Hiller Building facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Hiller Building
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U.S. Historic district
Contributing property |
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 Location in Iowa
Location in the United States
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| Location | 310-314 Gaines St. Davenport, Iowa |
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| Area | less than one acre |
| Built | 1852, 1856, 1859 |
| Architectural style | Federal |
| Part of | West Third Street Historic District (Davenport, Iowa) (ID83003741) |
| MPS | Davenport MRA |
| NRHP reference No. | 74000810 |
| Added to NRHP | July 24, 1974 |
The Hiller Building, also known as the Schick Apartments, is a historic building in Davenport, Iowa. It is a type of building called a row house, built in the Federal style. This building was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1974. In 1983, it became part of the West Third Street Historic District. This means it helps make that historic area special.
Building History
The land where the Hiller Building stands is in the oldest part of Davenport. John Hiller bought this land in 1847. He bought it from Antoine LeClaire, who helped start the city of Davenport. John Hiller was a builder. He also built the Clock Tower building at the Rock Island Arsenal.
This row house was built in three parts. The first part was finished in 1852. More sections were added in 1856 and 1859. The city of Davenport was growing very fast in the 1850s. Many people needed places to live. John Hiller expanded his own home to rent out extra rooms. We are not sure which part of the building was built first. The Schick family bought the building from the Hillers in 1902. Many people believe this is one of the oldest buildings still standing in Davenport.
The Hiller Building has been empty since 2015. Since 2016, the city has considered if it should be repaired or taken down. The south wall of the building is leaning and some stones are falling off. In 2020, Jamey Licandro bought the property. He plans to fix the building and turn it into apartments. He has done this with other old buildings in the city. Also in 2020, Preservation Iowa listed the Hiller Building as one of the nine "most endangered" properties in the state. This means it is very important to save.
Building Design
The Hiller Building has two stories and is shaped like a rectangle. Inside, the apartments are set up in a balanced way along hallways. The north wall is made of stone that is laid very neatly. This stone is covered with stucco, which is a type of plaster. The basement level and the top two floors of the main front (called the façade) have rough, uneven stones.
On the north side of the front, there are stone pilasters. These are like flat columns that stick out from the wall. They have wooden tops that look like crowns. The northeast corner of the building has stone quoins. These are blocks of stone that make the corner stronger and look decorative. The side walls and a wall in the middle have steps at the top. The building has a gabled roof, which means it has two sloping sides that meet at a ridge. Most of the inside of the building still has its original design and wooden features, including the staircases.
