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Princess Sweet Shop (Iowa Falls, Iowa)

Coordinates: 42°31′10″N 93°15′52″W / 42.51944°N 93.26444°W / 42.51944; -93.26444
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Princess--Sweet Shop
Princess Sweet Shop (Iowa Falls, Iowa) is located in Iowa
Princess Sweet Shop (Iowa Falls, Iowa)
Princess Sweet Shop (Iowa Falls, Iowa) is located in the United States
Princess Sweet Shop (Iowa Falls, Iowa)
Location607 Washington Ave.
Iowa Falls, Iowa
Coordinates42°31′10″N 93°15′52″W / 42.51944°N 93.26444°W / 42.51944; -93.26444
Arealess than one acre
Built1935
ArchitectKlippel, L.L.; Sprague, J.J.
Architectural styleArt Deco
Part ofWashington Avenue Commercial Historic District (ID12000889)
MPSIowa Falls MPS
NRHP reference No.93000957[1]
Added to NRHPOctober 1, 1993

The Princess Sweet Shop is a historic building located in Iowa Falls, Iowa, United States. It is noted as "an outstanding example of Art Deco design from 1935. The Carrara Glass façade, and streamlined woodwork are typical of Art Deco design of the 1920s and 1930s, but a rarity in a small town in Iowa."[2] Ernie Karrys(Karamitsanis) and Nicholas P. Pergakis opened the Princess in 1915. Two years later, The Sweet Shop opened by Harry Pergakis. These three men were born in the town of Asprokampos, Greece. It was common for Greek immigrants to establish candy shop around the U.S.[3] They combined their operations at the Princess location in 1928. Sadly, Nicholas died of cancer in September 1928 at age 39.<relative of N. Pergakis> The building was destroyed in a fire on December 25, 1934. Local architect L.L. Klippel designed the new building, which was completed in 1935. It was the first building in Iowa Falls that was air conditioned.[3] Members of the Harry Perkagis family maintained ownership until 1987. The business is still in operation as a soda fountain under different ownership.

The building was individually listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1993. It was included as a contributing property in the Washington Avenue Commercial Historic District in 2012.[4]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service. March 13, 2009.
  2. ^ Princess Sweet Shop. National Park Service http://www.nps.gov/history/Nr/travel/hardin/pri.htm
  3. ^ a b Molly Myers Naumann. "Princess - Sweet Shop". National Park Service. Retrieved 2016-07-02. with photos
  4. ^ Molly Myers Naumann. "Washington Avenue Commercial Historic District". National Park Service. Retrieved 2016-11-07.