Chapman & March Grocery

105 North 9th Street

In 1883, the Chapman & March Grocery was located here.  The March family also owned and operated the March & Royer Blacksmith Shop on the west end of Main Street.  The store offered groceries, stoves, iron, and hardware.  The Chapman family has a long history in Dallas County.

A number of cafe’s also operated at 105 North 9th Street, including Bonne’s cafe in 1913 and Harper’s Cafe in 1944. In 1962, Eckerman moved his jewelry store down the road to this address which stayed there until at least Adel’s quasquicentennial anniversary. Currently the building is occupied by “Iconic Apparel”.

  • Bonne's Cafe Ad - 1927

  • Harpers Cafe 1944-1950

  • Eckerman Jewerly -1962 until early 1970s

  • Iconic Apparel - Current Occupant

  • Iconic Apparel - courthouse view from window

Architectural Survey Research

Narrative Description

This is a 2-story, commercial building of masonry construction. Although its storefront has been considerably remodeled and infilled, it retains a symmetrical configuration, centered on an entrance and flanked by windows. Original building materials might remain extant behind the cover-ups. The second floor features three, 1/1, double-hung windows in arched openings with keystones. A brickworked cornice with dentils and inset panels surmounts the building. The Dallas County Assessor's Office date for the construction of this building-1885-seems a bit early, given the presence of the keystones on the second floor

Statement of Significance

This building is National Register eligible as a contributing resource to the historic district under Criterion A. It calls attention the evolution of land use around the Public Square in Adel and local entrepreneurs' preference to locate businesses within the 100 block of North Main Street.

This building is a contributing resource to the historic district because of its significance under Criterion C. The building calls attention to the influence of Late Victorian styling on its design. (See cover document.) This influence is most evident in the inset wall on the frontfacade and the Intimation of pilasters flanking it; the delicate denticulated brickwork beneath the frieze; and the frieze's brickworked panels, a popular Late Victorian motif in Adel, sometimes worked in pressed metal, as on the Adel State Bank next door at 107 North 9" Street. The keystones surmounting the second floor windows on the 105 North 9" Street property suggest the approach of Classical Revival styling in Adel.

Historic Uses*

  • 1882 M.T. Scanten

  • 1883-1907 The Chapman & Marsh Grocery

  • F.F. Houghton

  • 1913 Bonne's Cafe

  • 1927 Harpers Billiards

  • 1935 Added tap beer

  • 1-3-1944 Harper's Cafe. Sadie Harper & husband Harley

  • 1950 Eckerman Jewelry

  • 197? Darleine Madrin Antique and Second hand Store

    Upstairs:

  • Rotary met

  • Adel Lions Club

  • Dining Hall

*Survey research completed in 2004 so only includes building uses prior to that time