Intensive Level Survey of the Residential Neighborhood from Old Settlers Park to Central Park (Area 1) in Fort Madison, Lee County, Iowa

SPARK Consulting; McCarley, Rebecca

From executive summary: "The intensive level historical and architectural survey of the residential neighborhood from Old Settlers Park to Central Park (area 1) in Fort Madison, Lee County, Iowa, is part of a phased program to identify, evaluate, register, and protect the cultural resources in Fort Madison. This area roughly extends along Avenues E and F from 4th Street to 11th/12th Street, or between Old Settlers Park and Central Park. It was highly recommended as "Survey Area 1" in the Reconnaissance Level Historical Architectural Survey Of the "Original Town" in Fort Madison, Lee County, Iowa, which was completed by the FMHPC in June 2009. This neighborhood included approximately 15 blocks and 192 extant properties. This residential neighborhood was developed throughout the early history of Fort Madison as the main commercial/downtown area grew along Avenues G and H immediately to the south. Though the first railroad connection arrived in the 1860s, Fort Madison witnessed an unprecedented boom for the small community with the arrival of the Atchison, Topeka, and Santa Fe Railroad in 1887, which chose to cross the Mississippi River at this location... The purpose of this survey was to evaluate the historic resources in this area for their eligibility for the National Register of Historic Places. The primary goal of the project was to evaluate a potential historic district and identify boundaries and contributing buildings. The buildings were evaluated for individual eligibility as well. Research was conducted to develop historic contexts relating to the history of this neighborhood to evaluate the historic resources surveyed. They draw heavily on the earlier thematic historic contexts developed for Fort Madison in 1990 extending up to 1939 (Hansman) and the two residential and neighborhood development historic contexts developed in 2008-09 for the reconnaissance survey project (Mccarley). The historic contexts focus on the residential history of this neighborhood in Fort Madison within the framework of the history of the community. The historic contexts assisted in the evaluation of the identified historic district and its resources. The intensive level historical and architectural survey of the residential neighborhood from Old Settlers Park to Central Park (area 1) in Fort Madison contains around 15 blocks, totaling around 65 acres. A total of 193 properties were surveyed as part of this project within this area. Two properties were demolished during the course of the project, with a new house then constructed on one of these lots. Properties generally consisted of a house or a house and garage. Approximately 328 individual resources were included in this survey area, including 259 built by 1960. These properties consist of 107 properties that were previously surveyed at some level, including four that were listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Iowa Site Inventory forms were filled out for each property, including name, date, address, a narrative description, and a statement of significance. Digital photographs and maps were inserted on each form as well. Through this survey, there appears to be an eligible Park to Park Residential Historic District that includes 184 surveyed properties with approximately 241 contributing resources and 72 non-contributing resources. Outside of the contributing resources in this identified historic district, there is one property previously listed on the National Register of Historic Places and five surveyed properties that appear to be potentially individually eligible for listing." Project funding was provided in part by a 2011 Historic Preservation Fund grant to the City of Fort Madison (project number IA-11-052) administered by Iowa State Historic Preservation Office (grant number 19-11-31922) and the State, Tribal, and Local Plans and Grants Division, National Park Service, U.S. Department of the Interior. Fort Madison, Iowa is a Certified Local Government.

Intensive Level Survey of the Residential Neighborhood from Old Settlers Park to Central Park (Area 1) in Fort Madison, Lee County, Iowa

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