The Democrat Building was designed by a prominent Davenport architecture firm of Clausen & Kruse, and it was built in 1923. The firm also designed other historic buildings in Davenport including the Forrest Block, which is next door to the south, the Hibernia Hall, which is next door to the north, the Scott CountySavings Bank, Davenport Municipal Stadium, The Linograph Company Building, and the W.D. Petersen Memorial Music Pavilion in LeClaire Park. The building was built for a local newspaper the Davenport Democrat, which was started in 1848 as the Democratic Banner. Its editorial philosophy was in keeping with that of the political party of the same name. Over the years the paper purchased the Gazette and the Evening Leader. The paper was eventually bought by Lee Enterprises, which published the Daily Times. The merged newspapers became the Times-Democrat and is now known as the Quad-City Times. The newspaper sold the building to The Catholic Messenger, the newspaper for the Catholic Diocese of Davenport. The building served as their headquarters for a couple of decades. The building also housed a dog training school, a vacuum cleaner salesroom, a dance hall and a specialty store. In 2014, a $6 million renovation turned the building into 21 apartments. The building is considered significant because of its association with newspapers in Davenport, and as an example of the local influence of Louis Sullivan, whose work figures prominently in the history of American architecture.
Architecture
The two-storied, freestanding, brick structure with concrete block facing was designed by Davenport architect Rudolph J. Clausen. A historical survey in 1983 indicated that the building utilizes steel in its construction. The words “The Democrat” are etched across the top of the building. It bears the stylistic influence of Louis Sullivan's “jewel box” structures that are associated with the work he did late in his career in the Midwest. These influences are seen in the blocking of windows at the center of the highly geometric façade. The ornamentation of the horizontal band between stories, over the entrances, and along the parapet wall all feature the stylized motifs that are commonly found in his work.
