NOVELTY IRON WORKS

Advertisement for the Novelty Iron Works circa 1883. Photo courtesy: William K. Hammel

Historic poster of the company. Photo courtesy: Bob Reding

NOVELTY IRON WORKS. Succeeding J. L. DICKINSON & CO., the Novelty Iron Works occupied an area bounded by 10th and 11th STREETS east of Washington Street. The company was incorporated on December 23, 1875. (1)

Novelty Iron began business on January 1, 1876 with a capital of $60,000 and officers including C.S. Burt, president; George O. Cowles, secretary and treasurer; and J.L. DICKINSON, superintendent. (2) The usual workforce of fifty men produced machinery for flour mills, saw mills, steam engines, water wheels, and well-drilling machines. Shipments reached as far west as California. Monthly payrolls in 1880 reached $1,800.

The Novelty Iron Works building was once part of the CARADCO and then the headquarters of EAGLE WINDOW AND DOOR. In 2005 developer Bob Johnson purchased the building assisted with the city's development plans as part of the MILLWORK DISTRICT REVITALIZATION. Repeating the theme of the Caradco Building, the Novelty Iron Works building was planned as a mixed-use commercial and residential center. The first phase of development planned for completion in the fall of 2013 was the construction of 76 apartments units and about half of the commercial space. The Gym was the building's first commercial tenant. Nearly all of the Novelty Iron Works apartments were scheduled to be market-rate with one, two or three-bedroom units available.

Novelty Iron Works was the second major residential rehab project in the Millwork District following Caradco Lofts located in the Schmid Innovation Center which opened to renters in 2012. In May 28, 2015, the renovated Novelty Iron Works celebrated its grand opening. Once completed, the building was scheduled to offer 99 rental units and retail space for more than a dozen business tenants. At the time of the grand opening, construction crews had completed seventy-five units. Approximately 65% of these units had been leased and nearly 40 of the units were occupied. The second phase of the project was construction of 23 additional rental units and the installation of retail space. (3)

In 2010 the Restoration Warehouse sign still advertised its location on the first and second floors of the former Novelty Iron Works building.

Renovation of the Novelty Iron Works building is shown with the windows in 2010.

In August, 2010 work was just beginning on units which were eventually planned to include apartments, condos, and lofts built around a central courtyard.

Portable hitching post weighing several pounds. Photo courtesy: Jim Massey

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Source:

1. "Novelty Iron Works," Dubuque Herald, December 25, 1875, p. 4. Online: https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=uh8FjILnQOkC&dat=18751225&printsec=frontpage&hl=en

2. Ibid.

3. Montgomery, Jeff. "Novelty Iron Works 'Great Amenity' for Millwork District," Telegraph Herald, May 29, 2015, p. 5A