YOUNG’S HILL/KINGSTON NEIGHBORHOOD Historical and Architectural Survey Report June 2008 Prepared for: The City of Cedar Rapids and Department of Community Development, Housing Services Prepared by: Marlys Svendsen, principal investigator SVENDSEN TYLER, INC. N3834 DEEP LAKE ROAD · SARONA, WISCONSIN 54870 ·715/469-3300 Email: [email protected] Tim Weitzel, survey photographer and database manager Iowa City, Iowa Cover photo: Gabled wall dormer, southeast elevation, 319 7th Street SW, viewed from 4th Avenue SW TABLE OF CONTENTS Executive Summary ................................................................................................................................................................................................ 3 Introduction ............................................................................................................................................................................................................... 5 Methodology ............................................................................................................................................................................................................ 8 A. Objectives ....................................................................................................................................................................................... 8 B. Survey Personnel ........................................................................................................................................................................ 8 C. Survey.............................................................................................................................................................................................. 9 D. Evaluation .................................................................................................................................................................................... 10 Young’s Hill/Kingston Neighborhood A. Neighborhood Overview.......................................................................................................................................................... 14 B. Neighborhood Description ...................................................................................................................................................... 15 C. Historical Place Names ............................................................................................................................................................ 17 Kingston and West Cedar Rapids ......................................................................................................................................... 17 Young’s Hill ................................................................................................................................................................................ 18 Alandale ........................................................................................................................................................................................ 21 Neighborhood Schools ............................................................................................................................................................. 22 Subdivisions ................................................................................................................................................................................. 25 Historic Areas Map ................................................................................................................................................................... 26 D. Historical Development ........................................................................................................................................................... 27 Early Decades – 1870s and 1880s ......................................................................................................................................... 27 Turn of the Century Approaches – 1890s .......................................................................................................................... 28 Pre-World War I Years – 1900s and 1910s ...................................................................................................................... 34 8th Street SW Historic District.................................................................................................................................................... 39 History ................................................................................................................................................................................. 39 Description ......................................................................................................................................................................... 43 Significance ......................................................................................................................................................................... 44 District Boundaries ................................................................................................................................................... 45, 47 Contributing and Noncontributing Resources ........................................................................................................ 46 CRANDIC Railway Arrives ................................................................................................................................................... 49 Post-World War I Years – 1920s and 1930s .................................................................................................................... 53 Mail Order Houses .................................................................................................................................................................... 54 The New Deal’s FHA Minimum House .............................................................................................................................. 57 Evolution of the Minimal Traditional House .................................................................................................................... 59 World War II and the Post-War Boom – 1940s and 1950s ......................................................................................... 63 Veterans Prospect Place Historic District ................................................................................................................................. 67 History ................................................................................................................................................................................. 67 Description ......................................................................................................................................................................... 70 Significance ......................................................................................................................................................................... 70 District Boundaries .......................................................................................................................................................... 71 Contributing and Noncontributing Resources ........................................................................................................ 72 District Houses ................................................................................................................................................................. 73 The Ranch House....................................................................................................................................................................... 77 Post-1960 Trends ...................................................................................................................................................................... 78 Tables: Dwellings by Decade and House Building Trends, 1870-2007 ................................................................... 79 Bibliography ............................................................................................................................................................................................................ 80 Appendices ............................................................................................................................................................................................................... 88 Appendix A: Project Personnel and City Staff Support ........................................................................................................... 89 Appendix B: Surveyed Properties – various tables .................................................................................................................... 90 Appendix C: Sample Iowa Site Inventory Form ..................................................................................................................... 124 Young’s Hill/Kingston Neighborhood Historical and Architectural Survey, Cedar Rapids Housing Services 2 Svendsen Tyler, Inc. – June 2008 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY Svendsen Tyler, Inc. was retained by the Cedar Rapids Department of Community Development – Housing Services to conduct a new intensive level historical and architectural survey of the Young’s Hill/Kingston Neighborhood. The survey is a continuation of efforts begun in 1995 and updated in 2006 and 2007