The face of Cedar Rapids continues to change

A circa 1945 parade passes the former J.C. Penney store at 109 Second St. SE in Cedar Rapids. The Three Sisters women’s clothing store is at left. Photo courtesy of Mark Stoffer Hunter

By Mark Stoffer Hunter
Cedar Rapids Historian

A few thoughts and observations this week on recent and ongoing changes in regard to Cedar Rapids history:

In downtown Cedar Rapids, the plastic has been removed from the three-story scaffolding that fronts the old J.C. Penney buildings in the 100 block of Second Street SE, across from the Blue Strawberry and LoDo’s Pizza. Visible again after many years are sections of a stone building facade, including some interesting architectural details first constructed in 1930.

The United Fire & Casualty Co. is remodeling the old Penney’s building for additional office space. The north section of the structure, at 109 Second St. SE, was built in 1930, replacing the old Farmers Insurance Building that had stood there since 1884. The Cedar Rapids J.C. Penney Department store, formerly in the 200 block of First Avenue SE, occupied the entire new structure.

By 1940, the old Magnus Block next door at 113-115 Second St. SE had been demolished and replaced by an addition to the new Penney’s store. Until the mid-1950s, the Three Sisters women’s clothing store operated out of the ground floor of the Penney’s addition. The Three Sisters shop moved to the new Town & Country Shopping Center in 1956.

Penney’s then “modernized” its 1930 and 1940 buildings on Second Street SE by covering up the decorative concrete facade on the upper floors with square metal panels. The building retained this look from 1957 until 1979, when Penney’s moved to the new Westdale Mall. Over the last 30 years, the old Penney’s building has housed a McDonald’s restaurant and financial offices.

 Demolitions continue

Demolitions continue in the flood-damaged neighborhoods of Cedar Rapids. To date, more than 160 properties (mostly houses) have disappeared from view since July. The wrecking of the 100- year-old Trinity Methodist Church at Third Avenue and Fifth Street SW on April 10 was especially dramatic and a permanent change to the west downtown area skyline.

Other recent demolitions of note include a very old brick residence at 217 Fourth Ave. SW in the old Kingston section of Cedar Rapids, a 1923 former neighborhood grocery store at 341 12th Ave. SW and a house dating to the 1870s at 1009 Third St. SE in the Bohemian Commercial Historic District.

This house at 112 Second St. SW will be demolished. Built in 1915, it was the longtime home of the Alois Hasek family of Cedar Rapids and most recently the Terra Cottage gift shop. Photo courtesy of Mark Stoffer Hunter

Coming down soon is an interesting former residence at 112 Second St. SW. At the time of the flood in June, it was the home of Terra Cottage, an antiques and gift shop. Built in 1915, it was the longtime home of members of the Alois Hasek family until the mid-1950s. Alois Hasek Sr. was a well-known dentist in Cedar Rapids, his office located in the old Hasek building that once stood at First Street and Second Avenue SE, where the Alliant Tower now stands.

Johnson remembered

The death of former Cedar Rapids Mayor Robert M.L. Johnson on April 13 brought recollections of the last time this city was facing major urban renewal issues.

Johnson was mayor from 1962 through 1967. During those years, planning for the new interstate highway and other downtown area improvement projects resulted in the removal of many old established neighborhoods and landmarks.

A key project that was implemented and completed during Johnson’s term was the massive rebuilding of the First, Second and Third Avenue bridges over the Cedar River from 1963 through 1966. The unique Memorial Plaza and underground parking on May’s Island were a part of that project.

As public safety commissioner in 1957, Johnson, with City Council approval, led the way in establishing the one- way street system for downtown Cedar Rapids.

I enjoyed the opportunity to meet and talk with Johnson at Cottage Grove Place. My condolences to his family. He will be missed.

© 2009, Gazette Communications