PARADISE BLOCK HISTORIC DISTRICT Other Names/Site Number
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/'•/• NPS Form 10-800 (MB No. 10244018 (R«v. B-6S) 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 PARADISE BLOCK HISTORIC DISTRICT other names/site number 2. Location street & number Hiqh Avenue East, 402, 406, 408, 410, 414, LJ not for publication city, town Oskaloosa 418, 501-714 LJ vicinity state Iowa code IA county Maha ska code 1 23 zipcode52577 3. Classification Ownership of Property C ategory of Property Number of Resources within Property [Xl private _ building(s) Contributing Noncontributing fxl public-local )f district 33 7 buildinas [ I public-State site 1 sites [ ] public-Federal structure 2 structures L_ object objects .Total Name of related multiple property listing: Number of contributing resources previously TtegTHTnnf»c; of Qskaloosa, IA 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 L_LJ 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 L3 meets LJ does not meet the National Register criteria. LJ See continuation sheet. / Signature of certifying official Date State Historical Society of Iowa______________________________________ State or Federal agency and bureau In my opinion, the property CU meets CH does not meet the National Register criteria. CD See continuation sheet. Signature of commenting or other official Date State or Federal agency and bureau 5. National Park Service Certification I, hereby, certify that this property is: rl entered in the National Register. I I See continuation sheet. I I determined eligible for the National f 7 Register. I I See continuation sheet. I I determined not eligible for the National Register. I I removed from the National Register. Q other, (explain:) ___________ Signature of the Keeper Date of Action 6. Function or Use Historic Functions (enter categories from instructions) Current Functions (enter categories from instructions) DOMESTTC/Sinale Dwellina i n RELIGION/Reliaious ri 017.c; fif"mr-t-iTrp> Oe» 1 -i 7. Description Architectural Classification Materials (enter categories from instructions) (enter categories from Instructions) foundation Stone __ Late Victorian walls __ Weatherboard Late 19th & 2Qth Century Ttevivals Brick Late 19th & 20th (jpirhrry Am^riran roof _ Asphalt Shingles Movements other Stone Stucco Describe present and historic physical appearance. Ihe Paradise Block Historic District contains the best collection of late 19th and early 20th residential design extant in the city of Oskaloosa. Ihe significant houses, buildings and structures were constructed between 1853 and 1917. The district is located along High Avenue East, between 3rd and 7th Streets. The neighborhood is basically flat, with the houses on the north side of the street built at street level, while those on the south are slightly higher than the street and sidewalk. To the west and south, the land is flat, to the north and east there is a gentle downhill slope east to 11th Street. Paradise Block is easily located on maps, as it is made up of several long, undivided blocks to the east of the Public Square. These have traditionally be the site of fine homes, and have been known for over a century as "Paradise Block." High Avenue was one of four streets in town originally laid out 80* wide (the four streets which intersected at the corners of the Public Square), all of the others being 66'. Like many Iowa residential streets, High was lined with elm trees for decades. While the loss of this tree cover due to Dutch Elm disease was serious, new trees, many of them maples, were planted in the 1960s, and the street again presents a broad tree-lined vista. High runs across the north side of the square and has always been the major east/ west street in the community. In the business district, it was along High that the largest, most important brick commercial blocks were built. When street cars were introduced in 1883, the newspaper mentioned that six trips a day were made from the end of the Avenue to Oskaloosa College, and that "...High Street is the only street covered in the city...." High Avenue was also one of the first streets to be paved. On 25 February 1892 the Herald noted "About one-half million brick are piled up on East High for the brick paving to be done...." The area known as Paradise Block extended east from 3rd Street (originally called Monroe). Unlike some neighborhoods it did not grow all at once. It is actually composed of several additions to the city: East Addition, Smith's Block, Bennett's Block, and Seever's Addition. Joe continuation shoot 8. Statement of Significance Certifying official has considered the significance of this property in relation to other properties: n nationally CU statewide HH locally Applicable National Register Criteria I U I IB DHc I ID Criteria Considerations (Exceptions) [X]A d]B dc DO [Z]E d^ HUG Areas of Significance (enter categories from instructions) Period of Significance Significant Dates ARCHITECTURE_______________ 1 853-1 917 Cultural Affiliation N.A- Significant Person Architect/Builder ____N.A.______________________ Multiple State significance of property, and justify criteria, criteria considerations, and areas and periods of significance noted above. The Paradise Block Historic District is significant under Criterion C because it contains the largest, most intact collection of late 19th and early 20th century residential design extant in the city of Oskaloosa, and it meets Criteria Consideration A because the two churches in the district are significant in terms of architectural design and materials. Historically this has been a neighborhood of business and professional leaders. There is a cohesive quality in the district in terms of size, design, and material. The contributing resources (built between 1853 and 1917) represent both vernacular and high style designs, with several architect designed properties included. The scale, material and style of the two non-residential buildings in the district relate so well to the houses that these are considered to be key structures. While other neighborhoods in Oskaloosa originally contained a similar mix, Paradise Block is the only remaining example. It has traditionally been viewed as a special place. In 1899 Semira Hobbs Phillips wrote a book titled Proud Mahaska. She wrote of the early days of Oskaloosa, from her point of view as a young unmarried woman who arrived shortly after the area was opened for settlement in 1843. She spoke of the treeless area known as "the narrows," the land between the Des Moines and Skunk rivers, where the town of Oskaloosa was located. Semira told of the people, the houses, the buildings, and the churches, of this new settlement. She spoke of an area she called "Paradise Block," basically the area between A Avenue East (originally Liberty Street) and 1st Avenue East, between 3rd and 7th streets. The major street in Paradise Block was High Avenue. She remembered when William T. Smith had a brick house built on his lot in 1853 (713 High Avenue East, #11, NRHP). At that time there were no trees, only prairie. Smith's land sloped gently to the west from his house, so he hauled dirt from the east side to the west, to level it out. When he was finished, he planted trees all ED Soo continuation shoot 9. Major Bibliographical References Watkins, Kirk, (Ed.) The Oskaloosa Times Souvenir. Oskaloosa, IA: The Times Co., 1896. Oskaloosa Weekly Herald, 21 March 1881 31 March 1881 23 August 1883 27 September 1883 17 June 1886 26 October 1893 20 May 1915 21 March 1914 (Farm Edition) 27 February 1915 (Farm Edition) I I See continuation sheet Previous documentation on file (NFS): I I preliminary determination of individual listing (36 CFR 67) Primary location of additional data: has been requested I I State historic preservation office previously listed in the National Register I I Other State agency previously determined eligible by the National Register I I Federal agency _ designated a National Historic Landmark fxl Local government I I recorded by Historic American Buildings I I University Survey # __________________________ CH Other I I recorded by Historic American Engineering Specify repository: Record # ___ ____ ______ 10. Geographical Data Acreage of property 10.45 acres UTM References All.5l I I i I i i I I.I.I i i j_i Zone Easting Northing Zone Easting Northing Cl . I I I . , . I I.I.I.. Dl . I I I . i i I . I . I . , >ee continuation sheet Verbal Boundary Description See continuation sheet >ee continuation sheet Boundary Justification This area includes the houses and buildings that face High Avenue East between 4th and 7th streets, and the houses and buildings on the south side of High Avenue East between 3rd and 4th streets, as well as High Avenue itself. This is the area historically known as Paradise Block. I I See continuation sheet 11. Form Prepared By ________ ____ name/title ___ Molly Mvers Naumannf Consultant 682-2743 organization __ Oskaloosa Historic Preservation Cbmm.