Werthman Grocery facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Werthman Grocery
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 Location in Iowa
Location in the United States
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| Location | 1402 W. 7th St. Davenport, Iowa |
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| Area | less than one acre |
| Built | 1900 |
| MPS | Davenport MRA |
| NRHP reference No. | 84001588 |
| Added to NRHP | July 27, 1984 |
Werthman Grocery is a cool old building in Davenport, Iowa, in a part of town called the West End. It's located where two streets meet, in a neighborhood with homes all around. Even though it started as a grocery store, it's been a popular neighborhood spot for a long time, usually as a tavern (a place where people gather). This historic building was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1984, which means it's an important part of history.
A Look Back in Time
Henry Werthman opened a grocery store in this building way back in 1900. Many other members of the Werthman family lived nearby in those early years.
By 1910, the building became a tavern. John J. Bryson ran the tavern and lived in the apartment upstairs. This building has been a tavern ever since. It even stayed open during the Prohibition Era, a time when selling alcohol was not allowed. During those years, city records showed it only sold "soft drinks".
Building Style
This two-story building was designed to fit perfectly on its corner spot. The main entrance is on a special angled corner, which is called a chamfered corner. This design helps it stand out.
You can see an interesting window on the east side of the building. This type of window, called an oriel window, sticks out from the wall. It shows where the living space was located above the tavern. This was a common feature for small businesses in Davenport during the late 1800s and early 1900s.
The building is made of strong brick and sits on a solid stone foundation. Its most decorative parts are found at the top. There's a fancy metal trim called a cornice. It has small block-like shapes, known as dentil molding. You can also see decorative pointy parts, called finials, and a decorated band, or frieze, adding to its charm.
