Harlan in Shelby County, Iowa — The American Midwest (Upper Plains)

Book Building

Erected 1898

— 1010 6th Street —

Book Building Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Cosmos Mariner, June 30, 2021

1. Book Building Marker

Inscription. Historically this building
housed Tinsley Jewelry and
Farmers & Merchants Bank,
it was moved to this site
from the adjacent lot south
c. 1910.

Listed in the National Register
of Historic Places

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Architecture • Industry & Commerce. A significant historical year for this entry is 1898.

Location. 41° 39.496′ N, 95° 19.056′ W. Marker is in Harlan, Iowa, in Shelby County. It is on 6th Street north of Court Street, on the right when traveling north. Marker is mounted at eye-level, directly on the subject building, on the left/north corner of the front façade. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 1010 6th Street, Harlan IA 51537, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in Western Iowa. It is also in the American Midwest

and in the Corn Belt.

Globally, it is in North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once the territory of the Mississippian Culture

and also the Louisiana Purchase.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers

Paid Advertisement

Click or scan to see
this page online

are within walking distance of this marker: Shelby County Bank Building (here, next to this marker); Farmers & Merchants Bank Building (here, next to this marker); Hertert Building (here, next to this marker); Overholt Block (a few steps from this marker); Donnan Building (within shouting distance of this marker); Baughn Building (within shouting distance of this marker); Koolbeck Building (within shouting distance of this marker); a different marker also named Shelby County Bank Building (within shouting distance of this marker). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Harlan.

Regarding Book Building. Contributing property, Harlan Courthouse Square Commercial District, National Register of Historic Places #94001099.

From the NRHP nomination: This two-story brick building exhibits minimal stylistic treatment and embellishments, largely confined to a simple brick corbelled pattern on the cornice. The storefront of this building is particularly well preserved and was recently restored, which included the removal of a large wooden awning and the uncovering of the purple Luxfer glass transom over the central, recessed entry. This
Photographed by Cosmos Mariner, June 30, 2021

2. Book Building Storefront
(marker is mounted on left/north corner)
building represents an older building that was moved to this lot from the lot adjacent to the south to make way for the new Farmers and Merchants Bank Building. Historically, this building housed the first Tinsley Jewelry store (c.1898-99) followed by the first Farmers and Merchants Bank prior to the construction of the 1912 bank. The bank vault remains intact in the basement of this building. The building later housed a clothing shop (c.1918) and Jensen Jewelry (1940s).

Related markers. Click here for a list of markers that are related to this marker. Harlan Courthouse Square Commercial District

Also see . . . Harlan Courthouse Square Commercial District. The historic district covers most of the city's central business district in the original town plat. Most of the buildings are two-story, brick commercial buildings. Commercial Italianate and Queen Anne styles are dominant. (Submitted on January 11, 2022, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.)

Book Building image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Cosmos Mariner, June 30, 2021

3. Book Building

Credits. This page was last revised on January 12, 2022. It was originally submitted on January 9, 2022, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida. This page has been viewed 136 times since then and 7 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on January 11, 2022, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.