eBay user, first saw the gas station listed there and became interested.

Kingsway Cathedral Saved!

RenovateDSM — Fri, 26 Jun 2009 12:36:52 -0700

The Des Moines Register reports:

KLM International, an international evangelistic organization founded by Pastors Kenney and Neja Linhart, has bought the former Kingsway Cathedral property at 901 19th St. The cathedral is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and was put on a list of buildings the Rehabbers Club deemed to be in imminent danger of neglect or demolition last year.

read more

Second Floor Hallway

RenovateDSM — Wed, 17 Dec 2008 10:19:36 -0800

[photo by Teva Dawson]

Front Bedroom

RenovateDSM — Wed, 17 Dec 2008 10:17:57 -0800

Interior of front bedroom. The historic character remains, though the physical condition of all the finishes is very poor. [photo by Teva Dawson]

Bathroom

RenovateDSM — Wed, 17 Dec 2008 10:15:14 -0800

The bathroom is unusable as the house's utilities are off. [photo by Teva Dawson]

Newel Post

RenovateDSM — Wed, 17 Dec 2008 10:08:59 -0800

Carved newel post at the bottom of the main stairway. Most of the spindles are missing. [photo by Teva Dawson]

Des Moines Register Covers "Most Endangered" Buildings

RenovateDSM — Thu, 20 Nov 2008 12:17:41 -0800

The Des Moines Register is publishing a series of articles highlighting each of the 2008 "Des Moines' Most Endangered Buildings". This coverage will provide a great deal of publicity for the list - hopefully people will come forward to take on these difficult projects!

Officers' Quarters Photos - Page 1

RenovateDSM — Tue, 21 Oct 2008 11:49:19 -0700

The person who nominated the Fort Des Moines former Officers' Quarters forwarded these photos taken circa 1986 and 2004, excerpted from an unknown book.

2008 Des Moines Seven Most Endangered Buildings Poster

RenovateDSM — Thu, 16 Oct 2008 10:44:41 -0700

Please feel free to download and print this poster (11x17 color if you have access to a capable printer). To download this 500k PDF file, click on the image thumbnail or on the link at the bottom of this article.

620 Scott - Rose Manor

RenovateDSM — Tue, 14 Oct 2008 21:14:34 -0700

In 1907, the Union of King’s Daughters settlement moved into this specially constructed building in an area of town known as the “Southeast Bottoms.” It housed the first kindergarten on the east side and served as a public wash house, dispensary and free clinic, bank, gymnasium and offered classes in cooking, dressmaking, singing, dramatics and more.

This structure is on the DSMRC 2008 list of Des Moines' Seven Most Endangered Buildings.

901 19th - Kingsway Cathedral

RenovateDSM — Tue, 14 Oct 2008 21:10:51 -0700

Built in 1901, Kingsway Cathedral served its congregation until 2003, when the City of Des Moines ordered it closed because of structural problems. The issue over whether to demolish the structure or rehabilitate it has been controversial ever since. The cathedral is listed on the National Register of Historic Places as a contributing resource in the Sherman Hill Historic District.

This structure is on the DSMRC 2008 list of Des Moines' Seven Most Endangered Buildings.

Former Officers' Quarters, Fort Des Moines

RenovateDSM — Tue, 14 Oct 2008 21:06:46 -0700

These two buildings, both erected in the early 1900s, served as officer’s quarters prior to World War I, but have stood vacant since the late 1960s. Both buildings began as housing for cavalry officers and one of them may have been home to President Ronald Reagan as he trained and tested to be in the U.S. Cavalry. They originally had two-story wraparound porches that have been removed.

These two similar structures are on the DSMRC 2008 list of Des Moines' Seven Most Endangered Buildings.

2930 Euclid - Former East Woodlawn School

RenovateDSM — Tue, 14 Oct 2008 21:00:08 -0700

This one-room schoolhouse-turned-private home was built in 1873. The school owes its name to the work of a former member of the Board of Education, Harry L. Gross, who wanted to perpetuate the name of the former Woodlawn Independent School District. One of the former owners, Samuel Blanc, is said to have invented the Roto-Rooter in the garage on the property.

This house is on the DSMRC 2008 list of Des Moines' Seven Most Endangered Buildings.