William A. Baldwin House 501 N. 6th (1892)

William W. Baldwin 1845 – 1936 obtained his law degree from Iowa Law college and
later became the land commissioner for the Chicago, Burlington, Quincy Railroad Company. He
served as president of the school board of Burlington for many years and was also a trustee of the
public library.
The house was built in 1892, this Queen Anne home is a 2 story brick with a multiple gable
rooflines, slate shingles on the main roof and in the gable ends. The brick used has a smooth
texture and fine mortar joints. Window openings are edged with curved, pressed brick that turns
into the window frames. Other features include a polygonal dormer, a first floor curved brick bay
with pressed brick. Slate shingles overhangs the first floor and extend into the gable. The use of
Croisette (cross) and other transomed windows on the first floor shows some influence from the
‘chateauesque style, as does the use of slate, the high pitched roof, and the curved brick which
enhances the massive character. Originally the house featured a semi—circular porch with turned
spindles which extended across the east facade from the entry south, a smaller second-floor
balcony above it, a porch in the southwest corner also with spindles, and a back porch. In 1971 the
front and back porches were removed; the second-floor balcony was simplified and retained with
a small entry porch beneath it. 'The porch on the southwest corner is now enclosed. A low
limestone retaining wall surrounds the half block and is interrupted here for east and south side
entrance steps and iron gates. The location of the east side steps was changed at some early date.
An 1896 photo of the Baldwin home shows the east side steps still in their original location.