Sioux City History and Culture by Bicycle Part 39: Sioux City Terra Cotta, Nebraska St.

There are 4 buildings on Nebraska Street mentioned in the book Breaking The Mold, Sioux City Terra Cotta. They are the Masonic Temple, The Bennett Motor Mart Building, Sioux City Optical & the Martin Department Store.

The Masonic Temple at 9th & Nebraska was built in 1922. Designed by Beuttler and Arnold, architects it has beautiful Moorish Facade on the north side of the building. The west side was designed with Classical Spanish Facade. The temple was built at a cost of $350.00 by Fleisher Company. The Masonic bodies that currently occupy the building are Tyrian Lodge, the Sioux City York Rite, the Abu Bekr Shrine, Jobs Daughters & Daughters of the Nile. The building also has a beautiful Masonic Museum. The museum is a little unorganized right now. The hope is to eventually place the exhibits in the new Sioux City Public Museum or designate a a larger room of the temple to the Masonic Museum. The building was added to the National Regsiter of Historic Places in 2004.
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At 510 Nebraska is the Bennett Motor Mart Building. Built in 1912, designed by E.R. Henriques, architect the building shows a fine example of both Sullivanesque and Chicago School Elements architecture. Early automobile dealer Ralph Bennett commissioned C.F. Lytle Construction Company to build the structure. The Motor Mart was the first of many reinforced concrete buildings. It was renamed the Commerce Building because of the long run tenant Sioux City Chamber of Commerce. The building was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1993.
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The Sioux City Optical Company building was built with it's own unique style of terra cotta architecture. Built at 419 Nebraska St. in 1920. By 1923 it was the largest manufacturing company of lenses in Iowa & one of the largest in the midwest.
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Finally on Nebraska St. is the Martin Department Store building. Built in 1902 & located at 409 Nebraska the building was designed by Henry Fisher. The building is Sioux City's only Beux Arts style building. It was built by Thomas S. MArtin for the expansion of his dept. store. on 4th St. Beaux Arts is fairly limited in the United States. The building was placed on the National Register of Historic Places.
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Sioux City History & Culture by Bicycle Part 37: Sioux City Terra Cotta, Douglas St.

Breaking the Mold, Sioux City's Terra Cotta has 2 buildings on Douglas St. Both are still in use today, the Woodbury County Courthouse & the Warnock Building.

The Woodbury County Courthouse, located at 620 Douglas St. The building attained national recognition of one of the finestSullivanesque and Prarie School structures ever built & is the embodiment of both. Designed by William L. Steele the building had some resistance from county officials when the design was first introduced the building opened in 1918 & was placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1973 & was designated as a National Historic Landmark in 1996.

This building is also part of Douglas Street Walking Tour Here is another post about the courthouse as well: Woodbury County Courthouse

The photo's I took of the building to do not do it justice. A person really needs to see the building for themselves to understand how beautiful it really is. But here they are:







The Warnock Building located at 705 Douglas is also called the Benson Building. It houses several diverse tenants. Built in 1920 & designed by Beauttler and Arnold, architects it was built with both Sullivanesque and Chicago School Elements as part of it's design. The building was funded by William Warnock, son-in-law of W.A. Klinger. Klinger is a well reknowned construction company still in operation today in Sioux City. The Bewauttler and Arnold designed was Klinger's first commercial construction work. The building was originally a Ford dealership & was built with only 6 stores, but can support an additional 5 floors. It is now an commercial office building. The Warnock Building is also part of the Douglas Street Walking Tour
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Sioux City History & Culture by Bicycle Part 34: Sioux CIty Terra Cotta, 5th St.

5th Street only has 2 buildings listed in the book, Breaking the Mold, Sioux City Terra Cotta. They are the Frances Building and the Lerch Building.

The Lerch Building located at 410 5th St was built in 1907 by William Lerch. It was built with Greek Revival architecture & designed by George W. Burkhead. Lerch was a wine & liquor importer. He expanded his business to include saloons & billiard halls. He also built at least 4 other downtown buildings & is classified as a city builder. The Lerch Building still stands today & up until recently it housed Flood Music Company which has now closed.
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The next building on 5th St. is the Frances Building located at 505 5th St. & built in 1915 by J.P. Martin this building still houses many divers tenants. It is one of downtown Sioux City's landmarks. The building was designed by O.C. Gross, architect & is a great example of Sullivanesque & Chicago School Elements architecture. The Frances Building is also part of the Pierce Street Walking tour
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