William Joseph builds in Uptown Creston

The Creston Historic Preservation Commission is appointed by the Creston mayor and city council members. Creston’s Commission has five members whose job is to educate the public on the importance of historic preservation.

Creston has many resources that created rich history and the commission surveys them for their historical history and architectural features. Once surveyed we educate the public on their history and architecture. The members also make efforts to preserve those resources. Since most of these are privately owned, the commission hopes that bringing the architecture and history to light will reveal to the public the importance of preserving these pieces of history for the next generation.

During the recent downtown survey of Creston’s buildings the commission has learned about the people responsible for construction in the early history of the community. Information about the architects who lived and worked in Creston during the major construction periods of Creston’s history was learned. Last month, the featured architect was W.K. Ball, this month we reveal a locally born architect, William Shurl Joseph. He was responsible for planning of buildings in the Creston area from the late 1890s-1906.

William S. Joseph was born on a farm in Adair County to Belinda Shurl and Jonathon Joseph in March 1874. By 1878, his mother had died and by 1880, when William Shurl Joseph was about 10 years old, his father moved the four children to Pleasant Township, in Union County. In 1885 they had moved to Spaulding Township, Union County, north of Creston. William S. Joseph continued living on the farm until he left to attend Iowa State College in Ames where he studied civil engineering. He graduated with his bachelor’s degree on Nov. 10, 1897. W.S. Joseph married his wife, Amanda Butler, in Creston on Dec. 23, 1897. This was the beginning of his career as architect in Creston. Many of the early architects had degrees in civil engineering. Even Frank Lloyd Wright went to college and studied civil engineering, later becoming an architect.

W.S. Joseph was architect on several different buildings and homes in Creston and the surrounding area. The Improvement Bulletin in 1902, 1904 and 1905 announce many of W.S. Joseph’s projects. Joseph was architect on a new business block that Frank Phillips was to build in Creston. No address for the building was listed but Frank Phillips and his father-in-law had property from the 100 block of North Pine transferred into their name around that time. In 1903, he was the architect hired for an addition built onto an existing elementary school at the time. In 1904, the new fire engine house was being built on the 200 block of North Maple, Joseph as the architect on this project. W.S. Joseph was receiving bids until Sept 29, 1904, on the erection of this building.

Joseph was also the architect that designed the 40 X 80 feet bank building in Shannon City, also in 1904. At the same time, he also had taken on the designing of a two-story brick building owned by Benson & Noonan in Creston located at 119 N. Maple St. It was to have a concrete foundation, pressed brick, Bedford Stone, tin roof, and galvanized iron cornice. The interior would have flint plaster, yellow pine flooring and hot water heat. This building was to cost $8,000 to build. In 1905, William S. Joseph drew up plans for the remodeling of the New York Candy Kitchen at 110 N. Maple St. The building was to be remodeled with pressed brick, galvanized iron cornice, plate glass, mosaic flooring and yellow pine.

W.S. Joseph was also the architect for the building of several homes in Creston. One was a 26 X 42 feet residence of Dr. B.F. Gilmore on 601 N. Oak St. in 1904, to be built of pressed brick, Bedford stone, with porch columns and parquet flooring for a cost of $2,000. In the same year he was planning a new home for Dr. A.J. Myers. Myers’ residence at 508 West Mills and was to be two stories built of brick and stone and had metal partitions, cornice and a skylight. He also preparing plans for a residence to be built by A.B. Joseph in 1905 in Creston and it was to be a two-story home, 24 x 40 feet with concrete foundation, oak and maple floors for $2,500.

A.B. Joseph was actually his wife, Amanda B. Joseph. In 1905, they were living at 307 N. Maple St. W.S. Joseph and his family moved to Weiser, Idaho in 1906. By 1917, William Shurl Joseph moved to Seattle, Washington, and his occupation was listed as draftsman. The final years of his work, was as the civil engineer for the city of Seattle. He died in 1930 at the age of 57 years.