Belle Plaine Main Street Historic District facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Belle Plaine Main Street Historic District
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King Theatre (1930)
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 Location in Iowa
Location in the United States
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| Location | Roughly bounded by 7th & 9th Avenues and 11th & 13th Streets Belle Plaine, Iowa |
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| Area | 11.47 acres (4.64 ha) |
| Architect | Charles B. Zalesky Charles A. Dieman |
| Architectural style | Classical Revival Early Commercial |
| NRHP reference No. | 13000828 |
| Added to NRHP | October 16, 2013 |
The Belle Plaine Main Street Historic District is a special area in Belle Plaine, Iowa, filled with important old buildings. It's like a historical treasure map! This district is so important that it was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2013. This means it's officially recognized as a place worth preserving for future generations.
This historic district covers most of Belle Plaine's main downtown area. Belle Plaine was started in 1862 as a town built around the railroad. The Chicago & North Western Railroad tracks arrived the next year. The town's business district grew right next to these tracks.
In 1894, a big fire destroyed many buildings in the business district. But the people of Belle Plaine worked fast! Thirty-five new buildings were built in the district just months after the fire.
Exploring Belle Plaine's Historic Buildings
Most of the buildings in the district are commercial, meaning they were used for businesses. These buildings show us what life was like in Belle Plaine many years ago. The buildings here were mostly built between 1885 and 1960.
Famous Buildings in the District
The district includes several cool and historic buildings:
- The Sankot Motor Company building, built around 1910, is so special it's listed on the National Register all by itself!
- The Pythian Castle (1895) was built for the Knights of Pythias, a fraternal organization.
- The Masonic Temple (1895) was another meeting place for a group called the Masons.
- The Odd Fellows Building (1906) also served as a meeting hall for a community group.
- There are two old theaters, where people used to go to watch movies or shows.
- The former Hart Memorial Library (1931) was once the town's public library.
- The Chicago & North Western Railroad Depot and Freight House (1894) was where trains stopped and goods were loaded and unloaded. The section of tracks next to the depot is also part of the historic district.
Architectural Styles You Can See
Many buildings in the district show off two main architectural styles:
- Classical Revival style looks a bit like ancient Greek or Roman buildings, with grand columns and balanced designs.
- Early Commercial style is simpler and focuses on practical designs for businesses, often with large windows and strong, straight lines.
Some buildings were designed by well-known architects from Cedar Rapids. For example, the First National Bank (1921) was designed by Charles A. Dieman. The Hart Memorial Library was designed by Charles B. Zalesky. These architects helped shape the look of Belle Plaine's downtown.
