Sioux City History and Culture by Bicycle Part 108: William Labarth Steele Part 3: Davidson Building

Built in 1913 by brothers owners Ben, Dave and Abe Davidson the Davidson Building was designed by William L. Steele, with money from Arthur Sanford and stands as one of the finest examples of Sullivanesque Architecture in Sioux City. Standing on the NE corner of 6th and Pierce Streets it is a commercial building very popular with lawyers and it houses Pecaut and Company, a longtime Sioux City stock brokerage firm. The building is also home to a very good Japanese resteraunt called Fuji Bay.

The Davidson Building was the first building in Sioux City contructed specifically for for office use. Built in buff colored roman brick and terra cotta at a cost of $450,000.

The Davidson brothers came to Sioux City in 1882 and began their business as street vendors selling tin-ware. In 1891 they opened a department store at the corner of 4th and Pierce Streets and succeeded in becoming among the city's leading businessmen. The department store was demolished in the 1970's and the Davidson Building is the only remaining commercial property associated with the Davidson brothers. Notable terra cotta features include a highle decorative cornice, medallions with lion heads, a shield and floral pattern, and beneath each window, a letter "D" set on a field of 18 carat gold leaf.

The Davidson Building was place on the National Register of Historic Places in 1999. Here is the info.:
Davidson Building (added 1999 - Building - #99000736)
505 6th St., Sioux City
Historic Significance: Architecture/Engineering
Architect, builder, or engineer: Lytle Construction Company, Steele, William LaBarthe
Architectural Style: Early Commercial
Area of Significance: Architecture
Period of Significance: 1900-1924
Owner: Private
Historic Function: Commerce/Trade
Historic Sub-function: Business
Current Function: Commerce/Trade
Current Sub-function: Business

The Davidson Building is also part of the Terra Cotta and Pierce Street Walking Toursof Sioux City.

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Sioux City History and Culture by Bicycle Part 106: William Labarth Steele Part 1: Short Bio. and Info.

William Labarth Steele is perhaps one of Sioux City's most famous architects. He was born May 1875 in Springfield, Illinois. He graduated from the University of Illinois in 1896. Much of his training was in Chicago under famed architect Lewis Sullivan, father of Sullivanesque architecture, who also trained with Frank Lloyd Wright. In 1904 Steele moved to Sioux City to work for, and later form a partnership with W. W. Beach. Steele designed dozens of homes and buildings, and many of these structures are now listed on the National Register of Historic Places. A few of his designs include the Woodbury County Courthouse, the Willeges building in downtown Sioux City, and several of the city’s Branch Libraries. For a time he lived at 2512 Jackson Street. In 1928 Steele moved to Omaha and died in 1949.

William Steele was the 3rd generation of Prairie School style architecture. It was created by Frank Lloyd Wright, the 2nd generation was Lewis Sullivan who incorporated his own style into it creating Sullivanesque style architecture and from there continued by William L. Steele.

Looking at several fo Steele's buildings it is obvious where he got his influences from.

Here is a brief description of Prairie Style architecture:
Prairie Style (1900 – 1920)
• Low, long appearance
• Low-pitched roof, gently sloping
• Widley overhanging eaves
• Often massive square porch supports
Foursquare (a sub category)
• Simple square or rectangular plan
• Low pitched roof symmetrical façade
• Entrance may be centered or off-centered
• Front porch usually extends full length of house

This post is a first in the series about William Labarth Steele designed buildings in the Sioux City area. Next will be buildings I had already posted about that were designed by Steele, starting with commercial buildings, then churches and finally houses. I have also been doing research on the other buildings Steele designed and will post about the commercial buildings first, then churches and finally houses. There will also be a post about the buildings he designed that are no longer standing. Please note not all of these buildings were soley designed by William L. Steele, some of them he helped and others he was given credit for because he had the highest influence on the design. Such info. will be posted as it becomes known to me during my research.

I think it is safe to say while men like Jon Cook founded Sioux City and men like John Peirce and William Gordon helped promote Sioux City it was men like William Labarth Steele who helped design and build Sioux City.

Thank you for reading and please enjoy this next series of Sioux City History and Culture by Bicycle.

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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Sioux City History & Culture Part 35: Sioux City Terra Cotta 6th St.

Similar to 5th St, 6th St. also has only 2 buildings listed in the book Breaking the Mold, Sioux City Terra Cotta. They are the Davidson Building & the Warrior Hotel.

The Davidson Building, located at 505 6th St was built in 1913. It was designed by WIlliam L. Steele, architect & is the finest example of Sullivanesque in Sioux City. The building was built by Ben and Dave Davidson & was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1999.
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The Warrior Hotel is located at 521 6th St. It opened in 1931 & was originally called Fontanelle. It is a fine example of mid rise Art Deco. The Warrior Hotel was designed by nationally known architect Alonzo Gentry. from Kansas City. The building was added to the National Registry of Historic Places in 1985.
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