Encyclopedia Dubuque
"Encyclopedia Dubuque is the online authority for all things Dubuque, written by the people who know the city best.”
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Affiliated with the Local History Network of the State Historical Society of Iowa, and the Iowa Museum Association.
REDSTONE (THE)
REDSTONE (THE). Once the home of Elizabeth Cooper; the daughter of industrialist Austin Augustine COOPER, and her husband, the Redstone (504 Bluff) is the last of three mansions built by A. A. Cooper. One home, the York, was demolished in 1934 to make room for the Federal Building on 6th Street. The GREYSTONE, across the street from the Redstone, was demolished in 1956 for a city parking lot. (1)
The 27-room Redstone was built for Cooper in 1894 and given by him to his daughter as a wedding gift. (2) According to popular accounts, Cooper was not certain that his daughter had married well, so the home was constructed as a duplex to assure his daughter a source of income. The home was also deeded to his daughter, a very unusual practice. Beginning in the 1920s, the home had many owners. Part of the home was converted into apartments.
The Redstone was a popular nightspot in the early 1970s. Artist Frank LICCIARDI operated GALLERIA (THE) from 1969 to 1972. David Schmitz took over the bar and renamed it The Hearth. The house was vacant for about one year before Roger Piekenbrock and Wayne Oxberger opened the bar they called The Redstone. (3) In 1977 the house was added to the NATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES. (4) It was a featured part of the "Victorian House Tour and Progressive Dinner" program sponsored by the NATIONAL MISSISSIPPI RIVER MUSEUM AND AQUARIUM. (5)
Vacated in July 1983, the Redstone was threatened with demolition. The Dubuque Historic Improvement Company attracted sixteen other investors who invested $300,000 to finance renovation. Originally the purchase of the home was said to be linked to the new buyers receiving a $125,000 low interest federal loan. When this was not received, the asking price was lowered $14,000 from the original offer of $154,000. (6) An additional $550,000 was borrowed from the DUBUQUE BANK AND TRUST COMPANY and $35,000 from the City of Dubuque. (7)
Renovation, begun on October 15, 1984, resulted in fifteen rooms including deluxe suites with sitting rooms and marble fireplaces. (8) Work ended in time for the opening ceremonies held on April 9, 1985. A preview of the renovation saw an estimated 2,000 people wait up to fifty-five minutes to walk through the home. (9)
The official grand opening was held during DUBUQUEFEST/VERY SPECIAL ARTS May 18-19, 1985. (10) The Redstone offered lodging with fifteen rooms elegantly furnished in Victorian decor with modern luxuries including jaccuzzis in some rooms. In the morning, a light breakfast menu was offered to the public in the tiled dining room.
In 1985 the Redstone was put up for sale at a price of $875,000. (11) With no buyers, the house was placed back on the market of May 1999 at a price of $660,000. (12) It was later sold and in 2013 remained a bed-and-breakfast location in Dubuque.
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Source:
1. Hendricks, Mike. "Redstone Gets New Lease on Life as a Hotel," Telegraph Herald, Oct. 12, 1984, p. 2. Online: http://news.google.com/newspapers?id=tsRFAAAAIBAJ&sjid=4b0MAAAAIBAJ&pg=4289,1229741&dq=redstone+dubuque&hl=en
2. Bergstrom, Kathy. "Group Decides to 'Relax,' Sell Redstone," Telegraph Herald, Oct. 25, 1996, p. 2. Online: http://news.google.com/newspapers?id=JlZFAAAAIBAJ&sjid=1rsMAAAAIBAJ&pg=2743,4200979&dq=aa+cooper+dubuque&hl=en
3. Goessl, Joan. "Fate of Redstone Hinges on Possible Buyer," Telegraph Herald, July 29, 1983, p. 2. Online: http://news.google.com/newspapers?id=XudFAAAAIBAJ&sjid=7uwMAAAAIBAJ&pg=3635,3157745&dq=redstone+dubuque&hl=en
4. "Three Buildings Get Historical Status," Telegraph Herald, Jan. 9, 1977, p. 6. Online: http://news.google.com/newspapers?id=sNdBAAAAIBAJ&sjid=C6oMAAAAIBAJ&pg=6509,811008&dq=redstone+dubuque&hl=en
5. "Victorian House Tour and Progressive Dinner" (pamphlet) Online: http://www.gfba.org/convention/Fri_Photo_of_Victorian_Houses%5B1%5D.pdf
6. Bergstrom, Kathy.
7. Ibid.
8. Ibid.
9. Kirchen, Rich. "2000 Tour Redstone Inn," Telegraph Herald, Apr. 15, 1985, p. 2. Online: http://news.google.com/newspapers?id=hCFRAAAAIBAJ&sjid=9dMMAAAAIBAJ&pg=6519,1733560&dq=redstone+dubuque&hl=en
10. Ibid.
11. Ibid.
12. Berg, Renee. "With Renewed Focus, Group Makes Another Pitch to Sell Redstone Inn," Telegraph Herald, July 8, 1999, p. 3. Online: http://news.google.com/newspapers?id=Op9dAAAAIBAJ&sjid=3lwNAAAAIBAJ&pg=2408,1666406&dq=redstone+dubuque&hl=en