National Register of Historic Places

Red Ball Garage

Swedesburg, Henry County, Iowa
Listed
July 14, 1999
Type
Building
Period
Industrial
Ref No.
99000826

About this property

The Red Ball Garage, also known as the Ed Neil Garage, is a historic building located in Swedesburg, Iowa, United States. The building is located along what was known as the Military Road. Because of the marshy land in the area, wagons and buggies had to be pulled out of the mud. In 1913 the road became a part of the Red Ball Route, a highway that linked the Minneapolis/St. Paul area with St. Louis. It received its name from the highway signs used to mark the route. The highway was paved from 1929 to 1930, and later became U.S. Route 218 until it was moved to the east as a four lane-highway in the 1990s. This property has been the location of vehicle-oriented businesses since 1870 when a blacksmith shop opened there. It was followed by a blacksmith and wagon-making business. As automobiles started to replace wagons the blacksmith shop was replaced by a garage. This single-story, brick building was built in 1929, replacing the original wood garage. It was remodeled in 1944 to include a Studebaker dealership. The dealership was closed in 1966 when Ed Neil bought the business. It continued to house a garage and small motor repair shop until 1998. The Swedish Heritage Museum acquired the building that year, and it was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1999.

Location

1901 140th St.
Swedesburg, Henry County, Iowa
41.10472, -91.54417

Categories

TRANSPORTATIONARCHITECTURE
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.

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Native Heritage
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Nearby Historic Sites

Hult, Charles E., House, Summer Kitchen and Wood Shed
Industrial
0 mi
Swedesburg Historic Commercial District
Listed
0 mi
Swedish Evangelical Lutheran Church
Industrial
0.1 mi
Hultquist, John, House
Industrial
0.2 mi
Hulme, Samuel and Sarah, House
Industrial
5.3 mi

Questions about this property

When was Red Ball Garage listed on the National Register?

Red Ball Garage was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on July 14, 1999.

What type of historic resource is Red Ball Garage?

Red Ball Garage is classified as a building in the National Register of Historic Places.

What is the period of significance for Red Ball Garage?

The period of significance for Red Ball Garage is recorded as the industrial era.

Can I research the history near Red Ball Garage?

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 Red Ball Garage will include this listing and all other historical records in the area.

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