Blair House

Built in 1881, the historic Blair House served a number of purposes over the years including as a private residence, the headquarters of an organization called the Washington Commercial Club, and City Hall from 1926 to 1972. It is also an excellent example of Second Empire architecture. Notable features include a mansard roof, white-hooded windows, and a tower. It is currently open to the public as an office and meeting center.

Iowa architect William Foster designed Blair House for a local businessman named Winfield Smouse, who only lived here briefly. The house is named for the Blair family who occupied it from 1882 to 1891. It remained a private residence until 1903 when the Washington Commercial Club acquired it. Throughout these early years the house was the center of the city's social life as it served as the meeting place for all of Washington's clubs. To provide more space for these activities the Commercial Club built an addition on the south side of the house. As noted above, Blair House became City Hall in 1926, which enhanced the building's status even more. The addition in the rear of the building, which was called Legion Hall, continued to be used for a variety of social activities like dances and parties. The house was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1973. The next year a group of residents acquired and restored it.

"History." Washington IA Chamber of Commerce. Accessed March 13, 2022. https://local.townsquarepublications.com/iowa/washington/history.html.

Viggers, Stephen. "Blair House." National Park Service - National Register of Historic Places Nomination Form. June 4, 1973. https://npgallery.nps.gov/NRHP/GetAsset/NRHP/73000741_text.