As part of the weekend of festivities surrounding the launch of my new book, Beloved Burlington: Featuring businesses you knew and loved!, several Burlington artists got into the spirit by painting photos of some of these historic businesses.
“A Little Bit of Gold in Burlington” shows the 400 block of Jefferson Street with the iconic Paule Jewelry clock.
This painting by Margaret Ertz shows Sutter Drug in the 1930s.
My good friend Jill Arnone saw the painting and purchased it for me. I proudly have it displayed in my home in Rochester, N.Y.
J.S. Schramm Co. by Rebecca Matthews
Forward almost four years later, and as I’m thinking about how to celebrate my book launch in Burlington, I wondered if any artists would be interested in painting some of the businesses included in Beloved Burlington.
“Arion at Midnight” by Susan Reinier
I was already in conversation with Tammy McCoy, executive director of the Art Center, about having a reception there, as a way to honor all the local entrepreneurs and their families included in the book. Tammy loved the idea of seeing if any artists wanted to participate, and Art Center Communications Director Hillaurie Fritz-Bonar put out the word. Soon I was getting email from artists asking me if I could email them some photos of various businesses.
Witte Drug Store by Jessica Kirby
I was bowled over by what these artists created. Their beautiful artwork was displayed at the reception and through the month of December. (Sorry I was too busy to get around to posting a blog before the exhibit came down. Some of these artworks may still be available for sale, and you can contact the Art Center at 319-754-8069 to put you in touch with the artist.)
James Love’s Book Store (predecessor to Gnahn’s) by Cathryn Layer
A big thank you to Cathryn Layer for taking most of these photos for this blog. Scroll down and enjoy the rest of the art!
Craig Harms used a Polaroid camera to create this photo graphic collage of the Arion restaurant, and I love how he displayed it with the camera and collage of advertisements. The Typewriter Shop by Cathryn Layer.Paule’s Clock by Susan ReinierI’m holding a painting of Sutter Drug by Rebecca Matthews. My sister, Tracey Sutter Swaine, purchased it.Here are the paintings displayed at the Art Center after the reception.About 70 people, many of which were family members affiliated with the businesses, turned out for the reception at the Art Center of Burlington.
Chris Murphy and author Jane Sutter Brandt with Jane’s new book: “Beloved Burlington: Featuring businesses you knew and loved!”
I’m thrilled to announce that Burlington By The Book is the official mail-order vendor for my two books: Beloved Burlington: Featuring businesses you knew and loved! and Sutter’s Sodas Satisfy: A memoir of 90 years of Sutter Drug Co.
Chris Murphy is the owner of Burlington By The Book, a gem of a store in downtown Burlington, Iowa. Chris has been an enthusiastic supporter and adviser to me ever since I walked into his independent book store in August 2014 and I told him I was in the process of writing a book about my family’s drug store. He loved the idea, and he immediately offered to host a book signing once the book was complete.
As they say, the rest is history, and given that the bulk of my book sales are from patrons at his store, I am excited that he has agreed to handle the mail orders. Fittingly, Burlington By The Book, at 300 Jefferson, is directly opposite the location of the Sutter Drug flagship store that was located for more than 50 years in the Tama Building.
I’m bullish on small businesses, and I do not sell my books on Amazon or any other website. Shop local, please!
Each book is $19.99 plus tax and shipping costs. To place an order, call Burlington By The Book at 319-753-9981. Their business hours are (central time zone):
Sunday – 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Monday – 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Tuesday – 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Wednesday – 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Thursday – 9 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Friday – 9 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Saturday – 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Burlington By The Book is much more than a book store. Chris has many Burlington-related items, along with children’s toys. All of these make great gifts! And he can order any book that you want and ship it to you, too.
With Christmas coming soon, don’t delay in ordering your books to get them in time for gift giving. And thank you in advance for your order!
J.S. Schramm Co., with its “Four Big Floors of Fashion,” was an exciting place to shop. (Photo courtesy of John Randolph)
I’m excited to announce officially that I’ve written a new book, and it will debut in November.
Beloved Burlington: Featuring businesses you knew and loved! will strike the nostalgia chord with those of us Baby Boomers (and older!) who grew up in Burlington, Iowa.
Did you buy your first pair of bell-bottoms in Schramm’s Stage III? Did you get your first classic suit from Riepe-Peterson? After high school football games, did you and your friends gorge on cheesy pizza at the Arion? When class got out at Oak Street Junior High, did you run across the street to Heinie’s for a hot dog and a Coke?
Beloved Burlingtonwill spark your memories of these and other favorite businesses: Apothecary 24, Brinck’s, Camera Land, Gnahn’s Book and Stationery Store, Paule Jewelry, The Typewriter Shop, Twin Oaks Drive-In, and Witte Drug Co.
The book features 11 chapters and more than 100 historical photos. I owe an immense amount of gratitude to the families that owned and operated these businesses for allowing me to interview them and borrow their photos. I also received permission to use photos from The Hawk Eye, Downtown Partners of the Greater Burlington Partnership, and the Des Moines County Historical Society.
If you liked my first book, Sutter’s Sodas Satisfy: A Memoir of 90 Years of Sutter Drug Co., I think you’ll enjoy this one, too. I was inspired to write this book because of the positive comments from so many readers, who not only shared their memories of Sutter’s with me, but then proceeded to tell me how they missed the days of shopping and dining at so many other places, too!
I loved going to the Arion with my friends after Notre Dame football and basketball games! (Photo courtesy of Curt and Mike Diewold)
Mark your calendar!
There is an entire weekend of activities planned to celebrate the book in Burlington, and I hope you’ll join me. Here’s the schedule:
Book signing at Burlington By The Book: 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 16. I love this book store!
Beloved Burlington reception at The Art Center of Burlington: 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 16. This reception is to honor all the families of the businesses featured in the book and say “thank you” for how they contributed to the quality of life in our city. The reception is free and open to the public, so I’m hoping that former employees and customers of all these businesses will come, too. Some Burlington artists are creating art works of various business store-fronts, so those will be fun to see.
Talk and book signing at the Heritage Center of the Des Moines County Historical Society: 1:30 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 17. Doors open at 1 p.m. Books will be available for sale there, too, and I’ll be signing them.
I hope you’ll set aside some time the weekend of Nov. 16-17 and come to these events. I look forward to seeing you and hearing your stories, too!
I loved getting a Christmas gift of No. 2 pencils engraved with my name on them. They came from Gnahn’s! (Photo courtesy of Ann Hass)
I vividly remember the first time we met. I got down on my knees to peer into your face as you crouched behind our leather sofa in this strange-to-you house.
Your green eyes met mine, your face a wonderful texture of brown and black and white with long delicate whiskers. Your body was even more beautiful, lovely gray fur, white-as-snow paws, and a big fluffy tail that stood straight up.
I hadn’t wanted another cat. It was too soon after my beloved Murphy had passed. But the voice on the answering machine was insistent. It was Cheryl, Gary’s sister. Her first message told us that her friend, also named Cheryl, had found this Maine coon wandering around Charlotte in the middle of January.
Being a Maine coon, McGee enjoyed the brisk air at times, until he wanted to be let back inside. He’d jump up and let us know by peering in the kitchen window.
Frigid January in Rochester. Who would be so cruel to abandon a pet? For clearly you had been someone’s pet, because your front claws were gone.
The answering machine cut Cheryl off. The second message told us how gorgeous you were, how loving, how you’d be a great pet.
Beep. Another cutoff. The third message was insistent. “You guys, you have to take him! You need to come meet him!”
Who was I to argue? She had found our beloved Murphy. He was a big, male cat, about eight years old back in 1998. Wise, like Old Deuteronomy. The kind of cat that would lounge in a smoking jacket, puffing on a stogie, reciting philosophy, if cats were able to do such things. He was my Momma’s boy, and he had gone to kitty heaven on Christmas Eve at age 15.
I knew Cheryl knew her cats and she knew us. I called her and said, “We’ll take him. Bring him over.”
McGee never met a bed or soft surface that he didn’t like.
Thus McGee, who was named by the Cheryl who found him, came to live at 27 Landsdowne Lane. It seemed fitting that we had another cat with a name from the British Isles.
McGee loved to chat about his day and anything else that was on his mind.
You were a beautiful Maine coon, “the dog lover’s cat,” as one book told me. You were a study in contrasts. Your meow was demanding. “Feed me!” “Let me out!” “Make room for me on your lap!” You’d come inside and launch into a monologue about your day. I was clueless as to what you were telling me, but it was important to you, judging by your tone.
McGee liked to read my writing and offer his editorial comments.
But you could also be incredibly affectionate, rubbing against our legs. Even when you were loving, you were demanding. You’d startle the heck out of me, jumping from behind into my lap as I typed at my computer. But you weren’t content to just cuddle there. No, you had to put your paws on the keyboard, insisting that you be allowed to edit me, your paws pressing on keys and wreaking havoc on my prose. Occasionally I would ban you to the downstairs. “McGee, I have to get some work done!”
One of McGee’s favorite spots, my office window, where he would chatter at the birds.
In the summer, you spent hours lounging in the nearby open window chattering away at the birds that flew to and from the dogwood tree. I loved your companionship then, when it meant I could work unimpeded.
You had incredible wanderlust, especially in your younger days, roaming the Landsdowne neighborhood. You escaped the foxes and coyotes in the dark of night, and you survived a few tussles with other neighborhood cats. A couple of times you disappeared for a few days. Gary and I wondered if this was it, if we’d ever see you again. Our hearts were heavy.
Then miraculously you re-appeared, a little worse for wear. I swore you would remain under house arrest but I always relented. I couldn’t win against the call of the wild.
You were able to leap tall buildings in a single bound! We’re still not quite sure how you got onto the small porch roof outside our bedroom window that summer night years ago. At bedtime, you appeared outside the screen, meowing, “Let me in!”
“Did you hear that? Is that McGee? How did you get up on the roof?”
Gary lifted out the screen and you leaped into our bedroom. You never repeated that trick, apparently once was enough for that tomfoolery.
McGee patrols the front yard, keeping our home safe. No need for a security system!
As you got older, you stuck closer to home. You would sit like a sentry on the front stoop, disdainfully observing the neighborhood dogs being led dutifully by their mistresses and masters. No leash for you!
Peek-a-boo! I see you, McGee!
The backyard was your kingdom. Lush and green, with lots of hiding places. But you often emerged to say hello when Gary and I were planting vegetables or raking up all those leaves. We called you “the foreman” as you loved to supervise. You never picked up a trowel or a rake to help!
Your favorite spot in recent years was the bench that Gary built next to the patio. From there, you could observe us in the kitchen, as you sprawled king-like in all your majesty. Or you could peer out into the yard, ever vigilant. You loved to spy on the Welts next-door, peering through the shrubs to see what Misty, Susie’s beloved lab, was up to.
The patio bench that Gary built became McGee’s favorite spot for a snooze in the sun.
We’d wake up these summer mornings, and you’d be sitting on the patio table, meowing loudly. No need for a rooster when we had McGee!
Gary and McGee enjoyed a good game of soccer now and then.
Winter nights, you would saunter into the family room, and come to the side of the couch where I sat. You’d put your two front paws up on the seat, stare intently to make sure the coast was clear, then jump into my lap. Sometimes you’d settle down, but often my lap was not enough. You’d wander toward Gary to check out his lap only to be rebuffed and pushed back to my side. But I know when I wasn’t around, you were allowed to lay next to him, but not too close. (Except for the time when I caught both of you snoozing on the couch and you had crept onto his lap!)
McGee basks in the winter sunlight on the kitchen floor.
The rain falls gently this morning but I don’t have to worry if you have been smart enough to hide somewhere dry. You chose to leave us where you loved to live, in the garden, close to the house where you could hear us, but hidden away in your lush green world.
Here’s how I’ll remember you. Striding through the back yard, patrolling the grounds, king of 27 Landsdowne. Strong in spirit, gentle in love.
Fare thee well, dear McGee.
McGee:
Born circa February 2004. Died June 24, 2019. Lived with Gary and Jane from February 2005 until his passing.
Our family in 1976. Drew, Dad, Mom, Tracey and me at our home at 912 N. Seventh St., Burlington, Iowa.
A year ago, I was fortunate to spend Mother’s Day with my mother in Burlington, Iowa, at the facility where she was living at the time. I remember we had a delicious dinner of fried chicken, mashed potatoes and gravy, vegetables and dessert.
This year, she’s celebrating Mother’s Day with her own mother in heaven, along with two sisters and four brothers. In advance of her funeral, I wrote up this bio of my mother for Father Marty Goetz. To my delight, he used some of the anecdotes in his homily at her funeral at our home parish of St. Paul’s.
Here ‘s what I wrote, along with some photos, for your enjoyment:
Barbara Louden Sutter grew up on a farm near Terre Haute, Illinois, the second oldest of eight children.
My mother’s parents, Ben and Ruth Louden, on their farm outside LaHarpe, Ill., in 1959.
When her older sister, Elizabeth, started school in the one-room schoolhouse, she would come home and teach Barbara everything she had learned. When Barbara started school, she immediately skipped a grade!
Barbara’s introduction to Christianity began at a young age, when her father took her and her siblings every week to Sunday school at a Christian church.
After graduating from Terre Haute High School, where she was class president, Barbara moved to Burlington to attend the Burlington College of Commerce, following in the footsteps of Elizabeth, who had done the same.
When Barbara became engaged to Joe Sutter, in the early 1950s, she converted to Catholicism. They were married on Sept. 27, 1952, at St. John Catholic Church, and then joined St. Paul Catholic Church due to its proximity of their home on Franklin Street and later on North Seventh.
My parents on their wedding day, Sept. 27, 1952, with attendants Harriet Shetler and Pat Curley.
Barbara was instrumental in raising their three children, Tracey, Drew, and Jane in the Catholic faith. When the kids were very young, she taught them to kneel in front of their beds, fold their hands, and say their nightly prayers.
The family attended Mass every Sunday at 10 a.m. at St. Paul’s. Then they would return home and Barbara would make a big breakfast or dinner.
She and Joe enrolled them in St. Paul Grade School, and Barbara made sure they left the house early to get to Mass every day prior to the start of classes. The family observed all the holy days. Having to abstain from meat on Fridays during Lent wasn’t really a hardship, as Barbara used to make delicious dinners of fried oysters or shrimp, French fries and onion rings. This was long before anyone worried about cholesterol and saturated fats!
My dad, Joe Sutter, a pharmacist at Sutter Drug Co. at the flagship store at Third and Jefferson streets.
Because Joe was busy running Sutter Drug Store, Barbara was in charge of the household and instilled strong values in the children. She had many sayings that she repeated as a way to teach her kids, such as:
“If you can’t say something nice about someone, don’t say anything at all.” She would not tolerate hearing gossip from the kids about their schoolmates.
“If you don’t like someone, just ignore them.”
One of Jane’s favorites is: “Jane, the boys wouldn’t tease you if they didn’t like you.”
Tracey, Drew, Barbara and Jane in 1959.
Barbara also passed on her love of good books to her kids, a trait she picked up from her own parents. She took the kids to the public library frequently until they were old enough to go there on their own.
Barbara volunteered at the church and the school, including Notre Dame when the kids went there for high school. Well into her 80s, Barbara was washing and ironing the altar cloths every week for St. Paul Church.
Barbara wasn’t one to talk a lot about her faith; her actions and demeanor reflected it instead, as she volunteered at the Welcome Center at the Port of Burlington Building and did service projects as a member of TTT. Recently, when daughter Jane was visiting, she found in Barbara’s home the prayer missals that she and Joe used back in the ‘50s and ‘60s, along with their rosaries and other religious medals.
Joe and Barbara on a golf date in 1951.
Barbara and Joe set a good example for their children of what a loving marriage looked like. They enjoyed spending time together, especially golfing. Joe was an avid golfer when he met Barbara, and she said that he told her, “You need to learn to play golf, otherwise you are going to be sitting home a lot!” She did, and for many years, they played couples golf every Friday night and Sunday afternoon at the Burlington Golf Club. She also played in the Thursday morning women’s league. Their children all took golf lessons, too, so they could play as a family.
When Barbara was 60 years old, she decided she’d had enough of the frustration of golf, and she turned to tennis. She enjoyed playing ladies doubles until age 80, including playing with her young granddaughter, Megan, when she and Joe spent winters in Florida.
My sister, Tracey, and I visited Mom at Christmas time this past December.
Barbara was fiercely independent. After Joe passed in March 2013, she lived on her own until November 2017, when her hip broke. Although her body and mind slowly gave out, on her good days, she enjoyed living at Bickford Assisted Living, listening to the musical acts, making crafts, and playing trivia.
Suann Wells, center, is the owner of the Beancounter Coffeehouse and Drinkery at 212 Jefferson St. in downtown Burlington, Iowa.
Good news for downtown Burlington. Iowa. Some state agencies have given approval for the demolition of the fire-ravaged Historic Tama Complex, but how to bring down the building safely remains a concern. This article in The Hawk Eye gives the details so I won’t repeat those here.
The bad news for downtown merchants, however, is that the fencing around the area has to expand, limiting parking on Jefferson and Third again. (Third Street had re-opened in mid-December but part of Jefferson was still blocked.) I guess the best way to view it is that there has to be pain in order to get some gain. Let’s just hope the building can be brought down safely.
In the meantime, after publishing a blogin which Chris Murphy, owner of Burlington By The Book, had expressed his frustration with the effect the fire aftermath had on his business and others, I reached out to Suann Wells, owner of The Beancounter Coffeehouse and Drinkery at 212 Jefferson St. for her perspective.
Although the 200 block of Jefferson Street has not been blocked off, the Beancounter has felt the effects of fewer people coming downtown due to parking issues.
Here’s what Suann wrote to me:
“Similar to Burlington By The Book, we had experienced a great summer of business prior to the Tama fire. We felt like we were starting to gain some great traction, and we were finding ourselves more and more excited and blessed to be a part of downtown Burlington.
“My husband, Gary, and I love the history Burlington has to offer (we live in a home built in 1868 and moved here to purchase a business which had been in business since 1866). Burlington, especially downtown Burlington, is full of magnificent architecture and history.
“When the fire happened, it changed things for us instantly. We obviously weren’t as effected as those businesses on the 300 block of Jefferson but basically we were cut off and still continue to be cut off from the rest of Jefferson Street. We have rallied with those businesses and other businesses downtown and have felt a great support. Downtown is full of small business owners, building owners, long-time residents, etc., who want to see the entire downtown succeed and we’ve felt this support daily. For this we are very appreciative.
“This fire has pushed me to get active in our city council meetings. I’m embarrassed to say I hadn’t previously been involved in anyway and really didn’t know how things worked. It’s been an educational experience for me to say the least and has taught me the importance of local government and having a connection to the people involved. I’ve met the members of the current city council and the mayor of Burlington and have appreciated their time spent hearing my voice.
“If I had to express my disappointment in one aspect, it would be in what I consider a lack of proactive communication with the effected parties and the public in general. When I reach out to the city council, I always receive a response. Always. And usually by more than one member. However, I feel if this communication came in a more regular update, be it from the city or from Mr. Doug Wells, people (myself included) would be much more positive about how things are progressing.
This December 2018 photo shows the pallets of bricks in front of the Tama Complex.
“For example, recently, several pallets of bricks being preserved were removed from the Tama property. It appears it took an entire week to move a few pallets. That appears disappointing and ridiculous to have taken that long for that task.
“But, I also know sometimes more is going on behind the scenes which isn’t always known to the people watching. If the city or Mr. Wells would put out regular or weekly updates as to the progress and what is happening, I feel like more positive and supportive responses would take place.
“When we don’t know what is happening, when it appears things are at a standstill, people many times assume the worst. Whereas, if we knew what obstacles are happening or what direction progress is heading, I believe human nature would allow for more support.
“We all know this is a HUGE undertaking and trying to preserve part of the rubble cannot be easy, but talk to us about that, keep us interested in what is happening, and we will all cheer the progress on to its fruition.
“I mourn the loss of a beautiful piece of the Burlington skyline and the exciting changes it would have brought but my hope is for something great to be placed in this spot for future generations to live, shop, work, and love. I have hope!”
I agree with Suann; weekly updates from the city (council or manager) and/or architect/owner Doug Wellswould be a terrific way to keep merchants and citizens informed, and give hope that things are progressing.
In the meantime, if you’re in Burlington or when you are, be sure to head downtown for your shopping and dining! The Beancounter is a wonderful spot in downtown, with plenty of drink options and good food, too. Say hello to Suann as I know she’d love to meet you!
Burlington By the Book owner Chris Murphy keeps a sense of humor about the Jefferson Street blockage by decorating the chain-link fence opposite his storefront.
Who could have foreseen that major casualties of the massive Tama fire would be other businesses in downtown Burlington, Iowa?
I didn’t. Yes, when I woke up on Sunday morning, Aug. 5, 2018 and saw the text messages and photos of the fire, I felt shock and sadness. Because my family owned Sutter Drug, which had occupied various storefronts in that building from 1903 to 1981, I feel a special bond with the Tama Building.
But five months later, it’s clear that the fire has not only set back the future of that corner of Jefferson and Third, but also it’s been a huge setback for some of the nearby businesses.
Take one of my favorites, Burlington By The Book. For months now, the street in front of Chris Murphy’s store at 301 Jefferson, next to the Art Center of Burlington, has been blocked off. A large portion of Third Street also was blocked off until about two weeks before Christmas, Chris told me.
“The year was going fairly well up until the fire,” Chris told me via Facebook Messenger. “Everyone was looking forward to the additional businesses in the downtown area. Sales were very optimistic leading into summer and then it happened. Not only the loss of a historical building, but the entire corner was blocked off to traffic and our visibility just tanked.
“Business dropped drastically due to the slow pace of the official investigations and the time for decision-making was taking. It is almost soul-crushing.”
Those words, “soul-crushing,” just broke my heart. I met Chris when I was writing Sutter’s Sodas Satisfy. He agreed to sell my book in his store, and I was excited when he invited me to have a book signing there. He did a great job promoting the book and the signing, resulting in a sell-out that day. Since then, he’s continued to sell the book and many other books by authors with ties to Burlington or the region.
Chris Murphy, owner of Burlington By The Book, and me after my book signing. Chris’s business is very important to authors and readers.
So you see, Chris’s store is important to authors and readers, especially in an age when too many readers are buying their books online. Opening up Third Street did help a little with business, Chris told me, but he still looks out on a closed Jefferson Street. As of last week, Chris said he’d seen a truck cart off a lot of the piles of bricks that were on Jefferson and also fixtures, apparently in the hopes they can be salvaged.
This December 2018 photo shows the pallets of bricks in front of the Tama Complex.
Post-Christmas is typically a slow time for retail businesses, of course.
“I think I can survive the next year, as long as I don’t over extend,” Chris told me, “but I am worried about a couple of the other businesses. If they close, that means even less draws for folks to come downtown.”
In the meantime, Chris tells me that he and his staff try to stay in good spirits. “Have to keep a sense of humor about it.” And if you know Chris and you follow him and the store on Facebook, you know he has a great sense of humor. He even decorated the chain link fence for Christmas (that’s the view he has from his store’s window), and for the Living Windows, Cody Flietner dressed up as the notorious Cousin Eddie from the movie National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation.
Cody Flietner recreates a scene from National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation next to the fence blocking off the Tama Complex. This was part of the Living Windows display for Burlington By the Book.
I know Chris’s store is not the only business hurting, and if I hear from others, I will blog about those, too. I know that civic dollars are tight, but I can’t help but wonder why the City of Burlington isn’t trying to help these businesses monetarily.
In November, the Tama Complex’s owner and architect Doug Wells announced that he had decided to tear down the entire structure, which was supposed to house apartments on upper floors with retail and a restaurant on the first floor.
There’s been no announcement of what caused the fire, even with a $10,000 reward offered for information. The fire began on the third floor of the Chittenden and Eastman building, part of the Tama Complex.
Wells told the Burlington City Council that in order for him to preserve a $3.2 million historic preservation grant that he received, he has to delay demolition. I’m really glad that Wells does want to incorporate some remnants of the complex into the new construction but let’s get going at a faster pace!
The Tama Building has been unoccupied since a 2010 fire. Let’s hope it won’t be another nine years before we see a grand opening for something, anything, on that site!
Prior to moving to the corner of Jefferson and Third, Sutter Drug was located at 307 N. Third, then 309-311. That portion of the Tama Building has collapsed now after a devastating fire in August 2018. This photo shows the Third Street view.
Doug Wells, the Des Moines architect who owns the Tama Building in Burlington, Iowa, estimates the rebuild from the fire in the Historic Tama Complex will be completed in spring 2020.
I won’t hold my breath that it can be done that quickly, as the project, up until the horrible fire in August, had been undergoing renovation for several years. Still, I’m excited that Wells says he is going to rebuild as this building has so much of my family and Sutter Drug Company history tied up in it.
In this recent story in The Hawk Eye, Wells said he was still waiting for the insurance investigators to release the building to him. Grinnell Mutual Insurance Co. and at least one other insurer are involved, and Grinnell has offered a $10,000 reward for information to assist in identifying the cause.
Other highlights from that story:
Wells doesn’t plan to tear down what remains standing and will rebuild according to his original plans.
Many people wondered why the sprinkler system hadn’t been activated, but Wells said that they typically aren’t until work is mostly complete. He may do that it differently the next time around, he said. Seems to me that would make a lot of sense!
The support he’s getting from the community, Burlington city government and Burlington Downtown Partners is spurring Wells on. “They’re all maintaining contact with me on the project, and they’re wanting to offer me any support or help any way they can, and that’s a lot of what makes us want to rebuild,” he told The Hawk Eye.
In the meantime, life goes on, and the downtown merchants of Burlington need support. If you live in Burlington or are back visiting (as I will be doing in November), please take time to go downtown. Shop, eat, drink and check out things to do by clicking here. The merchants will be happy to see you and you’ll have a great time.
I’m committed to sharing the latest news about the Tama Building to keep readers up to date. If you don’t want to miss a post, you can receive posts quickly via email. Please scroll to the bottom of this web page and fill in your email address and submit it. I will not share your email address with others.
The front of the Tama Building on Jefferson Street after the 2018 fire.
There’s good news for those of us wanting to see the Tama Building rise from the ashes after the devastating fire that occurred on Aug. 4, 2018.
The Hawk Eye reported that Eric Tysland, community development and parks director for the city of Burlington, said that Tama Building owner, architect Doug Wells of Des Moines, wants to rebuild on the site.
While the fire is still under investigation, the property was schedule to be released back to Wells by the end of the day of Sept. 14. The Hawk Eye reported that structural engineers will now be able to evaluate the building, and that in turn will impact the decision to move back fences to open up parts of Jefferson and Third streets.
The front view of the Chittenden and Eastman Building, part of the Historic Tama Complex, remains blocked off on Jefferson Street.
Having those streets blocked has had a negative impact on downtown business owners, taking up vital parking spots, and I imagine just scaring people from coming downtown. Of course, we don’t want there to be any danger to citizens in case part of the damaged structure would fall into the street.
The Historic Tama complex (consisting of the Tama Building and the Chittenden and Eastman Building) was on the verge of opening both for retail and apartments this fall, and it was going to be such a huge boon to the downtown. Now it’s been a terrible setback to downtown development. According to The Hawk Eye, insurance company Grinnell Mutual is offering a $10,000 rewardfor information that could help solve the mystery of what started the fire.
I hope and pray that the front structure of the Tama Building, with all its architectural significance, can be saved. If not, I hope Wells will design another building that is reminiscent of the current structure.
I’m committed to sharing the latest news about the Tama Building to keep readers up to date. If you don’t want to miss a post, you can receive posts quickly via email. Please scroll to the bottom of this web page and fill in your email address and submit it. I will not share your email address with others.
As my husband, Gary, and I were driving across the Great River Bridge into Burlington, Iowa in the early evening on Aug. 14, we could see the damaged roof from the massive fire at the Tama Building (Historic Tama Complex).
You could see a crumpled roof and black outline. We crossed the bridge and turned down Main, then took a right onto Jefferson and drove up to the corner at Third Street. We saw windows blown out of the building, debris in the street, and fencing that prevented accessing the street at the corner.
The front of the Tama Building on Jefferson Street after the 2018 fire.
We quickly parked on Third Street in front of the Capitol Theatre, got out and walked to the corner, just taking the scene in.
Sutter Drug was located in the Tama Building at the corner of Third and Jefferson from 1930-81. At left was the entrance.
Prior to moving to the corner, Sutter Drug was located at 307 N. Third, then 309-311. That portion of the Tama Building has collapsed now.
Snapping photos, we walked north up Third Street until we stood across from a huge pile of rubble, where the back half of the building had collapsed.
This is the view of what remains of the back side of the Chittenden and Eastman building, part of the Historic Tama Complex. Note the staircase that looked new.
We walked through the drive-through of the Great Western Bank, to see the back of the Tama Building and the Chittenden and Eastman Building, the two that have been called the Historic Tama Complex as it was being developed into apartments and businesses. More big piles of rubble, windows blown out, looking like a bomb had gone off to my amateur eyes.
View from Washington Street; to the left is what remains of the Chittenden and Eastman Building, part of the Historic Tama Complex renovation.
Although I had seen many photos from the Hawk Eye and Facebook, I had to see it in person just to grasp the enormity of the damage.
Two days later, my sister, Tracey, and I drove downtown to pay a visit to Burlington By the Book, which sits directly across from the Tama Building on Jefferson. As we stood on Third Street, outside the old Palace Theatre (which is now a church), a man in a hard hat walked by. My sister said, “Our drug store used to be in that building.”
“Oh, yeah?” the man answered. He stopped to chat. Turns out he is the lead fire investigator for the insurer of the building. He’s from near Cincinnati, Ohio. He said he’d probably be in Burlington a few weeks. He told us that he was planning to meet the Historic Tama Complex’s owner, architect Doug Wells, that evening; he said this would be Wells first time to go into the building.
The investigator wouldn’t commit to how long it would take to determine how the fire started. Said he didn’t want to set any expectations. Smart guy.
The front view of the Chittenden and Eastman Building; Olive Wine Barr and Big River Popcorn Co. were planning to relocate there from other locations on Jefferson Street.
There hasn’t been a lot of news this week about the fire. The Hawk Eye reported that some businesses had to be evacuated for about 45 minutes on Thursday, Aug. 16, when investigators hit a gas line. You could read about that here.
If, like me, you’ve been wondering why the sprinkler system wasn’t working, The Hawk Eye quoted the fire marshalsaying the sprinkler system was installed but not operational — there was no water connected. And the alarm system wasn’t fully installed yet either.
If you live in or near Burlington, please come down to Jefferson Street and shop and eat; show your support by spending a few dollars. (The chain stores won’t miss your money, but the local merchants will give you great products and service. They are your friends and neighbors, too.)
Note: A previous version of this blog called the Great River Bridge the MacArthur Bridge. It will always be the MacArthur Bridge to me, but when they tore that one down, the new one was named Great River Bridge. Thanks to Dawid Otto for pointing out my error!
I’m committed to sharing the latest news about the Tama Building to keep readers up to date. If you don’t want to miss a post, you can receive posts quickly via email. Please scroll to the bottom of this web page and fill in your email address and submit it. I will not share your email address with others.
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