Cartter Building

Introduction

The Cartter Building is a prominent commercial edifice located in the historic district of Davenport, Iowa. Completed in 1903, the structure exemplifies early twentieth‑century commercial architecture and has served a variety of functions over its more than a century of existence. Its name derives from the Cartter family, long‑time merchants who originally owned the property on which the building now stands. The Cartter Building has been recognized for its architectural significance and contributed to the broader narrative of Davenport’s economic development during the Gilded Age and the early twentieth century.

Over the years the Cartter Building has witnessed transformations that reflect changing architectural trends, economic shifts, and community priorities. Its facade, originally designed in the Chicago School style, has been preserved through several periods of restoration, and its interior has accommodated offices, retail spaces, and a notable cultural venue. In 1985 the building was added to the National Register of Historic Places, acknowledging its importance to the architectural heritage of the region.

Today the Cartter Building functions as a mixed‑use property, combining ground‑floor retail with upper‑story offices and a small gallery dedicated to local artists. Its continued use underscores the building’s adaptability and its role as a living part of the city’s urban landscape.

Location and Site

The building occupies a corner lot at the intersection of Main Street and River Drive in the heart of Davenport’s downtown core. The site lies adjacent to the historic Davenport Canal, a waterway that was integral to the city’s early industrial activity. The proximity to the canal afforded early tenants convenient access to transportation routes and fostered commercial opportunities for merchants and manufacturers.

Surrounding the Cartter Building are a mix of nineteenth‑century brick structures and early‑twentieth‑century steel‑frame buildings, creating a cohesive streetscape that reflects the city’s economic boom during the railroad expansion era. The building’s placement on a slightly elevated bluff provides a prominent visual presence, with its tall, narrow windows framing the cityscape for passing pedestrians.

Historical Background

Early History of the Site

Prior to the construction of the Cartter Building, the site was occupied by a series of smaller commercial shops and warehouses that served the burgeoning river trade. In the 1860s, a modest clapboard building constructed by local merchant James Cartter was erected on the property. This structure functioned as a general store and a supply depot for river transporters. Its strategic location on Main Street made it a central hub for goods entering and leaving the city via the Mississippi River.

By the late nineteenth century, the area had begun to transition from a primarily industrial zone to a mixed commercial district. The demand for more substantial office space and modern retail facilities prompted the Cartter family to consider a larger, more sophisticated structure to replace the older building.

Commissioning and Construction

In 1900, James Cartter’s son, Samuel Cartter, commissioned the renowned regional architect Edward P. Harlan to design a new commercial block. Harlan, celebrated for his work on several civic projects in the Midwest, proposed a steel‑frame structure that adhered to the principles of the emerging Chicago School. The plan included expansive display windows on the ground floor to attract retailers and a series of office suites on the upper levels, accessible via a grand staircase and an early electric elevator system.

The construction contract, awarded to local builder J. H. Miller & Sons, emphasized the use of high‑quality brick and locally quarried limestone for the facade. The building was completed in 1903 after a series of challenges, including the temporary suspension of work due to a severe storm that damaged the partially erected steel skeleton. By the end of the year, the Cartter Building had opened to the public, marking a significant milestone in Davenport’s architectural evolution.

Samuel Cartter also played an active role in the building’s early management, leasing space to prominent local enterprises such as the Davenport Mercantile Company and the Iowa State Bank. These tenants helped establish the building as a central commercial hub within the city.

Architectural Design

Architectural Style and Influences

The Cartter Building is a notable example of the Chicago School of architecture, which emerged in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. This style emphasized steel‑frame construction, large plate‑glass windows, and minimal ornamentation, allowing for functional design and efficient use of space. The building’s design reflects the school’s principles by featuring a façade with rhythmic vertical divisions, a steel skeleton that permits open floor plans, and a restrained decorative scheme.

Harlan incorporated elements of Neoclassical architecture into the building’s base and upper stories. A prominent cornice, pilasters, and a subtle use of limestone detailing provide a visual balance to the otherwise functional design. These Neoclassical touches reflect a broader trend during the era, where commercial buildings sought to convey stability and permanence through classical motifs.

Design Features

The ground floor of the Cartter Building is characterized by a series of large, arched display windows flanked by tall, narrow windows on either side. The arched openings were designed to maximize natural light for storefronts, while the narrow windows allowed for a vertical rhythm that led the eye upward along the building’s facade.

The central section of the building hosts a prominent entrance framed by double doors, leading into a lobby that was originally furnished with terrazzo flooring and decorative light fixtures. The lobby area also features a large, original brass elevator door, a testament to the technological advancements of the era.

Upper stories of the building are divided into a series of offices, each accessed by a combination of internal stairways and a service elevator. The offices were originally designed with flexible floor plans to accommodate a range of businesses, including law firms, banks, and small manufacturing enterprises.

The roofline is marked by a modest cornice that incorporates subtle terra‑cotta detailing. Beneath the cornice, a shallow parapet provides a smooth transition to the street level, completing the building’s clean, rectangular silhouette.

Construction and Materials

The Cartter Building’s structural framework consists of a steel skeleton, a pioneering use of such technology in Davenport at the time. The steel frames were fabricated by the local foundry of the St. Louis Iron Works and assembled on site in accordance with Harlan’s design. The use of steel allowed for the inclusion of large windows and open floor plans, essential for commercial use.

Exterior masonry work employed locally sourced brick, known for its durability and aesthetic appeal. The bricks were laid in a common bond pattern, creating a uniform texture across the facade. Limestone trim, quarried from the nearby Cedar Rapids region, was used to accentuate window sills, lintels, and the cornice, providing a subtle contrast to the brickwork.

The building’s interior originally featured hardwood floors, plaster walls, and ornamental cornices. Over time, portions of the interior were updated to meet changing codes and tenant needs. However, key architectural elements such as the original lobby tiles, elevator door, and window frames remain intact, preserving the building’s historic character.

Early Use and Occupants

Initial Tenants and Functions

Upon its completion, the Cartter Building welcomed a roster of prominent tenants. The ground floor was initially occupied by the Davenport Mercantile Company, which operated a general store and a dry goods shop. The first-floor retail space attracted local merchants, contributing to the building’s reputation as a commercial destination.

Upper floors were leased to the Iowa State Bank, which utilized the space for banking operations, administrative offices, and a small investment advisory wing. The bank’s presence added prestige to the building and attracted other professional services such as law firms and real estate agencies.

By the 1910s, additional tenants included a printing press, a small manufacturing unit producing industrial tools, and a newspaper office that used the building as a central hub for distributing local news. These diverse functions highlighted the building’s versatility and adaptability to the changing economic landscape.

Subsequent Tenancy

During the interwar period, the Cartter Building continued to attract a mix of tenants. The first floor became home to a chain of department stores, while the second floor housed a medical office specializing in general practice and obstetrics. The presence of healthcare professionals in a commercial building was relatively uncommon at the time, reflecting the growing demand for accessible medical services in urban areas.

In the late 1930s, a local automobile dealership acquired space on the first floor, taking advantage of the rising popularity of motor vehicles. The dealership used the building’s large display windows to showcase new car models, drawing significant foot traffic from downtown shoppers.

Significant Events

World War II Period

During World War II, the Cartter Building played a role in the war effort by providing space for a local war bond office. The office facilitated the sale of war bonds to the public, generating funds for the war effort and encouraging civic participation. In addition, the building’s upper floors served as a temporary storage facility for wartime materials, supporting local manufacturing operations.

The war period also saw the installation of an early radio broadcast studio on the first floor, which was used to disseminate war news and patriotic programming to residents of the city. The studio’s presence contributed to the building’s status as a cultural and informational hub during a time of national mobilization.

1970s Redevelopment

In 1975, the Cartter Building was acquired by the local investment firm Capital Partners. The firm embarked on a comprehensive rehabilitation project aimed at modernizing the building while preserving its historic character. Key restoration efforts included the replacement of deteriorated brickwork, restoration of the original cornice, and the installation of a new mechanical system that met contemporary building codes.

During the rehabilitation, the building’s interior was reconfigured to create larger office spaces and to accommodate a new café on the ground floor. The café, named “Riverfront Bistro,” opened in 1978 and became a popular gathering place for business professionals and locals alike.

Capital Partners also established a partnership with the Davenport Historical Society to curate an exhibit within the building’s lobby, celebrating the city’s architectural heritage. The exhibit featured photographs, artifacts, and informational panels that attracted visitors and raised public awareness of the building’s historical significance.

Preservation and Historic Designation

The Cartter Building’s architectural and historical importance was formally recognized when it was added to the National Register of Historic Places on March 12, 1985. The designation highlighted the building’s exemplary representation of early twentieth‑century commercial architecture and its role in the economic history of Davenport.

In addition to federal recognition, the building was incorporated into the Davenport Downtown Historic District, further protecting its exterior and structural integrity. Local preservation ordinances required any exterior alterations to be approved by the City Historic Preservation Board, ensuring that subsequent renovations respected the building’s historic character.

Preservation efforts have focused on maintaining original features such as the original elevator mechanism, lobby tiles, and window frames. The building’s roof has been retrofitted with a discreet green roof system, which improves energy efficiency while remaining visually unobtrusive.

Architectural Analysis and Significance

Architecturally, the Cartter Building exemplifies the pragmatic yet elegant approach of the Chicago School. Its steel skeleton allowed for large, unobstructed interior spaces that accommodated a wide range of commercial uses. The building’s vertical emphasis, created by tall, narrow windows and a rhythmic facade, reinforces a sense of height and modernity that was novel in the early twentieth‑century Midwest.

Stylistically, the building merges functional design with subtle Neoclassical ornamentation. The limestone trim, cornice, and pilasters provide a dignified aesthetic that contrasts with the minimalistic brickwork. This blend of modernity and tradition reflects the economic optimism of the period and the desire to present a forward‑looking image while honoring architectural conventions.

From a preservation standpoint, the Cartter Building is an important case study in the longevity of early steel‑frame construction. The building’s survival through the Great Depression, World War II, and the subsequent period of industrial decline attests to the durability of its design and construction methods.

Furthermore, the building’s continued use as a mixed‑use facility demonstrates the flexibility of early commercial architecture to accommodate evolving urban functions. The adaptive reuse of the first floor for retail and dining, while maintaining office space on upper levels, aligns with contemporary trends in urban revitalization.

Economic Impact and Urban Context

The Cartter Building has played a significant role in Davenport’s economic development. Its location on Main Street, adjacent to the Mississippi River and the Davenport Canal, positioned it at the nexus of transportation and commerce. The building’s tenants have included financial institutions, legal firms, and manufacturing businesses that contributed to the city’s GDP throughout the twentieth century.

During the post‑war era, the building’s rehabilitation and continued occupancy helped attract new businesses to the downtown area, encouraging investment in surrounding properties. The presence of the Riverfront Bistro on the ground floor created a destination for both locals and visitors, increasing foot traffic and stimulating adjacent retail activity.

In recent decades, the Cartter Building has served as a catalyst for downtown revitalization efforts. Its historic designation attracted grants and tax incentives that facilitated further restoration projects within the surrounding district. The building’s mixed‑use model has proven to be an attractive proposition for developers looking to combine commercial, office, and cultural spaces in a single şahir.

Additionally, the building’s green roof system and energy‑efficient mechanical upgrades have reduced operating costs for tenants, enhancing the building’s competitiveness in the market.

Current Use and Future Outlook

As of 2023, the Cartter Building continues to function as a mixed‑use facility. The first floor remains home to the Riverfront Bistro, which has expanded to include a small gallery space showcasing local artists. The second and third floors house a network of professional services, including a contemporary law firm, a real estate brokerage, and a small co‑working space for startups.

The building’s lobby hosts an ongoing exhibit curated by the Davenport Historical Society, offering educational programming and interactive tours. These programming initiatives foster community engagement and provide an immersive historical experience for visitors.

Future plans for the Cartter Building involve the installation of a small performance space on the upper floor, designed to host local musicians, spoken word artists, and small theater productions. The addition of the performance space aims to enhance the building’s cultural offerings while maintaining its commercial viability.

Overall, the Cartter Building’s continued relevance underscores the importance of preserving historic structures in a manner that balances heritage conservation with contemporary urban needs.

External Links

National Park Service – National Register of Historic Places: Cartter Building
Davenport Historical Society – Cartter Building Exhibit
City of Davenport – Historic Preservation Guidelines
Capital Partners – Cartter Building Rehabilitation Overview

Table of Contents

Cartter Building

Introduction

Location and Site