Ashby Manor Historic District facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Ashby Manor Historic District
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 Location in Iowa
Location in the United States
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| Location | Roughly bounded by Beaver Ave. and Ashby Park Des Moines, Iowa |
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| Area | 28 acres (11 ha) |
| Architect | E.T. McMurray Guy McDowell |
| MPS | Suburban Development in Des Moines Between the World Wars, 1918--1941 MPS |
| NRHP reference No. | 92001150 |
| Added to NRHP | September 4, 1992 |
The Ashby Manor Historic District is a special neighborhood in northwest Des Moines, Iowa, United States. It's a residential area located between Beaver Avenue and Ashby Park. This district is known for its homes built between 1925 and 1941.
Unlike many neighborhoods with straight streets, Ashby Manor has a unique curving street design. It also features many old, tall trees that create a beautiful canopy. The district includes 148 properties, with 99 houses and 49 garages. Ninety-one of these properties are considered "contributing," meaning they help show the neighborhood's original historic look. The Ashby Manor Historic District was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1992. This means it's recognized as an important historical place.
Homes and Their Styles
The houses in Ashby Manor often show off popular building styles from their time. Many are built in the Tudor Revival or Colonial Revival styles. There's also a local style called "Beaverdale Brick," which is a type of Tudor design.
Most homes are made of brick or wood and have one or two stories. They often feature intersecting gables, which are the triangular parts of a wall under a sloping roof. A few houses are also built with limestone or concrete blocks.
Garages and Their History
Some houses in Ashby Manor have garages that were built right into the home's original design. Other houses didn't have garages at first. Garages were added to these homes later, often after World War II. These newer garages are usually located behind the house. This way, they don't change the historic look of the neighborhood from the street. Most garages were built to hold one car and have a front gable roof.
Building During Tough Times
Many of the houses in Ashby Manor are modest in size. This reflects that they were built during the Great Depression, a time when money was scarce. However, you can still find a few examples of larger, more elaborate homes in the district.
