National Register of Historic Places

Preston’s Station Historic District

Belle Plaine, Benton County, Iowa
Listed
September 21, 2020
Type
District
Period
Industrial
Ref No.
100005572

About this property

The Preston's Station Historic District is a nationally recognized historic district located in Belle Plaine, Iowa, United States. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2020. The district is composed of three contributing buildings, a gas station, garage, and motel. The gas station was built by Frank Fiene in 1912 at the corner of 7th Avenue and 19th Street. It was moved to its present 4th Avenue location in 1921 to take advantage of the traffic off of the Lincoln Highway when it was rerouted through Belle Plaine. George W. Preston bought the station two years later for $100. The gas station is a single-story wood-frame structure. It had a canopy that extended over the gas pumps, but it was removed prior to 1965. A single-story concrete block garage was built next to the station in 1943. It features a sliding barn door on its main facade. Automobile repairs were performed in the garage before it housed Preston's memorabilia collection, which is now located in the former gas station as well. Antique advertising and highway signs cover the station and the garage. A three-unit motel was added next to the garage sometime before 1949. The gas station remained in operation until 1989.

Location

402 4th Ave.
Belle Plaine, Benton County, Iowa
41.89707, -92.28277

Categories

COMMERCEENTERTAINMENT/RECREATION
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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Overview
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The Land
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Geology
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LiDAR Terrain
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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
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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
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Historical Maps
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Finds & Access
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Literature
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Spotlight
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Points of Interest
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Nearby Historic Sites

Herring Hotel
Industrial
0.3 mi
Sankot Motor Company
Industrial
0.4 mi
Belle Plaine Main Street Historic District
Civil War
0.4 mi
Zalesky, Frank E. and Katie (Cherveny), House
Industrial
0.4 mi
Chambers Ford Bridge
Industrial
2.9 mi

Questions about this property

When was Preston’s Station Historic District listed on the National Register?

Preston’s Station Historic District was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on September 21, 2020.

What type of historic resource is Preston’s Station Historic District?

Preston’s Station Historic District is classified as a district in the National Register of Historic Places.

What is the period of significance for Preston’s Station Historic District?

The period of significance for Preston’s Station Historic District is recorded as the industrial era.

Can I research the history near Preston’s Station Historic District?

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