The Bishop's Block, also known as the Bishop's Block Apartments, is a historic building located in Dubuque, Iowa, United States. It was individually listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1994.[1] It was included as a contributing property in the Old Main Street Historic District in 2015.[2]

Bishop's Block
Bishop's Block is located in Iowa
Bishop's Block
Bishop's Block is located in the United States
Bishop's Block
Location90 W. Main St.
Dubuque, Iowa, United States
Coordinates42°29′40″N 90°39′49″W / 42.49444°N 90.66361°W / 42.49444; -90.66361
Arealess than one acre
Built1887
ArchitectFranklin D. Hyde
Architectural styleRomanesque Revival
Part ofOld Main Street Historic District (ID83000356)
NRHP reference No.94000477[1]
Added to NRHPMay 19, 1994

History edit

The building significance is derived from its association with its architect, Franklin D. Hyde.[3] He was a Dubuque architect known for his residential designs. Considered his best work, Hyde designed the building in the Romanesque Revival style.[2] It was completed in 1887 and the exterior is composed of brick. The building measures 75.5 feet (23 m) tall and rises five floors.[4] At one time the building had a distinctive turret on its northwest corner, which was destroyed by lightning in July 2011.

The building was commissioned by John Hennessy, the third bishop of the Catholic Diocese of Dubuque, and derives its name from him.[3] He was involved in speculative real estate and business ventures in the Dubuque area, and he built or acquired numerous buildings around the city. This building was first occupied by wholesale grocer Marshall M. Walker. After five years, the John T. Hancock Company was housed here. The Western Grocery Company occupied the building from 1908 into the 1950s. It has subsequently been renovated into apartments.

References edit

  1. ^ a b "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service. March 13, 2009.
  2. ^ a b James E. Jacobsen. "Old Main Historic District Boundary lncrease and Amendment" (PDF). National Park Service. Retrieved 2019-04-07.
  3. ^ a b Carmen Tschofen; Jan Nash. "Bishop's Block". National Park Service. Retrieved 2019-04-07. with photos
  4. ^ "Bishop's Block Apartments". Emporis. Archived from the original on February 20, 2013. Retrieved 2012-04-17.