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Hallett & Rawson facts for kids
Hallett & Rawson was an important architecture company in Iowa. It was started by two partners, George E. Hallett and Harry Rawson. Today, another company called BBS Architects | Engineers continues their work and keeps all the old plans and designs from Hallett & Rawson. Many of the buildings designed by these architects and their company are listed on the National Register of Historic Places, which means they are special and historically important.
Contents
George Hallett's Early Designs
Around the year 1900, George E. Hallett designed many smaller homes in the North Des Moines area. These houses often used styles from the American Craftsman architecture movement. His homes were known for being nicer than most small houses of that time. They had good designs and special features inside. For example, many of his small homes included a fireplace, which was quite rare for smaller houses back then.
A newspaper article from 1897 talked about Hallett's role as a builder and showed a drawing of his buildings. The article also described the inside of these homes:
The average cost of each home will be about $2,500. The houses will all be finished in the most modern style, with beamed ceilings and large, brick fire places. The designs and interiors are original with Mr. Hallett (Des Moines Leader 1897:19)
This means the homes were modern for their time, with special ceilings and big fireplaces.
Notable Homes by George Hallett
Some of the homes designed by George E. Hallett include:
- Julius Scheibe Cottage, built in 1898 at 815 College Avenue, Des Moines, Iowa. This home is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
- N. S. Wales House, located at 1814 West 9th Street, Des Moines.
- House at 1530 West 9th Street, Des Moines.
- House at 1534 West 9th Street, Des Moines.
- The home of Iowa State Senator C. J. A. Ericson, built around 1896 in Boone, Iowa. This house was described as "modern colonial."
A newspaper from 1896 described Senator Ericson's house:
The above cut shows a residence that is soon to be built in Boone, by [Iowa State] Senator C. J. A. Ericson. In style it will be modern colonial, or an adaptation of the best of the old and the best of the new styles and arrangement. It is to have a large hall through the middle of the house, with ten rooms in all; a comfortable old-fashioned fireplace in the sitting room, and other fireplaces in other rooms, imposing stationary book cases, an elaborate sideboard at the end of the dining room, beautiful art windows, and other features that will make it one of the finest residences of moderate cost in Iowa. That cost will be about $8,000. Mr. Geo. E. Hallett, of this city, is the designer and architect. (Des Moines Saturday Review 1896:1)
This shows that even larger, more expensive homes designed by Hallett featured many fireplaces and unique details.
Buildings by Hallett & Rawson
The partnership of Hallett & Rawson designed many important buildings across Iowa. These buildings include various types, from apartment buildings to libraries and commercial spaces.
Famous Buildings Designed by the Firm
Here are some of the well-known buildings designed by Hallett & Rawson:
- Hallett Flat-Rawson & Co. Apartment Building, located at 1301-1307 Locust Street in Des Moines, Iowa. This building is also listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
- Humboldt Free Public Library, found at 30 6th Street North in Humboldt, Iowa. This library is also on the National Register of Historic Places.
- Marsh-Place Building, located at 627 Sycamore Street in Waterloo, Iowa. This building is historically important and listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
- W.A. McNeill House, at 1282 C Ave. East in Oskaloosa, Iowa. This house is also on the National Register of Historic Places.
- Rumely-Des Moines Drug Company Building, located at 110 SW. Fourth Street, Des Moines, Iowa. This building is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
Other Notable Projects
Hallett & Rawson also contributed to several historic districts, which are areas with many important buildings. These include:
- Buildings within the Highland Park Historic Business District at Euclid and Sixth Avenues in Des Moines, Iowa.
- Buildings within the West Ninth Streetcar Line Historic District in Des Moines, Iowa.
- Buildings within the Grinnell Historic Commercial District in Grinnell, Iowa.
- Buildings within the Waterloo East Commercial Historic District in Waterloo, Iowa.
- The Princess Theater, located at 314 4th Street, Des Moines, Iowa.
Hallett & Rawson left a lasting mark on the architecture of Iowa, designing many buildings that are still admired today.