90 east Bremer (88-92 East Bremer
Window openings on this side are filled with glass block, a feature of a major 1937 remodeling project. The Waverly Community Building was constructed in 1925-26 through the combined efforts of the Waverly American Legion, local Masonic orders, and a civic group called the Community Club (Bremer County History [1985], 64). It was promoted as a “community effort” and was noted for its “unified front” (library volunteer research). The building was designed in 1925 by Louis H. Rust, a Waverly architect and American Legion member. A.E. Smith of Waterloo was the general contractor, with plumbing and heating by E.C. Richards of Waverly, and electrical wiring by Waverly Electric Co. The basement was to feature a dining room with a kitchen but has been repeatedly flooded since its construction. The first floor was divided into three unequal spaces. The west bay housed the post office until the late 1930s when the present facility was built (see 124 2nd St. SE). The next bay to the east was reserved as store space. The two east bays, which were open and undivided by a wall, housed the movie theater (called the Palace in 1925 newspaper articles). Access to the movie theater was via a 20-foot foyer where two archways with double doors led patrons to the theatre proper. The seating was on a slanted cement floor which led down to a 22x24-ft. stage (suggesting live performances were anticipated). The second floor was divided into two large meeting halls, each two bays wide. Extra wide stairs, illuminated by the second floor’s narrow central bay windows, led to a landing and then branched off right and left to the separate meeting halls for the American Legion and the Masons. The first remodeling took place in 1930, when John Perkins & Sons laid new reinforced floors. In 1937 the building underwent remodeling, with the noted Waterloo architect Mortimer B. Cleveland as the designer. The post office had moved out and its space and the store bay were remodeled to lease to a furniture store (Geo. J. Kaiser’s). A small office block and a balcony were added to the rear of the building. Glass block replaced the original sashes on the west elevation overlooking the river. Cleveland designed a new front and “canopy” for the building, probably all sidewalk level features. The present marquee, which now accommodates a movie theater expanded to show three films in three narrow bays (rather than the original single auditorium in two bays) likely replaced the Cleveland marquee. In 1972, the theatre was again remodeled. A new sidewalk exterior was created and the lobby enlarged. The front section of the stage was removed for better viewing and the seats realigned, however, bowing to the suburban trend of offering patrons more movies in smaller theaters. Following the furniture store, the Waverly Community Building also housed a café, a second-hand shop, a video store, and a dance studio. The Palace Theatre continues in the building today.
88-92 East Bremer-Built in 1925 as a community center and Palace Theater (Movie)
1921 Sept-A restaurant ran by A.H. Kahm (Kahm’s Restaurant) (Previous building)
1943 March – Waverly Electric Shop (appliance repair
1964-1965 Nov-Sullivan Jewelers
1970 April C and L Radio and TV
1983 April- Article stated Pet Tropics would open in May at 102 East Bremer (not 90 East Bremer) No Act 2 listed yet
1983 June- Pet Tropics is listed at 102 East Bremer
1984 Dec- Pet Tropics listed at 102 East Bremer
1985 Feb- Act 2 Video Rental
1988 July- Article stating Area 7 Job Training was moving in to the former Pet Tropics building at 102 East Bremer
1988 Nov. Pet Tropics listed in 90 East Bremer
1990 June- Act 2 Video Rental and Pet Tropics
1989 Feb- Pet Tropics
1994 June- Pet Tropics
1995 Feb- Pet Tropics
1996 Sept- Pet Tropics and ACT 2
1999 April- Going out of business Sale for Pet Tropics and Act 2 Video- Can see sign in window.
Nick McCumber 05/08/24
Comments:
90 east Bremer (88-92 East Bremer Window openings on this side are filled with glass block, a feature of a major 1937 remodeling project. The Waverly Community Building was constructed in 1925-26 through the combined efforts of the Waverly American Legion, local Masonic orders, and a civic group called the Community Club (Bremer County History [1985], 64). It was promoted as a “community effort” and was noted for its “unified front” (library volunteer research). The building was designed in 1925 by Louis H. Rust, a Waverly architect and American Legion member. A.E. Smith of Waterloo was the general contractor, with plumbing and heating by E.C. Richards of Waverly, and electrical wiring by Waverly Electric Co. The basement was to feature a dining room with a kitchen but has been repeatedly flooded since its construction. The first floor was divided into three unequal spaces. The west bay housed the post office until the late 1930s when the present facility was built (see 124 2nd St. SE). The next bay to the east was reserved as store space. The two east bays, which were open and undivided by a wall, housed the movie theater (called the Palace in 1925 newspaper articles). Access to the movie theater was via a 20-foot foyer where two archways with double doors led patrons to the theatre proper. The seating was on a slanted cement floor which led down to a 22x24-ft. stage (suggesting live performances were anticipated). The second floor was divided into two large meeting halls, each two bays wide. Extra wide stairs, illuminated by the second floor’s narrow central bay windows, led to a landing and then branched off right and left to the separate meeting halls for the American Legion and the Masons. The first remodeling took place in 1930, when John Perkins & Sons laid new reinforced floors. In 1937 the building underwent remodeling, with the noted Waterloo architect Mortimer B. Cleveland as the designer. The post office had moved out and its space and the store bay were remodeled to lease to a furniture store (Geo. J. Kaiser’s). A small office block and a balcony were added to the rear of the building. Glass block replaced the original sashes on the west elevation overlooking the river. Cleveland designed a new front and “canopy” for the building, probably all sidewalk level features. The present marquee, which now accommodates a movie theater expanded to show three films in three narrow bays (rather than the original single auditorium in two bays) likely replaced the Cleveland marquee. In 1972, the theatre was again remodeled. A new sidewalk exterior was created and the lobby enlarged. The front section of the stage was removed for better viewing and the seats realigned, however, bowing to the suburban trend of offering patrons more movies in smaller theaters. Following the furniture store, the Waverly Community Building also housed a café, a second-hand shop, a video store, and a dance studio. The Palace Theatre continues in the building today.
88-92 East Bremer-Built in 1925 as a community center and Palace Theater (Movie) 1921 Sept-A restaurant ran by A.H. Kahm (Kahm’s Restaurant) (Previous building) 1943 March – Waverly Electric Shop (appliance repair 1964-1965 Nov-Sullivan Jewelers 1970 April C and L Radio and TV 1983 April- Article stated Pet Tropics would open in May at 102 East Bremer (not 90 East Bremer) No Act 2 listed yet 1983 June- Pet Tropics is listed at 102 East Bremer 1984 Dec- Pet Tropics listed at 102 East Bremer 1985 Feb- Act 2 Video Rental 1988 July- Article stating Area 7 Job Training was moving in to the former Pet Tropics building at 102 East Bremer 1988 Nov. Pet Tropics listed in 90 East Bremer 1990 June- Act 2 Video Rental and Pet Tropics 1989 Feb- Pet Tropics 1994 June- Pet Tropics 1995 Feb- Pet Tropics 1996 Sept- Pet Tropics and ACT 2 1999 April- Going out of business Sale for Pet Tropics and Act 2 Video- Can see sign in window. Nick McCumber 05/08/24
Additional photographs and resources can be found at the Waverly Public Library on the local and family history page http://www.waverlyia.com/public-library/research/local-and-family-history-collection.aspx Accession No. 18A0356