Fort Madison Main Street

Cattermole Library 

Henry Cattermole, of Fort Madison, Iowa, died on April 1, 1891 and bequeathed a sum of $10,000 in his will to build a training school. The money was set aside, because it was insufficient to build the school. Elizabeth Cattermole realized the need of a public library and put $30,000 towards the Cattermole Memorial Library. On February 19, 1894 the library was sold to the City of Fort Madison for $1.00, and the deed was presented to the city council. On July 20, 1894 the building was completed and opened to the public. Elizabeth Cattermole also included a $500.00 "starter sum" for books. Since then, the library has been tax-supported. Elizabeth Cattermole died before the completion of her grand project. Her last words are said to be "I wish I could see it." Oil portraits of Henry and Elizabeth hang on the south wall of the main level of the library.

Individually listed on the National Register of Historic Places and listed as a contributing building to our National Historic District (State #56-00126), the iconic community landmark [the Cattermole Library] was built in 1893/1894 and is the only example of the Romanesque Revival architectural style in downtown Fort Madison and the only documented example thus far in the entire city of Fort Madison. Attempting to leverage state and federal funding in conjunction with local funding, the City of Fort Madison and the local Main Street program are trying to implement sensitive rehabilitation and preservation methods to allow for the re-use of the building. Having been vacant and without a tenant for nearly five (5) years, the building has fallen victim to deferred maintenance. The historic structure does not currently have any accessible entrances on any elevation, most of the plaster is badly damaged, and all of the electrical and heating & cooling systems are antiquated and do not meet current code. Our [City and Main Street] goal is to renovate the building, using the Secretary of Interior Standards for Rehabilitation as guiding principles, and bring it back into the public realm.

In the last twenty years, our community's understanding of our diverse culture in Fort Madison has changed and there has been a recent push to highlight the vital involvement of the Hispanics in the development of the 19th and 20th century railroad (both the historic Chicago, Quincy and Burlington and the Santa Fe lines) as well as the African Americans leadership in the development of the western frontier in the early and mid 19th century. The first floor would be dedicated to rotating exhibits, arranged by: the Old Fort using their historic military artifacts and illustrations; the local chapter of the League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC) and other local Hispanic organizations and concerned citizens who have primary resources related to the history of African Americans in Lee County. Essentially, the first floor is to be a publicly accessible space that investigates and presents a multi-cultural display that explores a modern take on historiography in Fort Madison, Lee County, and Southeast Iowa.

The second floor will be commercial office space, inhabited by the Fort Madison Partners group which is a family of organizations, including: Main Street, the Chamber of Commerce, Southeast Iowa Regional Riverboat Commission, and Fort Madison Economic Development Group. In addition to all of the public pedestrian traffic that Partners receives through those served through Main Street and the Chamber, Partners will essentially be the new "visitor's center" for Fort Madison. There is currently a void in our community, and we are without a dedicated Welcome Center. It is the Partners' goal to sensitively renovate the Cattermole, using historic preservation, green standards and accessibility considerations, so that not only the residents of Fort Madison but visitors alike will also be able to visit, explore and learn from the Cattermole building and its exhibits.

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