Boak Grocery

823 Main Street

Built in 1881 for T. J. Boak, a leading businessman in Adel, for his business providing groceries and provisions. Over the years several apparel businesses occupied the first level.  Businesses like Lee’s Ready to wear, Sue’s Fashions, and Bernadine’s’ Fashions.   Locally remembered as Bernadine’s Fashions: it was used for a scene in the 1995 movie” Bridges of Madison County”.  Early attorneys in town J. B. White, M. H. Baugh, and A. R. Smalley officed on the second level.  Later dentists Martin & Long, E. A. Witmer, and Dr. Wright occupied the space. The exterior of the building was renovated in 2015. This site and the adjoining site to the east was the second location of the Dallas County courthouse. It is currently occupied by Jennings Law Office.

  • Brick building corner view

    Corner of Main and 9th Street

  • Historic plaque. Building listed on national registry. Built in 1881.

    Historic Plaque

  • The Band Box - Far Right Building

  • Main Street on square from early 1900s based on the type of car parked in front.

    Southside of Square

  • Recent Picture

Architectural Survey Research

Historic Uses*

  • 19??: Lee's Ready to Wear-lee Poffenberger

  • 1952: The Band Box

    Sue's Fashions

  • 1959-1999: Bernadines' Fashions. Film location for a scene in the movie The Bridges of Madison County. Became known as "the shop where Francesca bought her dress."

  • 2001: Butler Store

  • 2003: Let's Dance

Basement

  • Bill Elder Barber Shop

Upstairs

  • 19?2--Dentists Martin & Long

  • 19??-Dentist E.A. Witmer

  • 19??-Dentist Dr. Wright

Basement apartment and 2nd floor has 3 apartments

This site, along with the neighboring building to the east was the second location of the Dallas County Courthouse

  • 1867-68: Real Estate John Warford in Court House

  • 1868: The Lawkeue Land Co. Org. Jan 1, 1868 middle room east side

  • 1868-1871: A. Dilly Attorney at Law office at courthouse

  • 1866-1868: J. Perkins, Newspaper attorney, notary, real state

  • 1876 Perkins& Dilly: Attorneys at Law in courthouse

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