Land Office

815 Main Street

In 1870 this location was the “Land Office” for Dallas County.  The importance of the “Land Office” was to prevent the illegal activity of “Claim Jumping” in Dallas County.  This office was the predecessor to the county’s present day “Recorders’ Office”.  Cole Noel, a long-time citizen of Adel, was the land-agent for 30 years.  This structure was built in 1897 by George W. Huffman.  Since 1922, the building has been used for several furniture stores, the town’s mortician and ambulance service, a grocery store, and a home accessories and gifts shop. It was the previous location for the Fiesta restaurant.

The Great White Buffalo House restaurant currently occupies the building.

  • Land office from 1870.

    Land Office

  • Historical goodyear building on Main Street block of the square

    Goodyear building

  • Front view of Great White Buffalo restaurant with sign done by Aztec signs

    Current Occupant - Great White Buffalo

  • Hoffman Furniture and Undertaker Ad from 1892

Architectural Survey Research

Narrative Description

This is a 2-story, commercial building of masonry construction. Although the storefront is completely modem, it does feature extensive glass rather than infilled with opaque materials. The upper story features three bays with 1/1 double-hung windows grouped closely together and surround by a brickworked frame. (The substantially same motif is employed at 811 Main Street.) A cornice with heavy denticulation surmounts the 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 800 block of 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 the Commercial Style of architecture to its design. This influence is most evident in the brickworked frame on the upper floor, the employment of polychrome brick, and the bold and tailored look of the cornice.

Historic Uses*

  • 1870: Land Office

    1892-1897: George W. Hoffmand contractor in 1897. Built Catholic church; Christian Church and primary school building.

    1922: son Ralph joined Hoffman and started Hoffman Furniture and Undertaker

    1927-1942: J.E. DeFord Town Mortician and Ambulance Service

    1942-46: Tom Crellen operated furniture store

    1946: Fichers purchased

    194?: United Grocery

    195?: Goodyear

  • 1965 Ray Luther and A.C. Hubbard partners in Furniture Store. When Hubbard retired, he sold to Frank clampett. Hoffman sold his share and went in the grocery business.

  • 1972 still Hoffman's Furniture

  • 1996 Aubrey's Home Accessories and Gifts, Aubrey Dunbar

Back of Store

  • Jay's Java Garden

2nd Floor

  • Part of Aubrey’s

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