Residents began calling for a public library in Clinton at the turn of the century. The mayor at the time, George D. McDaid, sent a letter to Andrew Carnegie in 1901 formally requesting funds for the project. Carnegie initially offered $30,000 but eventually agreed to pay $45,000. In turn, the city agreed to find a site for the building and provide an annual operating budget. Voters approved the project in 1902 and construction began in June 1903. It opened in 1904 on the day Theodore Roosevelt was elected to his second term as president. In November that year, well over 5,000 books were checked out. In December, nearly 7,000 books were checked out. The library has remained an integral part of the community ever since.

The Clinton Public Library was built in 1904. A fine example of Beaux-Arts architecture, it was built using funds donated from philanthropist Andrew Carnegie.

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Erected in 1904, the Clinton Public Library was one of many libraries built around the country using funds donated from philanthropist Andrew Carnegie. It is the main branch of two libraries that serve the Clinton community. Designed by Chicago architecture firm Patton &amp; Miller in the Beaux-Arts style, the library features a limestone exterior, a large portico with Doric columns, concave side walls of the front pavilion, and decorative stonework particularly above the main entrance. The library was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1893.

Clinton Public Library

This short walk through the heart of Clinton begins at the public library which was constructed in 1904 with matching grant funds from Andrew Carnegie. The tour proceeds to the historic home of lumber baron George M. Curtis and then winds its way to several historic downtown buildings before concluding at the Clinton County Historical Society Museum where residents and visitors can learn even more about this unique Iowa community on the Mississippi River.

George M. Curtis was born in 1844 in New York (not New York City) and his family moved to Illinois in 1856. They ran a farm there until they moved to Clinton in the 1860s. Here, Curtis, his brother Charles, and one of their uncles founded a small wood planing mill. The company grew steadily in the coming years and by the 1880s it had branches in Wausua, Wisconsin, Chicago, Minneapolis, Lincoln, and Oklahoma City. Curtis made strides in the industry as well. He pioneered the installation of glazed glass into window frames at the factory instead of hiring a glazier to do so. The company operated in Clinton until 1966, which was well after the large lumber mills closed around the 1900s. The house was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1979. The Clinton Women's Club meets on the first Thursday of every month.

Lumber baron George M. Curtis built this beautiful historic home in 1882 and it remains one of Clinton's most striking landmarks. Since 1925, it has been occupied by the Clinton Women's Club, which was established in 1912. The house is 2.5 stories tall and is a good example of Late Victorian architecture. It features a brick exterior covering a wood-frame structure, five porches including a wrap-around veranda, a covered drive-through shelter, segmental arched windows, projecting bays, and gable ends with scalloped shingles and diagonal and checkerboard stickwork. Visitors can take tours of the house by appointment.

George M. Curtis House

The building’s historical significance dates back to John D. Van Allen’s arrival in Clinton in 1892.Rather unusually, Van Allen and Sullivan planned the building around intended use of the interior space. The men carefully laid out floor plans and designed displays, showcases, and aisles before creating plans for the building itself. The main floor of the new store was for general dry goods and men's furnishings. The second floor was women's costumes, and the third floor household fabrics, bedding and rugs. The top floor was not planned for immediate use and intended as an area for future growth.  The former mercantile businessman opened the multi-story department store to serve as the first major rail stop for travelers headed west of Chicago, Ill. By 1908, Van Allen had become the most respected retailer in Clinton and soon expanded the business with the help of renowned design architect Louis Sullivan.  The restored Van Allen Apartments include full amenities, a gorgeous view of the city and nearby Mississippi River, and is conveniently located all less than a mile from civic, educational and cultural resources. The building now uses the upper floors as space for apartments, with the ground floor being used for commercial purposes. The exterior of the building was designed to have urban appeal with plain surfaces, clean lines and harmonious proportions. Louis Sullivan was recommended as the architect by F.H. Shaver.

The Van Allen Building, also known as the Van Allen and Company Department Store, is a four-story building in the heart of downtown Clinton, IA. It was designed by Louis Sullivan and commissioned by John Delbert Van Allen. It was a department store from 1912 until 1914. Listed as one of only 23 national historic landmarks in the state by the National Register of Historic Places, Van Allen Apartments features 19 family units — one-bedroom and two-bedroom apartments.

Van Allen Building

Born in Chicago in 1855, Howes was one of thirteen children of Phillip and Esther Howes. Phillip was orphan from England who immigrated to America in 1836 with his adoptive father, William Lewis. Phillip worked as a coal miner then as a railroad fireman and railroad engineer. He moved the family to Clinton in 1859 when the Chicago, Iowa &amp; Nebraska Railroad hired him as an engineer. Phillip was one of the first to plan train lines from Clinton towards the west. He also served as a member of the local school board, a city trustee, and an alderman. He retired in 1872.As a boy, Edward M. Howes delivered newspapers from a newsstand outside a commercial building called the Toll Block. During that time, he met a jewelry store owner, C.S. Taylor, who introduced Howes to the business, which was housed in the building. Howes' interest in jewelry grew and when he was 15 he bought an interest in Taylor's store. His brother Benjamin did the same. Ten years later, another brother joined the business and it was renamed Howes Brothers.In the late 1890s, Howes left the business and proceeded to make plans for the Howes Building. By then the city's economy had declined as a result of the lumber mills closing and Howes' business friends advised him against the project. He was proved right, however. The building was a great success and within a few years Howes added the fourth story. The construction of the building marked the beginning of Howes' venture into real estate. His son, Laurence, opened a real estate business in the building in 1923. It appears the Howes' family owned the building at least through the early 2000s.In addition to serving as mayor, Howes also was a member of the Clinton YMCA board of directors and the local Scottish Rite Masons. He formed a booster club to promote the city as well.

Located in the heart of downtown Clinton, the Howes Building was built in 1900 and has remained the cornerstone of the city's commercial district. Over the years many offices, department stores, and other businesses that contributed to Clinton's growth occupied the building. It is named after local businessman Edward M. Howes, who commissioned its construction and served as mayor for two years. Designed by Josiah Rice, the Howes Building is an excellent example of Classical Revival architecture. It features arched windows, pilasters (columns) with Ionic capitals, and decorative terra cotta detailing. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2004.

Howes Building

The Clinton County Historical Society also owns the former St. Irenaeus Catholic Church, which is being converted into the St. Irenaeus Cultural Center, and three Heritage Gardens. The Society is using the gardens as a way to fund the cultural center by offering residents to "buy a brick," which can be engraved. The bricks will be laid at the Center. Some of the events at the museum include an auction, a garage sale, a flea market, and an ice cream social. Notable items housed in the research library include the earliest-known historical sketch of Clinton County written in 1871 and an 1865 map of the county.

Founded in 1965, the Clinton County Historical Society Museum preserves and promotes local history through its exhibits, special events, and research library. The museum's collection includes photographs and a variety of historical documents and artifacts. The research library contains a wide range of documents including naturalization records, birth and death certificates, yearbooks, and oral histories.

Clinton Iowa Historic Downtown Walking Tour

Clinton Public Library

Introduction

Images

Backstory and Context

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Additional Information