Ottumwa in Wapello County, Iowa — The American Midwest (Upper Plains)

Philip B. Hofmann

May 25, 1909 — December 29, 1986

Photographed by Cosmos Mariner, September 21, 2025

1. Philip B. Hofmann Marker

Inscription.

Philip B. Hofmann. May 25, 1909 — December 29, 1986. , Main Street and Beyond , The Main Street district of Ottumwa has been central to the economic and cultural development of the city, region, and far beyond. Many people with connections to Main Street Ottumwa have made significant national and international impacts. Main Street Ottumwa is proud to share the stories of these connections., A New Ottumwa Icon , Frank Hofmann opened Hofmann Drug in the original Hofmann building in 1902. His son, Dick, later joined him in the business. After the original Hofmann Building was destroyed in a fire in 1940, they reopened the drug store on the ground level of the iconic new building. The store remained a Downtown fixture for decades. , The new, modern building was located on the same corner as the original. It was designed by Des Moines architectural firm, Proudfoot, Rawson, Brooks and Borg, and was determined to be just as iconic as the original. , An Iconic Corner , Bernard Hofmann opened the first Hofmann building in 1893. Heralded for its iconic metropolitan design, the building was impressive in height, design, and innovation. Its unique design featured an elevator that ran on water power. , The landmark building's lower floors were designed to house shops and the upper floors were designed for offices. The first ground-floor retailer was H.M. Cockrell Candy Retailer which had both a candy store and distribution warehouse. The building burnt down in 1940 as a fire spread quickly up the elevator shaft. , An American Businessman , Philip B. Hofmann was born in 1909 to Frank and Isabelle Hofmann. Graduating from Ottumwa High School in 1926, he grew up attending Trinity Episcopal Church with his family. , Hofmann attended college at the Wharton School in Pennsylvania. After graduating college, Hofmann began working as a shipping clerk at Johnson and Johnson. Rising through the ranks, he became the first non-family member to become CEO in 1963. He is credited for doubling the company's sales during the ten years he spent in the role. , Hofmann remained active in civics and competitive equestrian organizations. Earning recognition from Queen Elizabeth II for his equestrian work at England's Royal Windsor Horse Show.

Main Street and Beyond
The Main Street district of Ottumwa has been central to the economic and cultural development of the city, region, and far beyond. Many people with connections to Main Street Ottumwa have made significant national and international impacts. Main Street Ottumwa is proud to share the stories of these connections.

A New Ottumwa Icon
Frank Hofmann opened Hofmann Drug in the original Hofmann building in 1902. His son, Dick, later joined him in the business. After the original Hofmann Building was destroyed in a fire in 1940, they reopened the drug store on the ground level of the iconic new building. The store remained a Downtown fixture for decades.

The new, modern building was located on the same corner as the original. It was designed by Des Moines architectural firm, Proudfoot, Rawson, Brooks & Borg, and was determined to be just as iconic as the original.

An Iconic Corner
Bernard Hofmann opened the first Hofmann building in 1893. Heralded for its iconic metropolitan design, the building was impressive in height, design, and innovation. Its unique design featured an elevator that ran on water power.

The landmark building's lower floors were designed to house shops and the upper floors were designed for offices. The first ground-floor retailer was H.M.

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Cockrell Candy Retailer which had both a candy store and distribution warehouse. The building burnt down in 1940 as a fire spread quickly up the elevator shaft.

An American Businessman
Philip B. Hofmann was born in 1909 to Frank and Isabelle Hofmann. Graduating from Ottumwa High School in 1926, he grew up attending Trinity Episcopal Church with his family.

Hofmann attended college at the Wharton School in Pennsylvania. After graduating college, Hofmann began working as a shipping clerk at Johnson & Johnson. Rising through the ranks, he became the first non-family member to become CEO in 1963. He is credited for doubling the company's sales during the ten years he spent in the role.

Hofmann remained active in civics and competitive equestrian organizations. Earning recognition from Queen Elizabeth II for his equestrian work at England's Royal Windsor Horse Show.

Erected 2025 by Main Street Ottumwa and City of Ottumwa.

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Architecture • Industry & Commerce. In addition, it is included in the National Register of Historic Places (NRHP) series list. A significant historical date for this entry is May 25, 1909.

Location. 41° 1.063′ N, 92° 24.709′ W. Marker is in Ottumwa, Iowa, in Wapello County

Marker detail: Hofmann Building image. Click for full size.

2. Marker detail: Hofmann Building

The current Hofmann Building at the intersection of Market and Second Streets was constructed in 1941. Starting in the 1980s, it was called The Harvester Building. The building underwent a major renovation in 2008 and is now home to the Hofmann Lofts.

. It can be reached from East Main Street just west of South Market Street, on the right when traveling west. The marker is mounted on the west wall in Canteen Alley. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 127 East Main Street, Ottumwa IA 52501, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in Southern 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 are within walking distance of this marker: Edna Ferber (a few steps from this marker); J. B. Sax Co. (a few steps from this marker); Twin Galaxies (about 500 feet away, measured in a direct line); J.W. Garner Building (about 500 feet away); Ottumwa City Hall (about 600 feet away); Civil War Memorial (about 700 feet away); Ottumwa Public Library (about 700 feet away); National Humane Alliance Fountain (about 800 feet away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Ottumwa.

More about this marker. "Philip" is sometimes misspelled as "Phillip" and "Hofmann" is sometimes misspelled as "Hoffman" on this marker. The correct name "Philip B. Hofmann" is used consistently here.

Regarding Philip B. Hofmann. The Hofmann Building (1941), at 101 South Market Street, is listed on the National Register of Historic Places, № 10001085.

From the National Register Nomination prepared by Moily Myers Naumann, 4/2010:
The construction of the Hofmann Building just prior to World War II was a sign that Ottumwa’s business community

3. Marker detail: Camera Eye on a Downtown Corner
The original Hofmann building was impressive and iconic in 1893. The original building was destroyed in a fire on Easter weekend, in 1940. The second Hofmann building, which opened in 1941, sought to be just as iconic. The building remains the tallest in Downtown Ottumwa.
was not dead, despite the Depression. The Hofmann family envisioned a building to house many of the community’s health and medical facilities in a centralized location that was easily accessible by public transit. The six-story building is a major architectural landmark in downtown Ottumwa and is an excellent example of simplified modern commercial design executed in brick and terra cotta, designed by an important Iowa architectural firm, Proudfoot, Rawson, Brooks & Borg. It is also significant as a good example of an important architectural style of the period by this well-known architectural firm.

Related markers. Click here for a list of markers that are related to this marker. Canteen Alley Historical Markers

Also see . . .
1. Philip B. Hofmann (Wikipedia).

Excerpt: An American businessman who was the first non-family-member to serve as chairman and chief executive officer of the healthcare firm Johnson & Johnson. Philip Hofmann was born on May 25, 1909, in Ottumwa, Iowa, where his father was a pharmacist. He graduated from Ottumwa High School in 1926. He earned his undergraduate degree in 1930 at the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania with a major in economics.
He was hired by Johnson & Johnson in 1931, starting work there as a shipping

4. Marker detail: Philip Hofmann, 1963
In 1963, Philip B. Hofmann featured center was the first non-family member to be named chairman and CEO of Johson & Johnson. He joined the company as a shipping clerk in 1931 and rose through the ranks. During his tenure as CEO, the company grew substantially, doubling its sales.
clerk. He went to work for Johnson & Johnson's newly formed Ortho Products division in Linden, New Jersey, and was the unit's president by 1944. He was named Johnson & Johnson's chief executive officer in 1963 as the first non-family-member to lead the company, succeeding Robert Wood Johnson II. He served as CEO until 1974, when he was succeeded by Richard B. Sellars. He helped establish the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, the largest philanthropy in the United States devoted exclusively to health and health care.

(Submitted on March 31, 2026, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.)

2. Hofmann Building (Wikipedia).

Excerpt: The Hofmann Building, also known as the Harvester Building, is a historic building located in downtown Ottumwa, Iowa, United States. It was designed by the Des Moines architectural firm of Proudfoot, Rawson, Brooks & Borg. The six-story brick structure, which was completed in 1941, rises 73.18 feet above the ground. Hofmann Drug was located on this corner until it was destroyed in a fire. This building's construction utilized then modern fire safety codes when it was built to replace the old Hofman Drug. It became known as the Harvester Building in the 1980s. Beginning in 2008, the building was converted into apartments. It was
Photographed by Cosmos Mariner, September 21, 2025

5. Philip B. Hofmann Marker
The marker is mounted on the west wall of the Canteen Alley pedestrian walkway.
listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2010.

(Submitted on March 31, 2026, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.)

Canteen Alley image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Cosmos Mariner, September 21, 2025

6. Canteen Alley

Looking north into Canteen Alley from Main Street. The marker is on the west/left side of the pedestrian walkway.

Hofmann Building image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Cosmos Mariner, September 21, 2025

7. Hofmann Building

From the National Register Nomination: The building is a fine example of Modern design with a sleek exterior of buff colored brick with green terra cotta (called “Greenstone” on the plans) panels and metal windows creating a strong vertical ribbon. The verticality of the upper stories is so strong visually that the first-floor storefronts are almost secondary. A broad seven-foot metal canopy wraps around both the Market Street and Second Street storefronts.

The Market Street elevation features a symmetrical five bay façade on the upper stories, with broader brick piers at the corners. The vertical ribbons contain alternating windows with green terra cotta panels between each set of windows. Between the second and third floors the terra cotta panels are highlighted by a square cast aluminum panel with the letter “H” in the center. These monogram panels are found on both the Market and Second Street sides. The Second Street elevation is a copy of that found on Market Street, except that it is wider, having eight bays.

Credits. This page was last revised on March 31, 2026. It was originally submitted on March 25, 2026, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida. This page has been viewed 16 times since then. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7. submitted on March 31, 2026, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.