March 29, 2024

Colfax takes next step in historic designation

COLFAX —The culmination of a year-long historical preservation study of downtown Colfax was made public Tuesday night, taking another step toward earning the Jasper County town a spot on the National Historic Registry.

Jennifer James — Des Moines-based writer/editor/consultant who conducted the survey funded by the Iowa Economic Development Authority — showed images, city plats and architectural changes from throughout the city’s nearly 150 year history at an event hosted by Colfax Main Street at Colfax-Mingo High School.

“I do think it’s very important to not be dismissive of a building just because there’s vinyl siding, metal on the outside or an added layer of brick when underneath there could be some really great stuff,” James said. “That’s the story of historic preservation right now. Carefully taking off layers and finding the good stuff underneath.”

The survey dubbed the Spring City Commercial Historic District Findings, took place through the spring and summer of 2014. It was conducted through a partnership agreement between IEDA, Main Street Iowa, the State Historic Preservation Office, the City of Colfax and Colfax Main Street. It is the first step in acquiring a nomination from the state to be on the National Historic Registry. Being on the registry, James said, is not only good public relations for a city but also brings tax incentives and development grants to cities, businesses and private property owners.

The study investigated 100 different properties both existing and since demolished, encompassing land from the downtown’s northern railroad track, west to the Colfax Livestock Sale Co. and North Montgomery Street, south to Washington Street and east to Elm Street.

James detailed multiple eras in Colfax’s development. She highlighted 1866 to 1875, 1875 to 1879, 1880-1890s, 1900s to 1920s, 1930s to1940s and 1940s to 1960s. The importance of the railroad to the formation of Colfax and the industry surrounding mineral spring water — which was believed by 19th century doctors to hold healing and medicinal proprieties — were also discussed. James’ research found Colfax, with a population between 2,000 and 2,500 people for the majority of its existence, was home to 10 mineral spa hotels at its peak.

“Things that were happening in Colfax were unique because there were unique individuals here making things happen,” she said. “There was an incredible (public relations) effort that went on for decades. And it was starting in the 1870s.”

Those efforts included testimonials and advertisements for the benefits of Colfax mineral water in newspapers as far east as Davenport and as far north as Waterloo.

Mineral water’s decline following World War I and the Great Depression was not well known, and James said there is still room for research. Despite the medical community’s increasing dismissal of the water therapy as “quackery,” James said it still could not account for its complete demise in Colfax.

“This is an area where I think there are opportunities for more research, and with all of this I think there are great opportunities to keep adding as people find knew research and find new photographs to just be open to adding to the information. This is just the start of a project not the end of a project.”

Colfax Main Street Director Emily Perry said copies of the report would be made available for public view at the Main Street office on 1 W. Howard St., the Colfax Public Library and the Colfax Historical Museum.

Contact Mike Mendenhall at mmendenhall@jaspercountytribune.com