221 Fifth Street

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Evaluation:

This is a contributing Fifth Street building within the historic district.

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		Not defined by the district document, might be termed Renaissance Revival
Prominent location	X		Association with nearby monumental buildings and this is the final east side two story building going north in the district (historic buildings)
Original façade materials	X
Upper fenestration pattern	X
Sympathetic Storefront Infill	X
Brick corbelled parapet	X		The best example of using recessed rectangular brick panels on the parapet front and even flanking the upper level windows.
Cornice/coping (not metal)	X

Physical Description:

This is a two-story brown bricked building, and one that follows the district pattern of ornamenting an upper facade with recessed brick panels. This is an early use of upper level paired window sets. Two of these are separated at the ends and middle by the panels. Five (vertical rectangles) panels cover the parapet front. Two elongated ones have centered teardrop brick pendants that intrude downward. The parapet cap is corbelled out to a bold profile. A limestone belt course runs full width along the upper sill line. The 1968 storefront survives with twin round steel support columns. The transom was then and remains paneled shut. The plan matches 217 in its dimensions and a narrow single-story rear addition across the rear of both plans. This building was fully fenestrated on both upper side walls due to upstairs offices and the windows survive on the north wall.

Documented Alterations:

The power company did a comprehensive remodeling in 1953 that included an aluminum/glass storefront, the new display windows being lowered to floor level. Barney Crow was the contractor and the cost was $2,000. This storefront survives intact with covered transom (Express, October 22, 1953; January 7, 1954). Permits note a remodel (1968) and heating upgrades in 1971.

Commercial History:

Business	Owner	Start	Stop	Notes of Interest

Vintage No. 35/Vintage in the City		2014	2017	Closes May 2017
Sue’s on Fifth		2010	2012
Heart of Iowa	Lori Stevens	2000	2007
Heart of Iowa Market Place	Shirley Chenchar	1996		Buys building 1995
Avenues for Health		2004	2006	Massage, acupuncture
Guys and Dolls		1979	1985	Consignment
Fancy Folks Bridal/Wedding		1990	1995
Grossheim’s Antiques		1989
			1985	Last apartment reference, 221 1/2
WDM Chamber		1970	1976
Des Moines Electric Light Co., later Iowa Power and Light		1920	1975
WDM Red Cross Office		1942		South half of power company area donated, move in from earlier site (Register, November 1, 1942) produce 25,000 bandages (Tribune, December 16, 1942).
S&L Tavern		1937		Wegener buys from Frank Cervetti in January but liquor permit had been revoked on December 3 and liquor seized; Wegener told to vacate the store for a shoe store.
Security State Bank		1900		This building is significant to the district because it was the first to "leap frog" northward along the east side of the 200 block of Fifth Street. The town's second bank was begun in June, the architect being Charles C. Cross and Frank A. Gutterson of Des Moines. It was in the hands of the plasterers by early July! (Express, April 28, 1899; June 1, 8, 29, July 6, 1900). Bank offices were upstairs and the vault and fixtures came from the defunct Des Moines Savings Bank. See 219 Fifth.