Page 1 SITE DESCRIPTION The Ferd Haak Victor Animatograph Co. building is located on Lot 8, Block 18 of the Original Town of Davenport. The structure is sited on the southeast corner of the intersection of West Fourth Street and Western Avenue; its façade faces north. The building is bordered by a small, two-story building on the east and by a narrow alleyway on the south. A public sidewalk provides access to the building s entrance West Fourth Street. PROPERTY DESCRIPTION The Ferd Haak building is a three-story, steel frame and brick construction set on a raised foundation. The building features stylistic details clearly evoking the playful restraint of the late Renaissance period, seen most clearly in the building s entrance. Here the restraint of the classically inspired Renaissance is played out in the use of a Roman arched opening, engaged columns supporting an entablature, and decorative applications like keystones and egg and dart moldings. Those classical elements come alive through the exaggeration of detail, particularly in the separation of the drums of the columns, which line up with the rusticated surface of the wall. The voussoirs that comprise the arch of the entry are exaggerated as well, the arch s keystone playfully ornate. A beautiful, wrought iron gate is set amid this visually active entrance, providing access to the recessed entrance. The body of the building carries the influence of the Renaissance Revival as well, though its presentation is much more restrained. Condition As a masonry-faced construction, the greatest concern for this building is the condition of its brick, which appears to be in very good condition, with no areas of significant deterioration evidenced. It should be noted that the façade (north) parapet wall has been removed. The reason for this is not known, but is likely related to material deterioration. The Ferd Haak-Victor Animatograph building retains a very high level of historic integrity and remains a signature building in the Davenport Central Business District. PROPERTY HISTORY The building at 527 W. 4th Street was constructed in c.1903 to accommodate the Ferd Haak Company, manufacturer of cigars. At the time Ferd Haak Company occupied the building, cigar manufacturing was a large and profitable business in Davenport. The industry had its roots in the 1850s, with growth increasing in the years following the Civil War. By the early years of the twentieth century, cigar manufacturing had become a leading industry, and, significantly, the leading employer of the city s female workforce. The database of SGGM Architects & Interior Designers indicates that their predecessor firm of Clausen & Klein undertook a design to remodel the building in August of 1918. According to the 1975 dissertation by David H. Shepard,
Page 2 the Victor Animatograph Co. occupied the structure beginning in January of 1919. At that time the facility contained workrooms for engineering, product development, and die making. The company occupied the structure for twenty-five years, employing as many as four hundred and fifty persons in 1946. Alexander Victor was the inventor of the animatograph (amateur motion picture projector) and part owner of the Victor Animatograph Co. Victor pioneered the production of a safe, non-combustible standard for non-theatrical film and invented the first projector for non-theatrical 16mm film. Tri-City Equipment Company currently occupies the building. STATEMENT OF SIGNIFICANCE The Ferd Haak - Victor Animatograph building was determined eligible for listing in the National Register of Historic Places during the completion of a Multiple Property Assessment in 1983. It appears that the property owners at that time denied listing. Then, as is true today, the property is considered significant under Criterion C as an exceptional example of the Italian Renaissance Revival. In addition, the building is considered significant under Criterion A in its association with the history of Davenport commerce and manufacturing, specifically in regard to the cigar making industry. The building is also considered significant under Criterion B in association with Alexander Victor, the inventor of the Victor Animatograph, which was manufactured in this building.
Page 3 View of the primary (north) and west elevations, looking southeast across the intersection of West Fourth Street and Western Avenue. (SOURCE: AKAY Consulting November 2004)
Page 4 View of the primary (north) and east elevations, looking southwest across West Fourth Street. Note that, although the upper story window placement is original, modern glass has replaced the historic configuration. (SOURCE: AKAY Consulting November 2004)
Page 5 The building s entrance is a real stunner. (SOURCE: AKAY Consulting November 2004
Page 6 The oblique angle of this view emphasizes the depth and dimension of the building s façade elements. (SOURCE: AKAY Consulting November 2004)
Page 7 This undated postcard image documents the Ferd Haak building (oddly removed from its context) in the early years of its history. (SOURCE: Image courtesy of the Richardson-Sloane Special Collections of the Davenport Public Library.)
Page 8 The white outline indicates the location of the Ferd Haak-Victor Animatograph building. (SOURCE: City of Davenport Planning Department 1/2005)
Page 9 BIBLIOGRAPHIC REFERENCES Special Collections Davenport Public Library; Richardson-Sloane Special Collections Davenport City Directory Collection 1890-1940 Sanborn Fire Insurance Map Collection Quad Cities Photograph Collection AKAY Consulting Postcard Collection. Boone, Iowa. Database of SGGM Architects & Interior Designers. Rock Island, Illinois. Local Publications Svendsen, Marlys. Davenport, Where the River Runs West: A Survey of Davenport History & Architecture. ND. Shepard, David H. The Victor Animatograph Company and the Genesis of Non-Theatrical Film. David H. Shepard. Davenport, Iowa. 1975. Internet Resources www.scottcountyiowa.com/assessor. Scott County Assessor.