Central City Commercial Historic District
Central City was established in 1857. East Main Street and North Fourth Street were part of an early overland road system that was an important transportation corridor in Eastern Iowa. It linked the cities of Marion, Manchester, and Dubuque. Early business leaders in the community were successful in getting the Illinois Central Railroad to lay its tracks through town, which were completed in 1887. Two years later the commercial district was destroyed in a fire. Local entrepreneurs rebuilt the area as quickly as possible. Paul Sigmund, a noted local contractor-builder, built a group of buildings after the fire. The buildings are one- and two-stories in height and are of masonry construction, either brick or concrete block. Several buildings are constructed of wood frame. Several architectural styles are featured in the district including Late Victorian, Prairie School, Commercial style, and Art Deco. All of the buildings were constructed for commercial purposes, but a couple of them have been converted for residential use.
References
- ^ "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service. July 9, 2010.
- ^ William C. Page; Leah D. Rogers; Joanne R. Page. "National Register of Historic Places Nomination Form: Central City Commercial Historic District". National Park Service. Retrieved November 5, 2020. with photos