CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa — Time had taken its toll on wooden corbels and other architectural features of the early-1900s J.E. Halvorson House, but thanks to a Linn County Historic Preservation grant, those more than century-old exterior elements look as good as new.

Barry and Nathan Anderson of BJAnderson Services finished the repair, restoration and painting project this July.

In addition to the grant from the Linn County Board of Supervisors, via the Linn County Historic Preservation Commission, the project received a generous donation of primer and paint from Klinger Paint Co., with a retail store at 333 Fifth Ave. SE, Cedar Rapids.

The public is invited to view the completed project during the upcoming Save CR Heritage salvage sale from 9-11 a.m. Saturday, Aug. 10, 2024, at the J.E. Halvorson House, 606 Fifth Ave. SE.

Proceeds from the sale of vintage doors, windows, heating grates, doorknobs, wood trim and other items salvaged from homes destined for demolition, benefit the J.E. Halvorson House, built in 1905 and named in honor of John Erik Halvorson, a beloved Save CR Heritage board member who was killed by a drunk driver while on his way to work in 2020.

Sun exposure and harsh weather had taken a toll on the home’s corbels — a type of ornate bracket — and decorative wood medallions and scrollwork on the house.

Saving those architectural elements sets an example for other home and business owners on the importance of maintaining those components, which give buildings their distinctive character.

Save CR Heritage board members have seen instances of building owners who have removed wood ornamentation for cost savings, rather than painting and repairing those elements, but doing so not only takes away from the character of the building, but from the surrounding neighborhood, as well.

The all-volunteer nonprofit held a free educational session last August to try to prevent further degradation of older buildings in Cedar Rapids and beyond. The session was designed to help anyone living in historic districts in Cedar Rapids, as well as owners of older homes in Mount Vernon, Fairfax, Marion, Ely, Palo and other towns and rural areas.

Bethany Jordan, a board member and past president of Save CR Heritage, who is an architect with Martin Gardner Architecture, certified in historic preservation, and Terry Philips, of T.K. Enterprises, based in Washington, Iowa, an award-winning preservationist and expert in the rehabilitation of older buildings, explained the terminology of exterior building ornamentation, the reasons to keep those elements and how to maintain and preserve them.

Architectural styles of homes also were discussed, and Save CR Heritage has a limited number of educational handouts that explain those styles for attendees at the upcoming Aug. 10 sale.

Since acquiring the building in late 2020, Save CR Heritage has been maintaining the J.E. Halvorson House, one of just three remaining homes out of 60 that populated its neighborhood in downtown Cedar Rapids in the early 1900s. Because of that, saving these important features took on added significance.

The organization is raising money to move the house, as the group does not own the land where it is located. The porch, which was not part of the ornamentation project, will be rebuilt after the move.

Save CR Heritage has been raising awareness of at-risk historic properties in Cedar Rapids since 2012. Help continue this important educational and advocacy work by donating here. We can’t do it without you!

See “before” and “after” photos of some of the exterior ornamentation, below, and view all of the progress on Aug. 10, at 606 Fifth Ave. SE, next to Kathy’s Pies in Cedar Rapids. (photos/Cindy Hadish, Save CR Heritage)