Saddlery Building (Court Avenue Brewing Co.)

307-311 Court Avenue

NRHP 1985 Criteria C Architecture

Constructed in 4 phases: note the differences in brick color due to the construction phases –

Phase 1: in 1878 the west-most section was built by J. Rubelman from Muscatine for his saddlery business, which operated until 1933.

Phase 2: by 1888 two bays to the east were added- four stories in height. – The east-most portion was built for rental purposed and was not functionally linked to the other two bays. It didn’t go all the way back to the alley leaving three bays of windows for the east-most bay

Phase 3: by 1901 the fifth floor was added above the two west bays and the infill rear of the four story core

Phase 4: sometime between 1905 and 1920 the 5th floor was built on the east-most bay.

The building housed various businesses including: Des Moines Rubber Co., Model Stove Co., Krispy Kone Co., Kaplan Hat Co. (1923-1985), a printing firm, glove factory, and other street level retail.

Renovated: Douglas A. Wells Architect  – 1986 for the restaurant the Kaplan Hat Factory – was flooded in 1993 stood empty until the Court Ave Brewery Co. opened in 1996

Largest, most intact example of commercial Italianate architecture still standing in Des Moines; outstanding cast iron front with elaborate cornice and hoodmolds.