216-218 Fifth Street

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Evaluation:

This is a contributing Fifth Street building within the historic district. This is one of the larger district buildings and its elongated upper level windows hint at a late Italianate style influence.

District Characteristic	Yes	No	Findings/Recommendations
Two-story brick with narrow mass		X
Larger, broader massing	X
Other key façade features	X
Architectural style	X		late Italianate style
Prominent location	X
Original façade materials	X
Upper fenestration pattern	X
Sympathetic Storefront Infill	X
Brick corbelled parapet	X
Cornice/coping (not metal)	X

Physical Description:

This is a distinctive Italianate fraternal building design executed in a light brown brick. The facade has a tri- partite division with side wall and centered pilasters defining two mirror halves including twin storefronts. These terminate vertically with a stone sill level belt course. The upper facade consists of two recessed panels. Three elongated windows are evenly spaced and are capped with jack arch brickwork. A serpentine brick band caps each panel and a narrow stone belt course and centered name plate define the cornice/parapet level. There is a very slight flat pediment. The original windows were likely triple 1/1 window sets. The storefronts have raised floor levels and front steps which is unusual in the district. The existing storefronts were present by 1968. one-story rear addition (21 feet by 35 feet) behind 218 predates 1920. The building was damaged in the July 1986 tornado.

Documented Alterations:

A $5,000 permit was issued for 218 for a new storefront in 1954and 216 received a new aluminum and glass storefront as well (Express, April 8, July 20, 1954). Upper windows were replaced prior to 1968. Permits note an aluminum and fiber glass awning (281-1965, gone), the demolition of a lean-to (1978), electrical work (1979), an awning (1982), plumbing and (1982-83).

Commercial History:

Upstairs, the lodge hall appears to have been divided between the Odd Fellows (Canton Pioneer Unit #3 and Auxiliary) and the Gnemeth Masonic Lodge #577 (but addressed as 520). Both orders had full calendars of activity through December 1996 for the latter and September 1991 for the former. KCL Engineering appears to have upstairs offices in 218 ½ from May 2016 through April 1918. The lodge entrance used 218 Fifth as an address.

216 Fifth Street

Business	Owner	Start	Stop	Notes of Interest
CPR-Cellular Phone Repair			current
Squiggles	Mary Evans	2007	2016
K Michelle	K. M. Burton	1993	1995
Katelyn’s on Fifth		1992
Winnie William’s Design		1985	1990
Henke Entertainment		1980
Coffee & Company		1978	1985	But said to be new January 1983? Closed by January 1987.
Robinson’s Accents	Jeffrey and Sandra Robinson	1977	1982	216-218 Fifth
Valley Hardware		1970	1975
Larson Cleaners	Carl L. Larson	1954	1968	From 226 Fifth June 1954. Register, April 25, 1954 says Larson was with Minnis/Peter Pan Grocery which closed and Larson would move to the Lambert Hdw. Bldg.
Lambert Hardware	J. E. Lambert	1946	1965	Also 216-218 Fifth although one 1946 reference says 216 only. That source (Register, June 30, 1946) says “reopens”?
J. F. Vass Hardware		1942		Serves as town salvage depot for metals, fats and tires collection for war effort; sells tickets for showing of Mrs. Miniver (July 1, 1942) shown to raise funds for Des Moines Retailers War Activities Committee.
		1907		The IOOF acquired this lot in late July 1907 and might have substituted its name-stone in the pediment.
Miller Bros. shoes		1900		Express, July 20, 1900
Martin Bros hardware
Fred Rapp, grocer		1899		(Express, December 1, 1899)
Burnette and Yeaton grocers	S. Burnett	1897	1899	occupied both storefronts 1897-99 when they sold the building and business to Fred Rapp (Express, December 1, 1899). Burnett’s wife died in mid-December.
Construction	C. S. Yeaton	1897		C. S. Yeaton announced plans in early June 1897 to build a 50 feet by 80 feet two story block with upstairs hall, the plan contingent on contracting the town's "secret societies" to use it for at least three years. The architect was C. C. Cross of Des Moines (Express, June 4, July 2, 9, August 20, December 17, 31, 1897; January 14, 1898), "finest brick building in the town" (Express, March 16, 1898). Pictured in the Register & Leader, July 24, 1897-cost $6,000, was principally a lodge building, one of the first substantial ones in VJ.

218 Fifth Street

Business	Owner	Start	Stop	Notes of Interest
Artisan Gallery	Julie McCullough, Hildre DeBruyne, Victoria Herring, Mary Kline-Misol, Louise McIlhon and Anne Temple	2015	current	Closed briefly in August 2016 due to crumbling ceilings, the repair reopened the tin ceiling, new lights were added as well.
Gnemeth Masonic Lodge		1901	current
Hinge	Kelsey Mihalovich	2013	2015	Moves to 317 Fifth, a “hinge” between antiques and entrepreneurship, closed March 2015.
Rhome & Pegasus Gallery		2010	2012	Owners of Rhome bought Pegasus and merged the two in 2010, Rhome came from 132 Fifth
Pegasus Gallery/Frame Ups	Stuart Broms, Dwayne McAninch	1994	1995	Multiple locations, “reopening” in October 1998
Unnamed women’s retailer			1992	hiring
Fifth Street Gallery		1990
Hollywood Frame & Gallery	Michael L. Plummer	1988
WDM Valley Trustworthy/OK Hardware/Valley Pro Hardware		1958	1986	Presumed successor to Lambert. Schwerzler became a major WDM leader.
Lambert Hardware	J. E. Lambert	1946	1957	Sells to Gerald E. Hanson, James E. Schwerzler in April 1957.
J. F. Vass Hardware		1913	1943	Lambert buys Register January 2, 1944 and renames.
		1907		The IOOF acquired this lot in late July 1907 and might have substituted its name-stone in the pediment.
Miller Bros. shoes		1900		Express, July 20, 1900
Martin Bros hardware
Fred Rapp, grocer		1899		(Express, December 1, 1899)
Yeaton and Burnette grocers		1897	1899	occupied both storefronts 1897-99 when they sold the building and business to Fred Rapp (Express, December 1, 1899).