Sioux City Central High School and Central Annex

The Sioux City Central High School and Central Annex, also known as the Castle on the Hill, are historic buildings located in Sioux City, Iowa, United States. The high school building was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1974.[1] The annex was added to the historic designation in 2016.[2]

Sioux City Central High School and Central Annex
Sioux City Central High School building
Sioux City Central High School and Central Annex is located in Iowa
Sioux City Central High School and Central Annex
Sioux City Central High School and Central Annex is located in the United States
Sioux City Central High School and Central Annex
Location1212 Nebraska & 1121 Jackson Sts., Sioux City, Iowa
Coordinates42°30′12.6″N 96°24′10.3″W / 42.503500°N 96.402861°W / 42.503500; -96.402861
Arealess than one acre
Built1892
Built byEric Lund
ArchitectF.S. Allen
Architectural styleGothic Revival
Romanesque Revival
NRHP reference No.74000817[1] (original)
16000641 (increase)
Significant dates
Added to NRHPJuly 23, 1974
Boundary increaseSeptember 19, 2016

History

edit

The building was designed by Joliet, Illinois architect F.S. Allen, and built by contractor Eric Lund of Minneapolis.[3] The Gothic Revival and Romanesque Revival structure was built for $104,460, and it reflects the flamboyant attitude of the community during a period of economic expansion.[4] The exterior is composed of brownish-pink Lake Superior Sandstone. It features a large central bell tower that is flanked by two projecting pavilions that are capped by a stepped-gable roof, and turrets at the corners. Initially, this was a three-story building capped with a hipped roof.[3]

By 1911 the building had become too small. The north wing was completed in 1912 for $225,000, and it was designed to complement the original building. The stone was purposely smoked to match the older stone.[4] The school received the name Central High School in 1924 when other schools were built. The building was expanded again in 1930 when the hipped roof was removed and the fourth floor was added. The whole interior of the building was also remodeled at that time. The final expansion was the brick annex that was built to the south of the main building. Central High School was closed in 1972 when three new high schools were built in the city.

The Castle on the Hill Association acquired the building from the local school district for $1 in 1976.[4] Initially, it housed various nonprofit organizations. NuStyle Development Corporation of Woodbine, Iowa converted the building into apartments. After extensive renovations the Castle on the Hill Apartments were opened in 2003. In May 2016 plans to convert the annex into 50 more apartments were unveiled.[5]

References

edit
  1. ^ a b "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service. March 13, 2009.
  2. ^ "Weekly List of Actions Taken on Properties: 9/19/16 through 9/23/16". National Park Service. Retrieved 2016-12-15.
  3. ^ a b Mrs. Raymond J. Goodson. "Mylius-Eaton House". National Park Service. Retrieved 2016-12-15. with photos
  4. ^ a b c "Central High School/Castle on the Hill". Sioux City History. Retrieved 2016-12-15.
  5. ^ Kirby Kaufman (May 4, 2016). "Historic Sioux City building could become 50-unit apartment complex". Sioux City Journal. Sioux City. Retrieved 2016-12-15.