Welcome To Iowa City – June 1887.

On Tuesday, June 21, 1887, The Iowa City Republican issued an eight-page salute to Iowa City – a classic overview of our fair city as it was so very long ago. You can see the decorative front page here. Now, here’s pages four, five, and six – which offer an extensive overview of some of Iowa City’s most vibrant businesses…

First of all, meet D.R. Coover and his Elite Photography Studio at 11 Dubuque Street. Read more about Iowa City’s turn-of-the-century photographers here.

And, of course, there’s John M. Whetstone’s Drug Store – on the corner of Clinton and Washington Streets. In 1906, The Iowa City Commercial Club published a little booklet entitled Our Live Ones – Iowa City – hiring a cartoonist by the name Hruska to draw 40 sketches of our city’s most prominent leaders. John & Robert Whetstone (above right) were, obviously, part of the booklet. Read more here.

And speaking of drug stores – there’s J.F. Houser’s Drug Store on College Street.

Looking for a place to stay? Read more about The St. James Hotel and other hotels of the late 19th century here. Below – both The Crummey House and The Pinney House (called The Palace Hotel in the 1880’s) had a long history in Iowa City.

Need to pick up some groceries? Read more about John Sueppel and the Sueppel family here. Other grocers in Iowa City included John Seydel and Charles Barrow (above) and J. Walter Lee (below) – who had a variety of retail shops in Iowa City – including the SUI Book Store.

Here’s a treat. Check out Frank Stebbins and his Franklin Meat Market, Henry Sumner and his large dairy farm, and, of course, visit Mr. Ward’s Ice Cream shop.

Apparently, two Iowa Citians were approved by the city to operate liquor stores – M. Levy on Dubuque Street, and Capt. H. Lauer – who had a shop near the Iowa City Republican office. His wife – Mrs. M. Lauer – ran a very popular restaurant nearby.

For those looking for a less-intoxicating drink, there was The Mineral Springs – located just one block south of the Burlington, Cedar Rapids & Northern (BCR&N) Railroad depot which was located near today’s Iowa City Recreation Center.

The business partners – Stern & Wilner – ran The Golden Eagle – The One Price Clothing House, while E.F. Clapp had Clapp’s Clothing House (above). Jacques Bloom and Max Mayer partnered in Bloom’s Clothing House while G. Startsman ran his well-established jewelry store (below). By 1906, Max Mayer had opened his own clothing store – Good Clothing Store on S. Clinton Street. Read more here.

Insuring your valuables in Iowa City could be done through A.E Swisher & Purdy, George W. Dodder, Joseh Rada (above), or Roger Swire (below).

*Did you know that Maresh & Holubar served as SHSI’s fifth location from 1882-1901?*

Looking for some nice furniture? Try Maresh & Holubar or the Schneider Brothers (above), or check out (below) The Furniture Men – W.P. Hohenschuh & A.B. Cree. By 1906, the Civil War hero – Albert B. Cree had passed, so W.P. Hohenschuh (see pic below) had branched out on his own – opening a new store at 20. S. Dubuque Street. Read more here.

Iowa City dry goods & hardware needs were covered by Frank Tanner, Shepard & Carpenter, Joel Lightner (above), and Lichty & Thomas Hardware (below).

Be sure to stop by A.C. Hinman’s Dry Goods Store, and J.A. Pickering’s China Hall for your lighting needs.

On the corner of Iowa Avenue & Linn Street was **T.H. Warren’s Iowa City Steam Laundry**.

Now, we come to lumber & paints – meet James S. Mahana and Will Masser.

Need any iron work – talk to Edward Long at his Machine Shop (above). And if you need a horse shoe replaced or want to rent a buggy for a road trip, visit Foster & Hess Livery (below).

Don’t forget the Johnson County farmers! Read more about farm implement dealers – James H. Maggard and Thomas C. Carson (above), and, of course, there’s Dell Calkins (oil) and William Marshall (coal) if you need to stock up on heating supplies (below).

Of course, Iowa Citians had a wide selection of banks to choose from. Read more about the Johnson County Savings Bank here.

Well, that does it for now. By our count – 48 different businesses – from ice cream to insurance, from coal to threshing machines – all serving the good people of Iowa City and Johnson County in 1887.