Sioux City History and Culture by Bicycle Part 43: Sioux City Terra Cotta, Historic 4th Street

Historic 4th St. has 3 buildings in the book Breaking the Mold, Sioux City Terra Cotta. They are the Major Block, the Krummann Block and the Plymouth Block. These buildings are also part of the Historic 4th St. Walking Tour. All of the buildings are also on the National Register of Historic Places.

The Major Block, built in 1889 is one of Sioux City's early Richardson Roamnesque structures. Robert Ortel Major, a real estate speculator, constructed this four story building in the midst of the building boom in Sioux City as an investment. The building was designed by Edward W. Loft.
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The Krummann Block is an early example of Richardson Roamnesque architecture. Samuel Krummann came to Sioux City in 1857 and began selling boots. He was also a real estate investor and owned multiple tracts of land throughout Sioux City. He built his new building in 1889 after seeing the expansion in the downtown area take off during the building boom. He hired Charles Porter Brown to design it & hired F.X. Babue to build the structure.
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The Plymouth Block is a very interesting combination of Richardson Roamnesque and Sullivanesque architecture. The massive building was constructed between 1890 and 1891 by the Boston Investment Company. The company was formed in the late 1880's by Sioux City promoters and was composed of ealthy investors from New England and Europe. They helped induce Sioux City's gargantuan economic growth in the late 19th century. Architect Edward W. Loft was hired to design the building. At the time it was Sioux City's largest mrecantile building. Lft dies of turberculosis before the building was finished. His business partner William McLaughlin finished the project as the dreams of the Boston Investment Company were realized.
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