219 Fifth Street

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Evaluation:

This is a contributing Fifth Street building within the historic district. It represents a Classical Revival style commercial design.

District Characteristic	Yes	No	Findings/Recommendations
Two-story brick with narrow mass	X
Larger, broader massing		X
Other key façade features	X
Architectural style			Classical Revival style
Prominent location	X		Proximity to a number of substantial and key district buildings.
Original façade materials	X
Upper fenestration pattern	X
Sympathetic Storefront Infill	X
Brick corbelled parapet	X		The mansard upper slip cover hides much original detailing.
Cornice/coping (not metal)	X

Physical Description:

This two-story white enamel trimmed brick bank copied then popular side columns, a side-columned entryway and a prominent parapet front. All this was accomplished using brick, with white brick forming the columns. The core measures 22 feet by 59 feet with a 16 feet long one-story rear addition (1921-36). There are paired 1/1 windows set into twin recessed wall panels and separated by a pilaster. Windows flank the centered entrance.

Documented Alterations:

The brickwork has been painted and a faux mansard covering obscures the cornice. A second canopy hides the top of the Classical entry. This is a Classical Revival style design.

Commercial History:

Business	Owner	Start	Stop	Notes of Interest
Foxglove Chiropractic			current
Wheelhouse Studio			current	219 ½ Fifth
Artistic Bead	Cheryl Eriksen	2009	2014	From 234, to Urbandale
COSC-Center for Sustainable Communities		2009	2009
Far From the Madding Crowd	Molly Allen	2003	2007	Used books, coffee, crafts (between Heart of Iowa and WDM Community Center), to Winterset April 2007
Design Development Inc.		2000
Pineapple Homes	Phillip Vlieger	2000	2003	Construction
Éclair & Co.	Jill Neidig	2001	2002	Cats & dog items, relocated
Heart of Iowa Pantry		2000
Midwest Jewelry & Loan	Michael King	1978	1998	Pawn shop
Associated Graphics Artists			1989	219 1/2
			1980	3 rooms upstairs, $150/mo.
			1979	Same as above and five office rooms upstairs, two store areas for sale.
Wannamaker Gallery	Vera Wannamaker	1970	1978	(formerly Schertle Gallery)
Schertle Gallery		1973	1975	Opens March 1973
David G. Llewelyn, dentist			1971
			1972	Office for lease, 500 sq. ft.
[Avon silent auction]			1972
Keith McKee Inc.		1970
The Workshop		1970
McLenna Law Office		1970
			2002	Upstairs furniture sale 219 1/2
Vandeventer & Griffith, architects, engineers	Robert L. Vandeventer, M. Bruce Griffith	1966	1968	New firm, 219 1/2
West Des Moines Dept. of Development			1971
West Des Moines Chamber of Commerce		1968
O’Connor Monument Co.	J. W. Hearshman & Sons	1946	1947
General Binding Corp./GBC	Donald Pierce	1960	1965	Business machines, new firm
Kay Shannon Original Creations	Kay Alt	1955	1960	Inventor of bridal garter, appears on What’s My Line TV quiz show in November 1951 (see Register, January 20, 1952 for story and photo).
Replogle Culvert		1955	1960
Kaser Construction Co.	Don Kaser	1948	1950
Meckley’s Barber Shop	Kenneth B. Meckley, Earl S. Springer	1950	1952	Springer buys 1952
West Des Moines Public Library	Mrs. Leland DeBoest	1948	1950	From Maple Street, is polling place for Valley Pct. #1 November 1952
Dr. S. F. Rinkler		1946		Major in WWII returned home, died 1954.
Leslie T. McElderry		1946	lawyer
WWII ration board #2 office		1942	1945	Theft of 150 ration books, three arrests, (Tribune, March 30, 19430
WWII Office Price Admin. Office, District #2		1943	1843
Ashworth Real Estate		1937	1945
	Ashworth brothers	1935		New Owners
		1934		This was the only town bank to fail, going into receivership in October 1934 (Pella Chronicle, October 9, 11, 1934).
Dr. W. S. Sharp		1931
Dr. Stanley W. Dusidiecker		1931
Dr. H. Lamont Youtz		1931
Dr. Frank E. Thornton		1929	1931	Dentist, upstairs
Dr. E. W. Baldridge		1929		Upstairs
Security State Bank		1919		The bank determined to build a new building (see 221-25) and a race developed with First National to see who finished first, Security winning by a goodly margin despite strikes and other setbacks. The white enameled front, laid up in July was copied in part by the Valley Junction Savings Bank to the south. The new building was occupied in late November 1919 (Express, April 10, July 10, August 7, October 16, November 20, 1919).