Flynn–Griffin Building

United States historic place

Flynn–Griffin Building

U.S. National Register of Historic Places

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Location| 319 7th St.
Des Moines, Iowa
Coordinates| 41°35′11″N 93°37′33.1″W﻿ / ﻿41.58639°N 93.625861°W﻿ / 41.58639; -93.625861
Area| less than one acre
Built| 1885, 1906
Architect| William Foster
Proudfoot & Bird
Architectural style| Commercial
NRHP reference No.| 16000215[1]
Added to NRHP| May 3, 2016

The Flynn–Griffin Building, also known as the Flynn Block, Peoples' Savings Bank Building, and the Edna M. Griffin Building, is a historic building located in Des Moines, Iowa, United States. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2016.[1]

## History

[edit]

The building was constructed in two stages. The first three floors were completed in 1885, and the top three floors were completed in 1906. Throughout its existence, it has housed retail space on the first floor and offices on the upper floors. Peoples' Savings Bank was located here from 1890 to 1929. The building is named for two influential Iowans, Martin Flynn and Edna Griffin. Flynn was an early Des Moines resident, livestock breeder, entrepreneur, and banker who had this building constructed. Flynn was one of the organizers of Peoples' Savings Bank, and it grew to prominence in the city. The building is the only reminder in the city of his contributions to Des Moines’ commercial sector.[2]

By 1883 Des Moines had been nicknamed “Hartford of the West.” This indicates the central place the insurance industry played in the city's economic life.[2] Insurance companies that maintained offices in the Flynn Block include Banker's Accident Co., Central Life Assurance Society, Aetna Life Insurance Co., National Life Insurance Co., Mutual Fire Insurance Co., Equitable Life Insurance Co., and Prudential Insurance Co.

After the bank vacated the first floor, it was converted to Katz Drug Store. Even though racial segregation was illegal in Iowa, it was a reality in practice. In 1948 Edna Griffin, along with her infant daughter Phyllis, John Bibbs, and Leonard Hudson sat at the lunch counter at Katz's and ordered ice cream. They were refused and told that the establishment "was not equipped to serve Negroes."[2] Katz's was convicted of violating the state's 1884 civil rights law, and their conviction was upheld by the Iowa Supreme Court in 1949. Griffin came to be known as the "Iowa Rosa Parks",[3] even though her act of civil disobedience predated Parks'.

## Architecture

[edit]

The original three-story building was designed by Des Moines architect William Foster, a principal of the influential firm of Foster & Liebbe. The 1906 expansion was designed by the equally prominent firm of Proudfoot & Bird,[2] who moved their office to the sixth floor of the building after construction was completed. The English Gothic Revival elements that marked the location of Peoples' Savings Bank from the 1906 renovation were removed in 1930 when the north half of the building was renovated for Katz's. Further alterations were made in 1984 and around 1995. The six-story U-shaped building rises to a height of 85 feet (26 m).[4]

## References

[edit]

1. ^ a b "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service. March 13, 2009.
2. ^ a b c d Alexa McDowell. "Flynn Building" (PDF). National Park Service. Retrieved 2017-10-26.
3. ^ Kent Darr. "Conlin partnership sells Griffin Building to Quad Cities development group". Business Record. Retrieved 2017-10-26.
4. ^ "Griffin Building". Emporis. Archived from the original on October 27, 2017. Retrieved 2017-10-26.`{{cite web}}`: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)

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Historic buildings and structures in Des Moines, Iowa

Apartment buildings|

* Ayrshire Apartments
* Bryn Mawr Apartments
* The Elmwood-The Oaks-The Birches
* Franklin Apartments
* Hallett Flats–Rawson & Co. Apartment Building
* Kromer Flats
* The Lexington
* The Maine
* Murillo Flats
* The New Lawn
* Norman Apartment Building
* Plymouth Place

Civic buildings|

* Des Moines Fire Department Headquarters-Fire Station No. 1 and Shop Building
* Fire Station No. 4
* Iowa Commission for the Blind Building
* Iowa State Capitol
* Iowa State Historical Building
* Municipal Building
* Polk County Courthouse
* Public Library of Des Moines
* United States Courthouse
* U.S. Post Office

Commercial buildings|

* American Republic Insurance Company Headquarters Building
* Apperson-Iowa Motor Car Company Building
* Argonne Building
* Baker-Devotie-Hollingsworth Block
* Burnstein-Malin Grocery
* D.S. Chamberlain Building
* Clemens Automobile Company Building
* Des Moines Building
* Earle & LeBosquet Block
* Elliott Furniture Company
* Equitable Life Insurance Company of Iowa Building
* Fleming Building
* Flynn-Griffin Building
* Hawkeye Insurance Company Building
* Hippee Building
* Hohberger Building
* Home Federal Savings and Loan Association of Des Moines Building
* Homestead Building
* Hubbell Building
* Iowa-Des Moines National Bank Building
* G.W. Jones Building
* Liberty Building
* Perry and Brainard Block
* Register and Tribune Building
* Seth Richards Commercial Block
* Rumely-Des Moines Drug Company Building
* Sargent's Garage
* Studebaker Corporation Branch Office Building
* Syndicate Block
* Teachout Building
* Walnut Tire and Battery Co.-Globe Publishing Company Building
* Wherry Block
* Youngerman Block
* Younker Brothers Department Store

Education|

* Abraham Lincoln High School
* Fort Des Moines Provisional Army Officer Training School
* Grand View College (Old Main)
* Methodist Deaconess Institute—Esther Hall
* David W. Smouse Opportunity School
* Theodore Roosevelt High School

Hotels|

* Hotel Fort Des Moines
* Hotel Kirkwood
* Hotel Randolph
* Northwestern Hotel
* Savery Hotel

Industrial buildings|

* Boyt Company Building
* Crane Building
* Des Moines Saddlery Company Building
* Des Moines Western Railway Freight House
* Firestone District Office and Warehouse
* Grocers Wholesale Company Building
* L. Harbach and Sons Furniture Warehouse and Factory Complex
* Hawkeye Transfer Company Warehouse
* Herring Motor Car Company Building
* Iowa Ford Tractor Company Repair and Warehouse Building
* Mack-International Motor Truck Corporation Building
* National Biscuit Company Building
* Schmitt and Henry Manufacturing Company
* Standard Glass and Paint Company Building
* Taft-West Warehouse
* Warfield, Pratt and Howell Company Warehouse

Structures|

* Court Avenue Bridge
* Allen Hazen Water Tower
* Southeast Water Trough
* Southwest Fifth St. Bridge

Miscellaneous|

* Des Moines Art Center
* Fish and Game Pavilion and Aquarium
* Masonic Temple of Des Moines
* Scottish Rite Consistory Building

National Register of Historic Places listings in Des Moines, Iowa
List of National Historic Landmarks in Iowa

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