National Register of Historic Places

Jones, G.W., Building

Des Moines, Polk County, Iowa
Listed
June 13, 2016
Type
Building
Period
Industrial
Ref No.
16000364

About this property

The G.W. Jones Building, also known as the Electric Farm Lighting Co. and the Laster Motor Company, is a historic building located in Des Moines, Iowa, United States. It is significant for its association with the rise of the automobile industry in the city. George W. Jones was a pioneering Des Moines auto dealer (Hudson Motor Car Company) and Delco-Light generator distributor who occupied the building from 1920 to 1922. In this building he sold generators and appliances that were manufactured by General Motors, and they were sold by regional distributor-dealers in a similar fashion to automobiles. Jones continued to own the building until 1943 and he leased it to other automobile-related businesses. It is also significant for its association with the prominent Des Moines architectural firm that designed it, Proudfoot, Bird & Rawson. Completed in 1920, it was designed and built within the period of time the firm was at its most prolific (1910-1925). Local contractor A.H. Neumann built the two-story brick structure. It features a symmetrical facade, large square window openings, restrained Neoclassical details, and parapet walls. The building was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2016.

Location

1430 Locust St.
Des Moines, Polk County, Iowa
41.58437, -93.63589

Categories

COMMERCEARCHITECTURE
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.

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Nearby Historic Sites

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Walnut Tire and Battery Co.-Globe Publishing Company Building
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Fitch, F.W., Company Historic District
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0.1 mi

Questions about this property

When was Jones, G.W., Building listed on the National Register?

Jones, G.W., Building was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on June 13, 2016.

What type of historic resource is Jones, G.W., Building?

Jones, G.W., Building is classified as a building in the National Register of Historic Places.

What is the period of significance for Jones, G.W., Building?

The period of significance for Jones, G.W., Building is recorded as the industrial era.

Can I research the history near Jones, G.W., Building?

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