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Structures and Monuments in Which Iowa Stone was Used

  • The Finished Products from Iowa Stone in California
    • Los Angeles, California – the Walt Disney Concert Hall (The link from which the following information was obtained is no longer available.)
      < http://www.weberstone.com/p-disney.html>

      The Hall is under construction and scheduled to open in the fall of 2003. "Thirty-seven semi-loads (nearly 800 ton) of Anamosa Limestone have been hauled to California and (Anamosa Limestone) will ultimately cover approximately 135,000 square feet of the building!" These photographs and the quotation above are presented by the Weber Stone Company, Inc., Stone City Quarries (SCQ).

  • The Finished Products from Iowa Stone in Illinois
    • Libertyville, Illinois – Independence Grove (The link from which the following information was obtained is no longer available.)
      <http://www.weberstone.com/p-l-ig.html>

      Independence Grove is an 1100 acre forest preserve (photographs) "Independence Grove is an 1100 acre forest preserve with an 115 acre lake that was reclaimed from a gravel quarry. This beautiful, vast acreage offers outdoor recreation ranging from biking to fishing to ice-skating, and much more. Anamosa Limestone was selected to landscape much of the grounds available to the public." These photographs and the quotation above are presented by the Weber Stone Company, Inc., Stone City Quarries (SCQ).

    • Peoria Heights, Illinois – Tower Park (The link from which the following information was obtained is no longer available.)
      <http://www.weberstone.com/p-l-towerpark.html>

      "Tower Park's water fountain (above), is one of the main features of this site. The stones used are very large, hexagonal shapes…The top stone has the center partially cored out to allow the water to pool and has specific areas notched at the edges to direct the water flow. The pool wall is concrete wrapped with stone veneer and coping to maintain the same appearance as the fountain." These photographs and the quotation above are presented by the Weber Stone Company, Inc., Stone City Quarries (SCQ).

  • The Finished Products from Iowa Stone in Iowa
    • Amana, Iowa – 1857 Sandstone House (Scroll down to photograph.)  (from an adaptation from Iowa Geology 1996, No. 21, by the Iowa Department of Natural Resources presented in Geologic Sources of Historic Stone Architecture in Iowa, by Brian J. Witzke.

      The sandstone house in Amana (Olde World Lace Shoppe) was built in 1857.  Buildings in several of the Amana villages, both residential and community, are built from the reddish-brown sandstone that was quarried locally.  The sandstone buildings of Amana mainly date from the 1850s through the 1870s.

    • Amana, Iowa County, Iowa, presented by the Iowa Department of Natural Resources.  (The link from which the following information was obtained is no longer available.)
      <http://www.igsb.uiowa.edu/browse/ancrchan/ancrchan.htm>

      Early settlers in Iowa quarried and used the sandstone from the channel deposits for building and foundation stone.  The sandstone buildings of the Amana Colonies are some of the best examples.

    • Amana, Iowa County, Iowa - High Amana General Store (photograph)  In 1858 the Amana General Store was build from locally quarried sandstone.  The building remains a prominent historic landmark in the village of Amana, in Iowa's Amana Colonies.
    • Amana, Iowa County, Iowa - The Amana Colonies.  History of the Amana Colonies in eastern Iowa.
    • Anamosa, Iowa – Anamosa State Penitentiary  (The information below was available on a link on the Weber Stone Company, Inc., web site that is no longer available.)
      <      http://www.weberstone.com/p-asp.html>

      "The prison was built by inmates with Anamosa Limestone used as the main building material."

    • Anamosa, Iowa - The Men's Reformatory  (limestone) (Scroll down to photograph.)  The Iowa's Men's Reformatory was constructed of blocks of "Anamosa stone" quarried by convict labor at local penitentiary quarries.
    • Big Grove Township, near Solon, Johnson County, Iowa - Stone Academy.  The Stone academy, built in 1842, was constructed with limestone from a quarry on the east bank of the Cedar River.  The limestone is a coarse yellow color.  (This link is no longer available.)
      <      http://www.press-<citizen.com/progressedition/solonTIM.htm>
    • Cascade, Dubuque County, Iowa - Saint Martin's Church constructed of stone from the Iowa Township Quarry, Dubuque County  (From Geology of Iowa Quarry Products, 1907)
    • Cedar Falls, Black Hawk County, Iowa - the Glenwood Cemetery, created by history and social studies education students at the University of Northern Iowa in Cedar Falls, Iowa.
    • Cedar Rapids, Iowa – the Cedar Memorial Park (The information below was available on a link on the Weber Stone Company, Inc., web site that is no longer available.)
      <      http://www.weberstone.com/anamosa.html>

      "Cedar Memorial Park, of Cedar Rapids, Iowa, is recognized as one of the nation's most beautiful park cemeteries. Anamosa Limestone makes up a significant portion of the park's design. The funeral home, the cremation center, and many other buildings emphasize the natural beauty of our veneer limestone. The grounds also have many displays of Anamosa Limestone including landscape walls, an outcropping fountain and more."

    • Charles City, Floyd County, Iowa - the M. E. Church (1854) and the First National Bank Buildings. These buildings were built using local limestone, according to Geology of Iowa Quarry Products, 1907.
    • Clermont, Iowa - the Montauk Mansion (from Geologic Sources of Historic Stone Architecture in Iowa, Iowa Department of Natural Resources. Further information and photographs of the Montauk mansion can be found in this document.

      According to this brochure, this mansion was designed in the Italianate style in 1874 for William Larabee, Iowa’s 12th Governor. Brick and limestone were used in the construction of the mansion.

    • Coralville, Iowa – the Coral Ridge Mall in the Landscaping (The information below was available on a link on the Weber Stone Company, Inc., web site that is no longer available.)
      <http://www.weberstone.com/p-l-cr.html>

      "As you drive into the Coral Ridge Mall, located in Coralville, Iowa, the first thing you will see is Anamosa Limestone. The beautiful landscaping is created from expansive custom block walls, lamp bases, fountains and much more."

    • Coralville, Iowa – Coralville Streetscapes (The information below was available on a link on the Weber Stone Company, Inc., web site that is no longer available.)
      <      http://www.weberstone.com/p-l-coralville.html>

      "Over the past few years, the city of Coralville, located in Iowa, has been adding beautiful landscaping to their city streets. As you drive the streets, there are numerous intersections, signs, a railroad overpass, and many more examples of how Coralville has incorporated the beauty of Anamosa Limestone as the theme of their landscaping." A photograph of the "huge custom blocks situated on a radius at the intersection of 1st Ave. and Hwy 6 in Coralville" is presented on this web site.

    • Coralville, Iowa – the Iowa Firefighters Memorial (The information below was available on a link on the Weber Stone Company, Inc., web site that is no longer available.)
      <      http://www.weberstone.com/p-l-ifm.html>

      "…Anamosa Limestone was chosen to be a major portion of the landscaping and building structure at the Iowa Firefighters Memorial…."

    • Davenport, Iowa - Trinity Church.  The church was built using limestone from the Wapsipinicon stage of the Devonian beds.  The limestone used in building the church was obtained from the Upper Davenport beds in Scott County. (From Iowa Geological Survey, Vol. XVII, Annual Report, 1906, published for the Iowa Geological Survey, Des Moines, Iowa, 1907, pg. 368.)
    • Des Moines, Polk County, Iowa - the State Capitol Building (Scroll down to photograph.)  (from an adaptation from Iowa Geology 1996, No. 21, by the Iowa Department of Natural Resources presented in Geologic Sources of Historic Stone Architecture in Iowa, by Brian J. Witzke.
      From 1872 to 1884 the state capitol building in Des Moines was constructed from a variety of building stones.  Granite boulders were obtained from Buchanan County and Minnesota granite quarries.  In Johnson and Madison counties in Iowa, limestone blocks were quarried to use as the foundation and lower levels.  Sandstone blocks from Missouri quarries were used for the majority of the exterior stone.  "Additional stone, both local and imported, was used in the interior construction, including a number of decorative marbles."
    • Dubuque County, Iowa - New Melleray Abbey (Scroll down to photograph.)  (from an adaptation from Iowa Geology 1996, No. 21, by the Iowa Department of Natural Resources presented in Geologic Sources of Historic Stone Architecture in Iowa, by Brian J. Witzke.)
      Construction of the New Melleray Abbey near Dubuque wasbuilt in stages between 1868 and continued into the 1950s by the monks.  The monastery's quarry produced the dolomite blocks in addition to the Anamosa stone which was used as edge-blocks and windows.  Indiana limestone was also used in the construction of the build.
    • Dubuque, Iowa - the Old Shot Tower - Lower portion of local limestone.  The 140-foot tall Shot Tower is located on the East 4th Street Extension in Dubuque, Iowa.  Today it is a memorial to the early munitions industry.   The tower was built in 1856 and remained in operation until 1862. It provided lead shot during the Civil War.  Local limestone was used for the base of the tower while brick was used for the remaining upper 40 feet.  The tower stands on the Mississippi river front.  (A portion of the above information is taken from "A Guidebook to Mining In America:  Volume 2:  East (Minnesota, Iowa, Missouri, Arkansas, Louisiana, and farther East)," by John R. Park, Stonerose Publishing Co., Miami, Florida, April, 2000."
    • Elkader, Clayton County, Iowa - Stone Bridge at Elkader; built of Galena limestone. 
      (From Iowa Geological Survey, Vol. XVII, Fifteenth Annual Report of the Iowa State Geologist, 1906.) Stone Bridge at Elkader; built of Galena limestone
    • Fort Atkinson, Winneshiek County, Iowa - Fort Atkinson State Preserve.  (Scroll down to Fort Atkinson photographs.)  (The link from which the information below was obtained is no longer available.)
      <http://www.igsb.uiowa.edu/browse/buildngs/buildngs.htm>
      Between 1840 and 1842 Fort Atkinson was constructed as a frontier military post.  The Fort is located in northeast Iowa, and the purpose of the fort was to protect the Winnebago Indians of the area from other Indians.  The Fort's stone quarry provided limestone slabs that were used to construct the foundations of the buildings and the barracks.  Limestone-walled construction was used for the main buildings.  Many of these buildings have been restored and can be seen today within the preserve.
    • Fort Atkinson State Preserve (from Geologic Sources of Historic Stone Architecture in Iowa, Iowa Department of Natural Resources. Further information and photographs of Fort Atkinson buildings can be found in this document.

      According to this brochure, “...Limestone slabs derived from the fort’s quarry were used for the barracks’ foundation and other buildings. The main buildings were limestone-walled construction....”

    • Indianapolis, Indiana - Indiana Statehouse.  Blue limestone for the State house was provided by the Harris City Stone Quarry, five miles south of Greensburg, Decatur County, Iowa.
    • Iowa – Residences on Which Anamosa Limestone was Used. (The information below was available on a link on the Weber Stone Company, Inc., web site that is no longer available.)
      <      http://www.weberstone.com/p-res.html>

      On a previous link on the Weber Stone Company web site, there were photographs that showed residences on which Anamosa Limestone was used in the construction.

    • Iowa City, Johnson County, Iowa - Old Capitol Building. (Scroll down to photograph.)   The limestone used in the construction of Iowa's former territorial capital was hand-quarried at Iowa City "along present-day Coralville Lake in Johnson County.."
      • The Old Capitol Building - Iowa’s former territorial capitol and the first state capitol (from Geologic Sources of Historic Stone Architecture in Iowa, Iowa Department of Natural Resources. Further information and photographs of old capitol building can be found in this document.
    • Iowa City, Johnson County, Iowa - University of Iowa Campus - Iowa Advanced Technology Laboratories  (The link from which the following information was obtained is no longer available.)
      <http://www.cgrer.uiowa.edu/iatl.html>

      The second, attached building next to the matte-finished stainless steel Iowa Advanced Technology Laboratories was constructed of Anamosa limestone quarried at the Stone City, Iowa, quarry. 

    • Madison County, Iowa - Madison County Courthouse - Local Winterset Limestone Quarries.  Most of the stone was obtained from the "Backbone" limestone Quarry in Lincoln Township and one other quarry in the same locale.
    • Marshalltown, Iowa – the Marshall County New Courthouse. "Marshall County's New Court House, Commenced 1884, Completed and Dedicated Nov. 19, 1886. Dimensions 80 X 120 feet. Height...175 feet. Cost of Building...$145,000, Cost of Grounds...$100,000. Total Cost $245,000. Built of Marshall County Lime Stone, from the LeGrand Quarries. Compliments of Gornell's Gallery, Marshalltown, Iowa. Photograph by A. F. Bonney." (The following information was taken from a postcard.)
    • Mount Vernon, Jones County, Iowa - Cornell College - King Chapel - Dolomitic limestone from a quarry southeast of Mount Vernon was used to construct the King Chapel and its 130-foot clock tower. (The information below was available on links on the Weber Stone Company, Inc., web site that are no longer available.)
      <      http://www.weberstone.com/p-cornell.html>
      • King Chapel: Anamosa Limestone was used in the construction of the Kings Chapel.
      • Bowman Hall: (the ramp and twist entrance) Anamosa Limestone was used in the construction of the ramp and twist entrance to Bowman Hall.
    • Ottumway, Wapello County, Iowa - the Coal Palace. (Scroll down to photograph.)  In 1890 the Coal Palace was ".completely veneered with blocks of coal, it was built to honor the work of area miners and to publicize the coal resources of southern Iowa.."  Following the 1891 exposition season, the Coal Palace was dismantled.
      • The Coal Palace (from Geologic Sources of Historic Stone Architecture in Iowa, Iowa Department of Natural Resources. Further information on the Coal Palace and a couple of photographs can be found in this document.

        According to this brochure, “The Coal Palace was dismantled following the 1891 exposition season.”

    • Sioux City, Woodbury County, Iowa - Sioux City Public Museum. (Scroll down to photograph.)  Sioux quartzite ranging from pink to purple was used to construct the Sioux City Public Museum.  "Quartzite quarries are located near Sioux Falls and nearby areas of Minnesota and Northwesternmost Iowa."  Many other well-known buildings were constructed of Sioux quartzite both in Iowa and other states.
      • Sioux City Public Museum (from Geologic Sources of Historic Stone Architecture in Iowa, Iowa Department of Natural Resources. Further information and photographs of the Sioux City Public Museum can be found in this document.

        According to this brochure, the museum “is made of durable purplish Sioux Quartzite....”

    • Spillville, Iowa - St. Wenceslaus Church  (photograph and History) The stone used to build the church was quarried locally.  Further information on the town and church can be found in They Came to This Place. (The site was presented by Charles Williams. The link is no longer available.) <http://members.aol.com/chaswill97/dostal/chapter5/chapter5.html>
    • Thurman, (north of), Iowa - Retaining wall north of Thurman showing characteristic weathering of Missouri limestone as developed in the immediate vicinity. 
    • Fig. 41 (From Iowa Geological Survey, Vol. XVII, Fifteenth Annual Report of the Iowa State Geologist, 1906.) Retaining wall north of Thurman showing characteristic weathering of Missouri limestone as developed in the immediate vicinity
    • Vinton, Iowa – the Benton County Veteran's Memorial (The information below was available on a link on the Weber Stone Company, Inc., web site that is no longer available.)
      <      http://www.weberstone.com/p-l-benco.html>

      "The structure is made completely of Anamosa Limestone. The radiused base is Random Splitface Veneer and the cap is sawed with a wash to allow for water drainage."

    • Waubeek, Iowa – the Boy Scout Camp Waubeek Fire Ring (The information below was available on a link on the Weber Stone Company, Inc., web site that is no longer available.)
      <      http://www.weberstone.com/p-l-waubeek.html>

      The two rings are made up of blocks of Anamosa Limestone.

    • West Okoboji Lake, Iowa - the Iowa Lakeside Laboratory (from Geologic Sources of Historic Stone Architecture in Iowa, Iowa Department of Natural Resources. Further information and a photograph of the laboratory building can be found in this document.

      According to this brochure, boulders and cobblestones from glacial deposits that swept across Iowa were used in the construction of Iowa buildings, especially house and barn foundations. The Iowa Lakeside Laboratory is an example of this type of boulder construction.

  • The Finished Products from Iowa Stone in Massachusetts
    • Boston, Massachusetts - the McKim Building in the Entrance Hall - the Piers (photograph and history), presented by the Boston Public Library.

      The following stones were used in the McKim Building. Pink Knoxville marble was used for the floors, walls, and vaulted ceiling in the Vestibule. Also, brown Knoxville marble and Levanto marble were inlaid in patterns on the floor of the vestibule. Iowa sandstone was used for the three heavy piers in the Entrance Hall. The floor of the Entrance Hall is mainly of white Georgia marble. Ivory Gray Echaillon marble mottled with fossil shells was used for the steps of the Main Staircase, and variegated yellow Sienna was used for the walls by the Main Staircase. Unpolished Siena marble was used for the “great twin lions, couchant, on pedestals at the turn of the main stairs. The arcade that separates the Puvis de Chavannes Gallery and the Main Staircase is of yellow Siena marble. Rouge antique and Levanto marble were used for the heavy marble doorways that lead into Bates Hall from the Puvis de Chavannes Gallery, and Istrian and red Verona marble were used for the floors.

  • The Finished Products from Iowa Stone in Minnesota
    • Saint Paul, Minnesota - Rice Park (photographs and history)  This information is from the Saint Paul, Minnesota, Geology Walking Tour web site presented by Jeremy D. Johnson.  The pathways are covered by Sioux quartzite quarried near Sioux Falls, Iowa. (The link from which this information was obtained is no longer available.)
      <http://www.isd.net/jjohnso6/tour1/rice_park.html>
  • The Finished Products from Iowa Stone in Ohio
    • Cincinnati, Ohio - Proctor & Gamble Soap Factory.  Blue limestone used in the construction of the factory was provided by the Harris City Stone Quarry, five miles south of Greensburg, Decatur County, Iowa.
    • Cincinnati, Ohio - U. S. Customs Building.  Blue limestone used in the construction of the U. S. Customs building was provided by the Harris City Stone Quarry, five miles south of Greensburg, Decatur County, Iowa.
  • The Finished Products from Iowa Stone in Washington, D.C.
    • Washington, D.C. - the Iowa Memorial Stone & the Masons, Grand Lodge of Iowa Memorial Stone contributed to the Washington Monument (photograph and history), presented by the National Park Service. The information below is from the National Park Service files and is presented with a photograph of the contributed Iowa stone.

      The National Park Service web site presents the memorial stones in placed in the interior of the Washington Monument. The Iowa Memorial Stone entry can be viewed on the National Park Service’s web site in either the “Album” or the “Slide Show.”

      The Iowa Memorial Stone in the Washington Monument can be viewed along with the details in the WAMO Stones Section 2. The Masons, Grand Lodge of Iowa Memorial Stone can be viewed along with the details in the WAMO Stones Section 4.

      The Washington Monument web site has recently been redesigned. Below is an description that was available on the National Park Service web site in January 2008 that describes the Memorial Stones in the Washington Monument.

      “A unique feature of the Washington Monument is the 193 memorial stones that adorn the interior of the monument. Starting in July 1848 the Washington National Monument Society invited states, cities and patriotic societies to contribute Memorial Stones. The Society listed some requirements to be followed. They asked that the stone be durable, a product of the state’s soil, and meet the following dimensions; four feet long, two feet high and 18 inches thick. These stones pay tribute to the character and achievements of George Washington. These traits are not only admired by Americans but by people the world over as seen by the number of stones donated by foreign countries. Below is a list of stones donated by state. In the near future all the stones will be online.

      “While viewing the stones please keep in mind that the Washington Monument has undergone extensive renovation over the last three years. A key component of the project has been the restoration of the memorial stones. Over the years the stones have been damaged by moisture and vandalism. The pictures that follow show the condition of the stones before their restoration. In the upcoming months new images will be added highlighting the restored stones.”

      The following information relating to the Iowa Memorial Stone can be viewed along with the details in the WAMO Stones Section 2.

      Name: Iowa

      Level: 110-ft.

      Donor: State of Iowa

      Dates: 1853/1850s

      Original material: limestone

      Dimensions: 2' x 4'

      Sculptor/Carver: not known

      Original inscription: Iowa. Her affections, like the rivers of her borders, flow to an inseparable union.

      Documented material history:

      • 1853: “The following blocks have been received during the month of May:...one of marble from the State of Iowa.” [DNI, June 3, 1853.]

      • 1850s: “The state of Iowa has sent a block of fine native lime stone....” [RW]

      Images:

      • 1850s Wilcox drawing

      • 1880 Gedney drawing

      • 1957 Allen photograph

      • 1974 photograph

      • 1980 photograph

      • 2000 NPS slides

      The following information relating to the Masons, Grand Lodge of Iowa Memorial Stone can be viewed along with the details in the WAMO Stones Section 4.

      Name: Masons, Grand Lodge of Iowa

      Level: 210-ft.

      Donor: Masons, Grand Lodge of Iowa

      Dates: 1876/1885

      Original material: granite

      Dimensions: 2' 8" x 3' 11"

      Sculptor/Carver: not known

      Original inscription: Grand Lodge of Iowa A. F. & A. M. 1876.

      Documented material history:

      • 1877: “It was received and acknowledged so by Charles Stanbury on June 22, 1877.” [MR]

      • 1880: “In Lapidarium” [CG]

      Additional documented material information: “The stone was raised from an Iowa quarry.” [MR]

      Images:

      • 1880 Gedney drawing

      • 1953 photograph [Henry Rohland, TWP, October 27, 1953.]

      • 1957 Allen photograph

      • 1974 photograph

      • 1980 photograph

      • 2000 NPS slides

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