Commercial & Industrial Buildings, Bell Block, 470 Central Avenue, Dubuque, Dubuque County, IA

Significance: Born in Scotland in 1827, John Bell moved to Montreal in 1844 and then to Dubuque in November 1853 to work as a carpenter and joiner. After military service in the Civil War he returned to Dubuque, and engaged as a contractor. As part of Bell and Greet or by himself, he "built many of the best buildings in the city." This brick block is one of the speculative structures constructed by Bell around town. It is architecturally significant as a representative and well-preserved example of Victorian commercial design.
Survey number: HABS IA-160-S
Building/structure dates: 1892 Initial Construction