Neff Hatchery: 119 N 9th Street

  • Image of Front with Both Entrances

  • Current occupant - Kinnick Barbershop

  • LK Hair Fashions Owner

  • Eckerman Jewerly

Neff Hatchery

119 N 9th Street (front)

The first known use of the site was in 1868 by photographer Kenworthy and our site inventory estimates the construction of the front of the current building to be circa 1885. As one of the oldest addresses in Adel, this building has changed ownership/tenants numerous times over the years. Neff Hatchery owned and used the building for the first half of the 20th century as a chicken hatchery. Per Dallas County news, around 250,000 chicks were hatched there during a good production year with sturdy breeds like Leghorns, White Rocks, and White Leghorns predominating. Judge Allen bought the building when Neff Hatchery moved its hatchery to Main Street. 

The building was thought to be used as a pasteurization plan by Glenn Baker under Judge Allen’s ownership for a short period of time. This plant didn’t last long as Mr. and Mrs. Raymond Duckett opened Adel’s bakery there in 1950 and stayed there until 1956 when it auctioned off its bakery supplies. In October of 1960, Jerry Eckerman bought the property and opened Eckerman Jewelry store a month later. Two years later he moved his successful jewelry store down the road on 9th street. Around the same time, Adel spent more than $400,000 on civic improvement including improvements to downtown stores. Ron’s Barber shop took advantage of the improvements made to this building and moved his barber shop from 914 Main Street to this location in 1962. LK Hair Fashions would later take this space and stay there through the mid 1970’s.

Adel used the location during 1976 for the U.S. bicentennial celebration in 1976 and then State Farm agent Bob Raymond would be the primary tenant until the early 2000’s. Currently, Kinnick’s Barbershop occupies the building and the owner has worked to recreate a historic hometown barbershop look and feel for it. 

Architectural Survey Research

Narrative Description

This is a 2-story, frame, commercial building. Once used as a hatchery, the building's facade was remodeled circa 1954 with the application of brick veneer and the construction of a brick, boomtown front to replace the building's original front gable configuration of the roof. The storefront features a centrally placed entrance flanked by store windows with an entrance of the upper floor on the north end of the facade. The upper story features two, asymmetrically placed window openings. The south opening features paired windows, each with a single pane, while the north opening features one window with a single pane. A tile coping surmounts the boomtown front. Following World War 11, a 40 x 28 foot building was constructed at the rear of this building. This new wing was intended as still serves as a meeting hall for the American Legion in Adel. This addition should be counted as separate resources because it possesses its own entrances and other facilities.

The Dallas County Assessor's Office dates the construction of this building to 1900. A circa 1895 historic photograph of the west side of the square pictures it already in place. A construction date of circa 1895, therefore, seems more accurate.

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. Even following World War II, local residents preferred locations adjacent to the square for social as well as business activities. Although the Penoach Post began construction of a new legion following the war (northeast corner of Main and North 7" Streets), the post opted for the present location, when construction of that building ceased.

This building is National Register eligible as a contributing resource to the historic district under Criterion C. The sleek wall surface of the upper story and the asymmetrical fenestration arrangement calls attention to modern styling as practiced in Adel during the mid-20" century.

Historic Uses*

  • Neff Hatchery. Bought by Judge Allen. Sold to American Legion

  • Western Auto.

  • 1950: Bakery run by Duckett

  • 1960-1962: Eckerman Jewerly

  • 1962-1963: Ron’s Barber Shop

  • 1965-1974 or later: LK Hair Fashions

  • 1976: Headquarters for United States bicentennial celebration

  • 197?-2003: North side. State Farm Bob Raymond

  • 2003: Northside. Daugherty's Auction & Appraisers. Kelly Daugherty

*Survey research completed in 2004 so only includes building uses prior to that time. Supplemented with newspaper research in 2025