Sioux City History and Culture by Bicycle Part 72: Battery Building

The Battery Building completed in 1906 for the Dymond-Simmons Hardware Co., this large Romanesque Revival-styled warehouse was designed by the New York City architectural firm of Gordon, Tracy, & Swartwout. Note particularly the tall tower with rooftop battlements and the large arched entrance on the building’s south side. The Dymond-Simmons Company was headquartered in St. Louis, Missouri and manufactured scissors and cutlery under the brand name “Kari Kutter”. During the 1930s the company added a line of sporting goods. Between 1944 and 1956, this warehouse was home to the Sioux City Battery Company.

This building stands as an anchor in the SW corner of downtown Sioux City. There are large buildings near the west edge of downtown but they are not in the downtown area. The Battery Building is the largest building in this section of downtown. It has a massive clock tower which is an icon to the downtown city scape. City Hall is the only other building in the downtown area that has a clock tower.

The Battery Building is also now on the National Register of Historic Places, added just this past April:
Battery Building listed on National Register of Historic Places

This grand old building is also getting a new lease on life as well. Development has not started yet, but the city council is hoping it will soon:
New life awaits Battery Building
Battery Building getting $10.5M facelift - Upscale condominiums, offices and a restaurant planned for historic structure

Photo's:
Battery Building web photo