Commercial & Industrial Buildings, Thomas J. Mulgrew Company, Office Building, 30 Main Street, Dubuque, Dubuque County, IA

Significance: Born in Dubuque in 1867, Thomas J. Mulgrew began his working career as a bellhop in the Julien Hotel. Several jobs later, he worked as the manager for the Hansen and Lincoln Coal Company. Mulgrew left that company after eight years to begin his own coal supply firm in May 1893. Nine years later he incorporated the Mulgrew-Boys Company with a capitalization of $100,000 to handle coal, ice, lime, cement, building materials, sewer pipe and brick and tile. Mulgrew was a Democrat, an Elk and a Catholic. In addition to his wholesale supply company, he served as a director of the Dubuque National Bank, the Dubuque Art Manufacturing Company and the Dubuque Industrial Association and owned a cotton plantation in Mississippi. A Dubuque business gazette described his wholesale operation in 1911: "The office, yards and ice houses are advantageously located at Jones and Iowa Streets and occupy a ground space of four acres. A spur from the Illinois Central Railroad runs to each yard, affording the speedy loading and unloading of cars. An average number of forty men are employed, more being needed during the winter season. The payroll represents a sum of $25,000 yearly. This plant excels any in the state of Iowa in facilities for storing, handling and shipping coal and ice." Four years later, as Mulgrew's company was thriving, he erected this modest building to house his business offices. The last structure remaining from what was once an extensive complex along the Illinois Central Railroad, this office building is significant for its association with an important early Dubuque industry. Virtually intact, it reflects one of the prevailing styles of its time and retains a high degree of architectural integrity.
Survey number: HABS IA-160-BK
Building/structure dates: 1915 Initial Construction