St. Donatus, Iowa
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NFS Form 10-900 OMB No. 1024-0018 (Rev. 8-86) United States Department of the Interior National Park Service National Register of Historic Places Registration Form This form is for use in nominating or requesting determinations of eligibility for individual properties or districts. See instructions in Guidelines for Completing National Register Forms (National Register Bulletin 16). Complete each item by marking "x" in the appropriate box or by entering the requested information. If an item does not apply to the property being documented, enter "N/A" for "not applicable." For functions, styles, materials, and areas of significance, enter only the categories and subcategories listed in the instructions. For additional space use continuation sheets (Form 10-900a). Type all entries. 1 . Name of Property historic name Village of St. Donatus. Iowa Historic n intrant other names/site number 2. Location street & number I _ | not for publication city, town St. Donatus I _ | vicinity state Iowa code I A county Jackson code 097 zip code 52031 3. Classification Ownership of Property Category of Property Number of Resources within Property 1X1 private HH building(s) Contributing Noncontributing I I public-local 1T1 district 33 19 buildings I I public-State Qsite ____ ____ sites I I public-Federal Q structure ____ ____ structures I I object ____ ____ objects 33 19 Total Name of related multiple property listing: Number of contributing resources previously listed in the National Register 2______ 4. State/Federal Agency Certification As the designated authority under the National Historic Preservation Act of 1966, as amended, I hereby certify that this LxJ nomination LJ request for determination of eligibility meets the documentation standards for registering properties in the National Register of Historic Places and meets the procedural and professional requirements set forth in 36 CFR Part 60. In my opinion, the property Dmeets didoes not meet the National Register criteria. [Z]see continuation^ sheet. Signature of certifying official Date Bureau of Historic Preservation In my opinion, the property LJ meets LJdoes not meet the National Register criteria. LjSee continuation sheet. Signature of commenting or other official Date State or Federal agency and bureau 5. National Park Service Certification I, hefeby, certify that this property is: [NO entered in the National Register. I ] See continuation sheet. I I determined eligible for the National Register. I I See continuation sheet. [ ] determined not eligible for the National Register. I I removed from the National Register. O other, (explain:) ___________ Signature of the Keeper Date of Action 6. Function or Use Historic Functions (en er categories from instructions) Current Functions (enter categories from instructions) Agriculture / Subsistence Agriculture / Subsistence Domestic Domestic Commerce / Trade Commerce / Trade Religion 1 Religion F.uiiB^ary | Funerary 7. Description Architectural Classific ition Materials (enter categories from instructions) (enter categories from instructions) foundation Limestone Other / Yernacular wails Limestone I i/vood ] roof Other / Composition I other E Describe present and (historic physical appearance. THE VILLAGE OF ST. DONATUS, IOWA The village of St. Donatus was once described as "one of the quaintest settlements . , . a little French island in the American sea." (G ven, p. 1) Its Luxembourg heritage -- though commonly, and mi stakenly, identified as French — is as apparent now as it was en Welker Given published those words in 1922. The massive vernacular stone structures of St. Donatus' early residents, with th^ir light colored stucco coatings and distinctive roof lines, doitninate the landscape. The Tete des Morts and Lux Creeks, both tributaries of the Mississippi River, which is just four miles away, meander through the village. The surrounding limestone bluffs and th4 gentle rolling hills of the Tete des Morts valley provide a picjturesque backdrop for this unique mid-19th century Luxembourg settlement. j Th| initial growth of the community occurred between 1850 and 19110 after which building activity came to a virtual standstill. Lit|tle physical development occurred until the early 1960s when a nurhber of ranch-style homes were erected to accommodate the ne^ds of area commuters. Much of this later development occurred on [the southern limits of the village, outside the boundaries of the district. A few modern homes are scattered throughout the district yet! do not detract from the historical character of the village. Plotted in 1860, St. Donatus can be divided into three distinct sections: The village proper, the West Village and the church corhplex. ( Fig. 1. ) The village proper, as it will be referred to throughout this discussion, is located at the intersection of the Du^uque to Bellevue Road (U.S. 52) and Gear's Ferry Road, It is here whfere much of the commercial development in the settlement occurred. (It remains the commercial hub of the village today.) The JQCl See continuation sheet 8. Statement of Significance Certifying official has considered the significance of this property in relation to other properties: (lei nationally I I statewide I ] locally Applicable National Register Criteria IxlA I IB JXlC I ID Criteria Considerations (Exceptions) I |A I IB I Ic I ID I |E I IF I |G Areas of Significance (enter categories from instructions) Period of Significance Significant Dates Architecture ___________ 1854 - 1910 Ethnic Heritage / European Social History_____________ ______________________________ Cultural Affiliation European / Luxenibourg Significant Person Architect/Builder Father Michael Flammang_______ N/A____ State significance of property, and justify criteria, criteria considerations, and areas and periods of significance noted above. STATEMENT OF SIGNIFICANCE The village of St. Donatus offers the only surviving collection of rnid-19th Century Southern or Lowland Luxembourg vernacular stone architecture in the United States of America. The village, one of several minor settlement areas in the United States, functioned as the mother colony for Luxembourgian settlement in the Midwest and, as such, exemplified the traditional agricultural village. The physical and cultural dominance of the Catholic parish, evident throughout the village's development, mirrored the traditional religious imprint of Luxembourg on the cultural landscape. Luxembourg Immigration to the United States; Economic unrest and political upheaval in Luxembourg in the 1820s and 1830s resulted in the beginnings of what would become a pattern of out-migration to the United States. By 1850 the quality of life in the home country had become unbearable. The excessive partitioning of land, poor harvests, uncertain economic conditions and over population created ample reasons for emigration. Though reports vary, an estimated 10,700 people emigrated from Luxembourg between 1831 and 1860. By 1890, over thirty thousand had left the country. (Gonner, p, 96) These early immigrants, attracted by the availability of inexpensive farmland in the Midwest, were drawn to Ohio, northern Illinois, southern Wisconsin and eastern Iowa. Those settling in Western Illinois and Iowa arrived in New Orleans from Antwerp, Belgium and sailed up the Mississippi River to Galena, lllinoiE^<M*Ualfcns6e^a. Others arrived in New York City, having departed from Le Havre, 9. Major Bibliographical References See Continuation Sheet ( Section 9 Pages 1 - 3 ) LKJ See continuation sheet Previous documentation on file (NFS): O preliminary deterrfiination of individual listing (36 CFR 67) Primary location of additional data: has been requested PH State historic preservation office 1 previously listed in the National Register CH Other State agency previously determined eligible by the National Register I I Federal agency designated a Natibnal Historic Landmark I I Local government recorded by Historic American Buildings I I University Survey # IA-ft 7 Eother [~] recorded by Historic American Engineering Specify repository. Record # 5 St. Donatus Historic Preservation Commission 10. Geographical Data Acreage of property UTM References AUJ Li_L_ i i Zone Easting Northing Zone Easting Northing c|__| LL±_ Dl . I I I i See continuation sheet Verbal Boundary Description See Continuation Sheet { Section 7 Page 2$ ) I See continuation sheet Boundary Justification L See Continuation Sheet ( Section 7 Page See continuation sheet TlT^orm Prepared By name/title Sara I Anne Daines organization _ date 1 June 1989" street & number 1090 Grove Terrace telephone 319 5$3 2333 city or town __ Dtibugue, Iowa state Iowa_____ zip code 52001 NFS Form 10-900-a OMB Approval No. 1024-0018 (8-86) United States Department of the Interior National Park Service National Register of Historic Places Continuation Sheet Section number 7 Page CFN-259-1116 ST.DONATTJS LOQATCO IN TSTC OC8 MO*Tf TWf. Sealf JS0 F**t to ant Fig. 1. Village of St. Donatusjowa 1860 Plat Map NPS Form 10-900-a OMB Approval No. 1024-0018 (8-86) United States Department of the Interior National Park Service National Register of Historic Places Continuation Sheet Section number __X__ Page £ ___________________________________________CFN-259-1116 West Village — or French Village as it is sometimes known — is located roughly 400 yards west of the village proper. (Gear's Ferry Road originally ran through the center of the West Village. The road was later rerouted just south of this section of St. Donatus.) The church complex is located approximately 500 yards