E. W. Byers Building

The E. W. Byers Building was built in 1883 and until the 1930s had two storefronts before being remodeled for one store. Over the years it housed a number of businesses, including a restaurant and bakery and a boot and shoe store. Its distinctive features include an external stairway and balconies; although the original wooden stairs and balconies were long ago replaced, the newer wrought-iron ones are similar and do not harm the building's integrity. The windows on both the front and east side have embellished segmental arched brick hoodmolds with a brick keystone, and the arch is repeated in the tops of the recessed panels and in the corbeled frieze. Another notable feature was the brick sidewalk along the east side that Byers installed himself, an uncommon practice in the 1880s, which remained until it was replaced during the Iowa Highway 5 project in 1995.

Albia, Iowa · United States