City of Ottumwa recently issued the following announcement.
Preservation Iowa has designated Ottumwa’s historic First National Bank as one of its 2022 Most Endangered Properties.
Preservation Iowa started the Most Endangered Property program in 1995 to educate Iowans about the special buildings and historic sites that are slowly and gradually slipping away. In the past 27 years, Preservation Iowa has designated over 150 homes, churches, archeological sites, landscapes, commercial buildings and a variety of other properties. The Most Endangered Properties program helps to bring to the public’s attention the risks to a designated historic property and introduces owners of an endangered property to preservation advocacy and resources that can help preserve their historic property. Additionally, there have been interest groups who have been able to use the designation as a mechanism to leverage other financial resources to restore and preserve properties. For more information about the Most Endangered Program, check out Preservation Iowa’s website at www.preservationiowa.org or contact Preservation Iowa at info@preservationiowa.org.
The First National Bank building at 131 E Main Street embodies the characteristics of late 19th to 20th century Neo-Classical Revival architecture. Constructed in 1915, it was designed by H.H. Stoddard of Chicago and constructed by the Black Hawk Construction Company of Waterloo. It features a temple front with monumental columns on its primary facade and a full terra cotta side façade. The ten sets of second floor windows are separated by monumental pilasters and terra cotta parapet caps that run the entire length of the building. After the bank closings of the Great Depression, it became the Fidelity Savings Bank. A remodeling in 1956 replaced the original entrance with the present recessed two-story plate glass wall. The building was placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1995.
The City of Ottumwa pursued legal action after the property was abandoned by a previous owner and won title to the building. Years of neglect have produced damage to the terra cotta and windows. At the time it was acquired by the City, it was packed floor to ceiling with stuff. Main Street and Ottumwa Historic Preservation Commission volunteers spent nearly a year of weekends cleaning out the building.
In March, the City of Ottumwa will be release a request for proposals seeking to find a private buyer and developer who will complete a rehabilitation of this treasured downtown resource. Anyone interested in receiving the request for proposals should register an email or mailing address with the Planning Department by calling 641-683-0694 or simonsonz@ottumwa.us.
First National Bank Photo Portfolio
Original source can be found here.
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