A Brick House

So you're dying to know where the first brick house in Des Moines was built!  In 1856 Dr. Francis Grimmell built the first brick house in Des Moines at 6th Avenue and Keosaqua Way.   At the time, that part of town was called  'Capitol Hill' because in the 1850's a significant number of the populace wanted the Capitol Building  built on the west side of the river. Ha!  Capitol-less it stood until 1901 when the brick house was torn down and the Victoria Hotel constructed on the spot. The hotel was a goner in 1962.  We now know that corner as the home of American Republic Insurance.  You were wondering about the picture, weren't you? 

Source: Des Moines Register, 3/9/1996 p. 2 N-E
Photo courtesy Gerry Rowland