Nichols & Sons Book Store: 113 North 9th Street

  • Current occupant - Adel HealthMart

  • Before and After Facade Project

  • Historical View of 9th Street

Nichols & Sons Book Store

113-115 North 9th Street

Built in 1868 as the N. B. Nichols and Son Book Store.  During the late 1800’s, several businesses occupied the offices at the same time. It was a Jewelry store, a bootery, a photographic artis studio, and at the turn of the century, the Adel post office.  Since 1948 however, it has been operated as a drug store under different owners and franchises. Currently it is the Adel Health Mart.

Architectural Survey Research

Narrative Description

This is a 2-story, commercial block of masonry construction. Although the storefront has been substantially remodeled over the years, it retains original cast irons columns and a symmetrical arrangement of entrances flanked by store windows. Pilasters, suggested by inset portions of the second story, define the two commercial rooms of this block. A pair of these pilasters is centrally placed on the facade. The second floor fenestration has been foreshortened and shutters installed. Brick arches cap the window cavities. Returning the upper story's windows to their full height and sash configuration would substantially improve the appearance of this big building. A brickworked cornice surmounts its facade.

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 9" Street.

This building is National Register eligible as a contributing resource to the historic district under Criterion C. It calls attention to the influence of Classical Revival styling on its design. The cast concrete belt course at the cornice level, supported by brickworked corbels, the brickworked denticulation beneath the inset wall panels, and the cornice, which surmounts the building are characteristics of that influence as practiced in Adel.

Note - changes were made after this narrative description was written to restore the storefront to its original storefront appearance through a Community Development Block Program.

Historic Uses*

Known as post office block. Several businesses occupied offices at the same time

113 North 9th Street

  • 1868: N.B. Nichols & Son Book Store

  • 1866-1876: Book Store S.B.Hemstead P.O.

  • 1871: Jewelry, clocks & watches

  • 1872 Boots & Shoes. P.O. (newspaper)

  • 1872-1881: JewelryW.F. Brockway P.O. Building

  • 1873: Photographic artist W.S.Stockwell

  • 1881: Postmaster William Brockway

  • 1883: W.F. Brockway successor to A.J. Gillespie

  • 1883: Dr. Caldwell & Phillips in P.O. Building (newspaper)

  • 1894: The Star Gallery, cabinets etc. Mary F. Patty over P.O.

  • Until 1909: Adel Post Office (moved to south side of square In 1909)

  • 1938: Burned. Gutted next to alley

  • 1950: Ralph Joy's Adel Abstract Co; Frushes Law office upstairs; Judy Dlngwell's office (daughter or wife of District Judge Dingwall)

115 North 9th Street

  • 1872: Photographic artist W.S. Stockwell, P.O. Block

  • 1880's: Cozad and Forrester Drug Store

  • 1882: W.F. Brockway Jewlery in Adams and Bucks old stand

  • 1883: NP Dr.s Caldwell & Phillips

    Forrester Drug Store

  • 1948: Arnold Koch and C.A. Forrester partnered-managered

  • 1950: Koch bought out Forrester-Rexall Drug Store

  • 1951: Kenneth Oelrich joined

  • 1954: Kenneth Oelrich bought first interest Koch-Oelrich Drug

  • 1950's: Western Auto; Office of district forester

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