224-226 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
Prominent location	X		Association with nearby monumental buildings
Original façade materials	X
Upper fenestration pattern	X
Sympathetic Storefront Infill	X		Reopened transom level, 2014
Brick corbelled parapet	X
Cornice/coping (not metal)	X

Physical Description:

This is a two-story purple-brown brick colored double storefront building. The upper facade is longer design is simply executed with a plain running bond pressed brick main wall that is fenestrated with four openings, the outer two being broad but single sash, the inner two being paired sets. The parapet is stepped out from the main wall plane across its base and sets of long and short pendant brick brackets ornament the upper parapet. The longer of are arranged in groups of three at each end and in the center, two centered within each of the two halves, and five or seven shorter ones between those points. The original windows were 1/1 and replacement windows are 6/6 lights. The 1968 storefront remains in place, absent the loss of an aluminum flat canopy. The core measures 51 feet by 71 feet. A south brick addition measures 24 feet by 30 feet and pre-dates 1920. A lesser north addition pre-dates 1937 (11 feet by 30 feet).

Documented Alterations:

Known as Kinnaird Block when sold to Olen and Eunice Prairie in November 1950. M. G. Silver bought the building (The Silvers Building) and remodeled it (June 1954) to house his department store, permit for $7,000 (Express, February 25, July 1, 1954), both tenants out. Loss of canopy, post-1968. Permits for 224-26 note electrical work 1986. The building was damaged in the July 1986 tornado. Peter and Scott Cutler did a “head to toe” remodeling in 2017-18 including six upstairs apartments. Hardwood floors upstairs were retained, new windows and a completely new storefront were installed. Both of the latter changes improved the overall building appearance and restored the storefront transom line (Register, May 22, 2018).

Commercial History:

Entire Building

Business	Owner	Start	Stop	Notes of Interest

Kinlane Apartments		1932	1946	Six units, residents warned of Masonic Hall fire, name not used after that year.
	Charles Ashworth	1905		Charles Ashworth purchased the lot in early 1901. The construction date is known because of some lost eye glasses dropped near "the new Ashworth building under construction just south of the First National Bank." The foreman was E. B. Rigler and the face brick was laid up in mid-August (Express, August 3, 10, October 5, 1905).

224 Fifth Street

Business	Owner	Start	Stop	Notes of Interest
Winchester Pub		2021
Lupe’s Restaurant		2021?		Announced as to open with Mexican cuisine in 2019 not confirmed-7,000 sq. ft. remodeled as cocktails bar and restaurant.
Frackleberry’s	David Starlin	2007	2013	Eco-friendly art
The Flower Garden		2007

			2007	2,500 sq. ft. retail for lease
Budget Blinds		2004	2007
Potpourri		2005		Might be to south?
Homespun Collections	Jean Loegering	1991	2005	Started on Maple Street as consignment, 17 years in operation-see 226 Fifth
K Michelle’s		1995	2002	Fashions and accessories
			1997	2,500 sq. ft. retail for lease
Garlic Press	Aneeta Bhalla	1993	1996	Kitchen shop
Dressings on Fifth		1993
Me and You Tea for Two		1992		Fashion, fabrics
Bottega Objects d’Arte		1990
Elaine’s Dusty Diamond		1985
Next to New Home Accessories		1985	1986	Storm damage in tornado-1980 directory places at 224 Fifth.
The Frame Factory		1981
			1980	Apartment fire in February, no details
Dusseldorf’s Book Emporium/Ltd.	Suzanne Callum	1970	1980	To 2706 ½ Ingersoll
Music Factory West		1973
Silver's Department Store		1954	1971	Just 224 but appears as 224-26 in one 1955 ad.
Ward's Food Market	James Ward Nazum	1947	1954	Son in law of Minnis, buys store, adds frozen foods, coolers, checkout counter in April 1950, sells out fixtures etc. in auction May 1954, dies of heart attack on August 27. Flooded basement (5-6 feet) in June 1947.
Blighton Auto Repair		1927		Back of building?
Minnis Brothers Grocery	Albert Minnis	1905	1940	From 10^th & Center, downtown

226 Fifth Street

Business	Owner	Start	Stop	Notes of Interest
Winchester Pub			current
Flashback Vintage & Retro	Steve Mason	2016
J. B. Rare Finds	Judy Graesch, Brad Turvey
Eclectic Gourd		2008	2010	Retro memorabilia
A Full House	Ron Choate	2005	2007	From 513 Maple, ten years in operation
Station Antiques		2006	2014
Budget Blinds	Chris Junker	2006	2007
Junctionalities		2005	2006	Dolls, clothes
Homespun Collections		1991	2006	Paper products, wall paper
Nan’s Nummies	Nan Earll	1991	1992	Shared space with above, in front
Casino Dealer’s School	Jerry Cooper	1991
Dolls in the Valley		1990		New in May.
Berry Antiques/Berry Patch		1986	1988	Damaged in 1986 tornado
Elaine’s Dusty Diamonds		1983	1986	Tidbits, antiques and bakery
Which Craft	Ginnie Beeler	1976	1986	From 415 Maple
Silver Department Store.		1955	1968+	Both fronts, 224-226
Larson Cleaners		1950	1954	To new location
Brown Jewelry	Frank E. Brown	1943		To 313 Fifth in December
Polonetzky Tailor Shop, Dry Cleaning, Repairs	Sam L. Polonetzky	1923	1934	Sam started the first VJ radio store in the former gas company office (Register, February 24, 1929). He was born in Poland and was a Jewish-American, ran his shop for 28 years, was elected mayor in 1934 and died just three days later. Some 2,000 attended his funeral.
Des Moines Gas Company		1917	1929