Des Moines Saddlery Company Building

The Des Moines Saddlery Company Building is an historic building located in downtown Des Moines, Iowa, United States. It was built in 1881 by J. Rubelman of Muscatine, Iowa.[2] He choose to move his operation to Des Moines because of its location on two rivers and the 13 railroads that served the city. It was one of four saddlery firms in a two block area.[3] Rubelman's company made saddles, harnesses and leather works for 20 years. In the years since it has housed a shoe maker, rubber company, stove manufacturer, glove company, the Krispy Kone Company and the Kaplan Hat Company. The later was also the name of the restaurant that was located on the first floor.

Des Moines Saddlery Company Building
U.S. National Register of Historic Places
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Location	307-311 Court Ave. Des Moines, Iowa
Coordinates	41°35′7″N 93°37′15″W
Area	less than one acre
Built	c. 1878, 1887, 1901, 1920
Architectural style	Italianate
MPS	Architectural Legacy of Proudfoot & Bird in Iowa MPS
NRHP reference No.	85001378[1]
Added to NRHP	June 27, 1985

The building, which was built in four phases between c. 1878 to 1920, is the most intact example of commercial Italianate architecture extant in Des Moines.[3] It was built to house both retail and manufacturing purposes. The building was flooded with 19 feet (6 m) of water during the Des Moines River flood of 1993.[2] It remained empty until the Court Avenue Restaurant & Brewing Company moved in with its equipment. The Des Moines Saddlery Company Building was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1985.[1]

References

1. "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service. March 13, 2009.
2. "About CABCo". Court Avenue Brewing Company. Retrieved 2012-02-26.
3. James E. Jacobsen. "Des Moines Saddlery Company Building". National Park Service. Retrieved 2017-10-08. with photo(s)