Browse Items · Council Bluffs Public Library

Today It Is Being Razed

More recently used as a classroom building and convent for St. Francis students and teachers, it has outlived its usefulness. The convent was moved into a new building at left. New additions in the lower picture include street paving, street…

Tags: Convents, Fifth Avenue, Seventh Street, St. Francis Xavier Academy

Council Bluffs Changing Scene

In 1887, St. Francis Xavier Academy stood at the corner of Seventh St. and Fifth Ave. The building, then surrounded by young trees and a white rail fence, was used as an exclusive girls school which attracted students from all over the Midwest. At…

Tags: Fifth Avenue, schools, Seventh Street, St. Francis Xavier Academy

Council Bluffs Changing Scene

The west side of Main Street was lined with small shops, stores and office in 1887. At the corner of Main and First Avenue, center, stood a banking house and on the south corner the "Excelsior Gallery" A sign across the street at lower right said…

Today

Today...all the old buildings are gone, except the one at extreme left. Dominating the present scene are the B and G Hosiery Shops, the Clark Drug Store and Joe Smith and Co. Citizens no longer line stiffly for such a common occurrence as a…

Council Bluffs Changing Scene

Citizens in derby hats and high button shoes stood stiffly in front of the old First National Bank in this 1887 picture. The Kimball and Champ Building stood at the corner of Main St. and Broadway. The First National was one of the earliest city…

Tags: A.B. Howe & Co., Broadway, First National Bank, Grocers, Kimball & Champ Building, L. Kirscht & Co, Main Street, Manhattan Store, Milwaukee Bridge and Iron Works, Rice and Raymond Real Estate

The Scales Are Now Gone

All wiring has moved underground and parking meters have replaced hitching posts. The streets are smooth asphalt and traffic moves one way. The courthouse at left, opened in 1887, is still in use although the tower has come down.

Council Bluffs Changing Scene

In 1887, the junction of Main and Pearl Streets looked like this. The little building that looks like a popcorn stand was the city scales. There were hitching posts along the streets and all wiring was suspended on cross-arm poles. There were…

Tags: City Scales, Haymarket, Main Street, Pearl Street