GRONEN, John

GRONEN, John. (Dubuque, IA-- ). Typing the name of John Gronen into the "search" feature of this encyclopedia quickly demonstrates why this native Dubuque resident became the "go to" person in the field of historical restoration in this city. Like such other giants of historical preservation as Wayne Andrew NORMAN, Sr., Gronen demonstrated a attitude of "how can we make this building work" as he developed a network of people showed a commitment to 'mending some of the historic fabric of Dubuque.' (1)

Of his work, Gronen has said

                     the "most important thing that we can do on these buildings 
                     is the facade work. All too often we see storefronts that
                     are replicated with sheet goods and applied moldings. You
                     don't get the look and the feel that you need or desire.

In his restoration work, Gronen encouraged the growth of specialized industries. Stackis and Morrison Architectural Millwork, a division of MORRISON BROTHERS COMPANY produced custom woodworking. DUBUQUE SASH AND DOOR MANUFACTURING created wooden storefronts for Main Street. Because older buildings lacked the expansion joints of modern structures, softer mortar with less Portland cement was needed. Typical mortar became too hard and trapped moisture. When dried in the sun, the mortar popped the face off the old brick. Harder brick would not take the movement. The desire to use reclaimed materials from buildings which had to be deconstructed led to the growth of such sources of Mid-America Architectural Salvage.

Gronen left Dubuque in the early 1970s for New York State. He returned in the 1980s when the future of FOUR MOUNDS, the 54-acre GENTLEMAN'S FARM belonging to his grandmother, was to be decided. Gronen, an uncle, and Frank H. BERTSCH created the Four Mounds Foundation in 1987.

That successful venture led Gronen and Jim Gross, a former partner, into property management and restoration projects. Early projects included work on the Octagon House and the SILVER DOLLAR. His restoration of Cottingham & Butler's Town Clock Building involved the removal of external sheet metal and renovating the interior. The upper Main Street project led Gronen to work with Jeff Morton of Morton Design which designed the historic storefronts. This project also led Gronen to learn the use of state and federal tax credits as a source of funding.

An outgrowth of the Four Mounds Foundation was the development of the Youth Empowerment Service which provided vocational training for at-risk youth. Young people involved in service work learned and developed skills. Work involved automobile restoration, wood-working and building restoration. That program led to Housing Education and Rehabilitation Training (HEART). This involved a collaboration of Four Mounds, Dubuque Housing and Community Development, DUBUQUE COMMUNITY SCHOOL DISTRICT, and Four Oaks, Inc. By 2006 this program had led to three home remodelings on Washington Street.

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Source:

1. Kundert, Rob, "Investor, Partners Bring New Life to City's Buildings," Telegraph Herald, January 22, 2006, p. 2A