Schmidt Block facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Schmidt Block
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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 | 115 E. 3rd St. Davenport, Iowa |
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| Area | less than one acre |
| Built | 1896 |
| Architectural style | Romanesque |
| Part of | Davenport Downtown Commercial Historic District (ID100005546) |
| MPS | Davenport MRA |
| NRHP reference No. | 83002498 |
| Added to NRHP | July 7, 1983 |
The Schmidt Block, also called the F.T. Schmidt Building, is a historic place in downtown Davenport, Iowa. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1983. This means it's an important building worth protecting. In 2020, it also became part of the Davenport Downtown Commercial Historic District.
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History of the Schmidt Block
The Schmidt Block was built in 1896 by a man named Fritz T. Schmidt. He used the building for his family's business, which sold wine and other drinks. Their business was called Fritz T. Schmidt and Sons. They even made their own wine at a place called "Blackhawk Vineyards" in another part of town. Some of the buildings from that time, including the Schmidt family's home, are still standing today.
What happened during Prohibition?
During a time known as Prohibition, it became against the law to sell alcohol in the United States. Because of this, the Schmidt family changed their business. They started working with real estate and insurance instead.
In the late 1970s and 1980s, a fancy restaurant called J.K. Frizbee's was located in the building. Today, another upscale restaurant called Duck City is open there.
Architecture of the Schmidt Block
The Schmidt Block is a building with more than three stories. It is made of red stone and sits on a brick foundation. The front of the building, called the façade, was designed in a style known as Romanesque Revival. This style was very popular because of an architect named Henry Hobson Richardson.
Unique Design Features
The building has some cool features. On the third floor, you can see large, round-arched windows with special stone frames. The stone used on the building is a bit rough, which is typical for this style. There are also short columns on the top level, under a decorative edge called a cornice.
The Schmidt Block is special because it's the only commercial building in Davenport built with this Richardsonian Romanesque style using stone. Another unique detail is the decorative "swag" designs on the frieze (a band of decoration). These designs are called Adamesque, which is different from the usual Romanesque style.
Even though the storefront (the part facing the street) has been updated, the building still has its original entrance that goes back a bit from the street. It also has the old space for signs above the door. The building next door was taken down, and now there's an outdoor seating area for the restaurant. This area looks out onto a park between the Schmidt Block and the Davenport RiverCenter, which is the city's convention center.
