Preservation at Its Best Award: 2026 Nomination

Introduction

Adel’s Historic Preservation Commission nominated 821 Main Street for the Preservation at Its Best award by Preservation Iowa in 2026. We included an excerpt from the application below as it provides a great overview of the history and preservation of this building.

Significance

For more than 150 years, the building at 821 Main Street has been maintained, occupied, and reinvested in by the same family. Its significance lies not in a single project, but rather in a sustained pattern of stewardship.

The building was constructed around 1870 and J.W. Russell started using it for his loan company in 1972. While business operations have evolved, the building has consistently supported land, property, and financial services. Today, the property is owned and cared for by the fifth generation of the Glenn family. The Glenn name reflects a continuation of the Russell family line through marriage.

The building is part of the Adel Public Square Historic district and reflects Late Victorian commercial design. This includes a three-bay storefront framed by brick pilasters, cast iron columns at the entrance, an iron I-beam separating floors, and a pressed metal cornice and pediment.

The attached letter of support from Adel’s Mayor illustrates this building’s importance to the community:

“821 Main Street serves as an exemplary model of historic preservation. It illustrates the value of restoring and maintaining older structures rather than replacing them with modern construction, thereby reinforcing the charm and identity of downtown Adel. The Glenn family’s long-term commitment to the preservation of this building has strengthened the overall vitality of the downtown area and provides an admirable precedent for future preservation initiatives.” Mayor of Adel, Timothy Crannell

What distinguishes this property is its age, architectural integrity, and the continuity of care behind it. The investment made in 2022 for the business’s 150th anniversary represents the latest example of this care.   

Project Work

The current 821 Main Street building represents a long-term preservation effort, with restoration and rehabilitation projects carried out in phases since the 1960s.

Interior updates between 1960 and 2000 improved both functionality and appearance. For example, in the 1990’s the first floor was rehabilitated with new paint, carpet, a bathroom, and an internal stair to connect the two levels of the building. Prior to that, the only way to get to the second floor was from an outside stairwell.  During this period, the family also renovated the vacant second floor into offices and work areas. 

Another next major project occurred in 2013 through participation in a Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) project. This work restored the historic storefront configuration and removed paint from the brick exterior. The owners used $80,000 in CDBG funds and contributed an additional $20,000.  

The family completed the most transformational update in 2022 in conjunction with the businesses 150th anniversary. This interior rehabilitation incorporated historic features and included:

• Structural stabilization

• New mechanical, electrical, plumbing, and HVAC systems

• Hazardous material remediation

• Upgrades for code compliance and accessibility

• Restoration of interior brick walls

• Raised and replaced tin ceiling

The owners met the Secretary of the Interior’s Standards by hiring preservation-experienced architect Jerry Purdy and contractor Ray Sargent. Architect Purdy retrieved the original building plans (attached) and retained historic features whenever possible. They used compatible materials when replacement was necessary.

This work reflects a long-term commitment to preservation, with restoration and rehabilitation carried out in successive phases to maintain historic integrity and functional use.

Click here for project photos.

Condition and Challenges

The 2022 rehabilitation of this building presented many challenges. First, the owners found it difficult to get contractors and architects to bid on the 2022 interior project. This was due in part to the:

• Expertise needed for historical buildings

• Shortage of resources during construction boom and later COVID-19 pandemic

• Comparatively small size of the project

When the owners found reputable historical resources interested in doing the project they were faced with   another challenge. The architect and contractor were only available for a six-month period. As a result, the owners self-funded the project instead of applying for and waiting on grant money.  

The owners identified additional project challenges in 2022 when the building was taken down to its structural system, including:

• Falling support beams

• Deteriorated floor joists

• A rear wall separating from the roof structure

• Compliance and code issues with interior stairs and bathrooms

• The presence of hazardous materials

Each issue extended the construction timeline and increased project costs. One challenge proved to be insurmountable. The owners originally wanted to build an addition, but experts informed them that an expansion would be too instable for the neighboring buildings.

Challenges continued beyond the major 2022 project. Sections of the brick façade loosened during the renovation. The owners responded by repairing the brickwork funded in part by a $10,000 historic preservation grant from the City of Adel.

These experiences reflect the realities of long-term preservation, where each project reveals new challenges that need to be overcome.

Public Benefit

The preservation of 821 Main Street provides a clear public benefit by demonstrating how long-term stewardship can sustain a historic building while keeping it active and relevant. It also reflects a pattern of civic leadership that began with J.W. Russell and continues today. The impact of 821 Main Street is best reflected through the voices of community leaders (see Appendix for full letters).

“The Russell and Glenn families have led the way as a model of generational continuity and support for Adel’s business community….I believe that their enthusiasm for historic preservation helped the Adel Historic Preservation Commission in its effort to develop Historic Preservation Guidelines….the role of the building’s importance as a community asset and its role in maintaining the strength of Adel’s Historic Downtown District cannot be overstated.” City of Adel Councilwomen and Mayor Pro-Tem, Shirley McAdon

“There is no family in Adel with a longer presence and no family has been more committed to the community, both in word and deed, than the Russell/Glenn family.” Jim Peters, Mayor of Adel from 1992-2025

Together, these perspectives demonstrate how the ongoing stewardship of 821 Main Street provides lasting public benefit by strengthening economic activity, supporting preservation efforts, and serving as both a model and a catalyst for other property owners.