National Register of Historic Places

Baker-DeVotie-Hollingsworth Block (Boundary Increase)

Des Moines, Polk County, Iowa
Listed
January 10, 2008
Type
Building
Period
Industrial
Ref No.
07001358

About this property

The Baker-Devotie-Hollingsworth Block is a historic building located in the East Village of Des Moines, Iowa, United States. The eastern two-thirds of the block was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1978 as the Studio Building. The western one-third was added to the National Register in 2008, and its name was changed at that time. In 2019 the entire building was included as a contributing property in the East Des Moines Commercial Historic District. The eastern two commercial blocks were built by Duane DeVotie and George R. Baker. Baker opened his grocery store in the commercial space of at least the corner block, but it probably took up both. DeVotie, who owned the land the building was constructed on, built the third commercial block in 1883 at the same time as the Hollingsworth Brothers Block to the west was built. The buildings housed a variety of business over the years. At the end of the 19th century, it housed drug and grocery stores. After that, it housed funeral parlors and furniture stores. The Spring Hub Bicycle Manufacturing Company occupied the western storefronts from 1912 to 1967. It was the only Des Moines company that manufactured bicycles. The upper floor of the corner block housed professional offices, and apartments were located on the upper floor of the Devotie Block. In 1922 the exterior was faced with cement and scored to look like stone. It was at this time that the original window hoods were lost. Restoration to its original appearance began in 1976. The building is currently home to office and residential space.

Location

516-526 E Grand Ave.
Des Moines, Polk County, Iowa
41.59260, -93.11874

Categories

ARCHITECTURE
National Register nomination ›
Sources

Property data from the National Register of Historic Places, National Park Service (public domain).

Description adapted from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.

Unlimited access

Everything a full report reveals about Baker-DeVotie-Hollingsworth Block (Boundary Increase)

This page lists Baker-DeVotie-Hollingsworth Block (Boundary Increase). A full Aubrey report for an address near it pulls together this listing alongside battlefield records, land patents, and every other historical record within a chosen radius:

Overview
An interactive map of the location with historic sites, battles and Native heritage plotted, and its full story era by era.
The Land
The historic sites and place names around the location, and how this land was settled and used.
Geology
The bedrock beneath the site, its age and rock type, reaching back millions of years.
LiDAR Terrain
Laser-scanned terrain that reveals earthworks and old features hidden in the landscape.
Conflict & War
The battles, raids and skirmishes fought near here, across every era of American conflict.
The Civil War
The Civil War on this ground, 1861 to 1865: who held it, and the battles, camps and regiments nearby.
The Soldiers
The men who marched from here in the Civil War, named and traced where the record allows.
Native Heritage
The Native nations who held this land, mapped across time from before European contact to today.
Settlement
Who claimed and held this ground, from Indigenous homelands through the colonial powers to the United States.
The Community
How the town grew, who came, and what kind of place it became, traced through the census record.
Rivers & Rail
The rivers, canals and railroads that connected this place between 1830 and 1911.
Notable People
The people born, buried or genuinely tied to this exact place, with their stories.
Historical Maps
Historic maps of the location layered over how it looks today.
Finds & Access
Museum objects tied to the area, and the laws on searching, collecting and access here.
Literature
The old books, county histories and archives that mention this place, quoted with their sources.
Spotlight
A deep dive into the most remarkable, lesser-known history of the place, traced back to the record.
Points of Interest
The most significant historic sites and landmarks near the location, and why they matter.
Timeline
The whole story of the location told era by era, from first peoples to the present day.
First month just $5.99, then $11.99 a month. Unlimited locations, cancel anytime.

Every location is different. Not every section appears for every place, only what the historical record actually holds turns up in a report.

Start your Baker-DeVotie-Hollingsworth Block (Boundary Increase) report
Or see a real report first

Nearby Historic Sites

Elliott Furniture Company
Industrial
0.3 mi
Long, J. G. and Regina, House
Industrial
4.8 mi
Red Bridge
Industrial
6.2 mi
Fred Maytag Park Historic District
Listed
7.5 mi
First Avenue West Historic District
Listed
8 mi

Questions about this property

When was Baker-DeVotie-Hollingsworth Block (Boundary Increase) listed on the National Register?

Baker-DeVotie-Hollingsworth Block (Boundary Increase) was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on January 10, 2008.

What type of historic resource is Baker-DeVotie-Hollingsworth Block (Boundary Increase)?

Baker-DeVotie-Hollingsworth Block (Boundary Increase) is classified as a building in the National Register of Historic Places.

What is the period of significance for Baker-DeVotie-Hollingsworth Block (Boundary Increase)?

The period of significance for Baker-DeVotie-Hollingsworth Block (Boundary Increase) is recorded as the industrial era.

Can I research the history near Baker-DeVotie-Hollingsworth Block (Boundary Increase)?

Yes. Aubrey Research reports search National Register listings, battlefield records, land patents, and other primary historical sources within any radius of a US address. A report for an address near Baker-DeVotie-Hollingsworth Block (Boundary Increase) will include this listing and all other historical records in the area.

More in Polk County

Historic places, battles, and census history across Polk County.

Explore PolkCounty ›

More historic places in Iowa

Browse all historic places in Iowa.

View Iowahistoric sites ›

Conflict records

Explore 19,000+ military engagements across American history.

Browse US conflicts ›

Iowa history

Colonial settlement, territorial period, and statehood narrative.

Iowahistory ›

Research the history near this site

An Aubrey US report for an address near Baker-DeVotie-Hollingsworth Block (Boundary Increase) will include this listing alongside battlefield records and other historical sources within your chosen radius.

Research your locationView a free sample report