By Cindy Hadish/Save CR Heritage

CEDAR RAPIDS — A mansion once home to prominent residents in the city’s history, which later served as a place of comfort for grieving families, will usher in a new era with its own role in historic preservation.

The Carl & Mary Koehler History Center announced plans Sept. 9, 2014, to relocate just blocks away from its site at 615 First Ave. SE, to the George B. Douglas home, 800 Second Ave. SE.

Known to many as the former Turner Mortuary, the home was listed for sale in 2012, then donated the following year to the Greater Cedar Rapids Community Foundation by Cedar Memorial owner C. John Linge and his wife, Dina.

The sale price to the History Center was not disclosed, but Jean Brenneman, chief financial officer for the Community Foundation, said the proceeds will fund a permanent endowment.

Brenneman said to do so, the mansion had to be sold at close to fair market value. A capital campaign and proceeds from the sale of the current History Center property will be used to fund renovation of the Douglas Mansion and support museum operations.

During the time it was for sale in 2012, the 10,085 square-foot house was listed for $645,000.

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“We’re really thrilled,” C. John Linge said of the announcement. “I’m just very pleased that the Greater Cedar Rapids Community Foundation was able to facilitate a transfer to a wonderful organization in the community and that the beautiful mansion on Second Avenue will be preserved.”

Linge said a provision of the donation was preservation of the building, which had been used as a funeral home until shortly before the 2008 flood.

Built in 1895-1896 for the George B. Douglas family, the building is on the National Register of Historic Places and contains design touches by artist Grant Wood, including windows.

From 1924 to 1935, Wood lived next to the home above a carriage house at 5 Turner Alley, where he painted “American Gothic” among other works.

The Cedar Rapids Museum of Art owns the studio, which is also on the National Register and was a gift from the Linge family.

Director Caitlin Treece said the move will take place as soon as the building is ready, but no timeline has been set.

The History Center began in 1969 as the Linn County Historical Museum Association, formed by residents interested in permanently preserving the history of Linn County.

Artifacts initially were stored in volunteers’ homes.

The first history museum was located at Eighth Avenue and First Street SE in Cedar Rapids.  In 1997, a capital campaign began to build a new museum at the former Rapids Chevrolet site and the new museum opened in 1999.

Its mission is to “provide a unique community resource that preserves and shares the stories of our past, and connects people of all ages to the present and future of Linn County.”

The History Center became The Carl & Mary Koehler History Center in 2004, honoring the Koehlers’ significant financial contributions. The mansion’s history extends to the historic Brucemore estate, 2160 Linden Dr. SE.

Caroline Sinclair, the estate’s first owner, had the Brucemore mansion built between 1884 and 1886 as a home for her family, which included six children.

In 1906, she traded homes with the Douglas family – owners of Douglas Starch Works – so her family could live in the city and the Douglasses moved to what was then the countryside.

The swap was considered the largest real estate transaction in Cedar Rapids history at the time.

John B. Turner acquired the property from the Sinclairs in 1923 and converted it into Turner Mortuary.

It was Turner who hired Grant Wood to refurbish and decorate the home. He also invited  Wood to live rent-free in the studio space above the carriage house. Turner purchased many of Wood’s paintings, which eventually were donated to the Cedar Rapids Museum of Art.

Cedar Memorial purchased Turner Funeral Homes in 1978.

Linge’s parents, David and Audrey Linge, restored the mansion to its “Victorian charm” in 1982, Linge said, with plush curtains, floral wallpaper, ornate decor and pink-toned paint and carpeting.

“It was like walking back 120 years,” he said. At its peak, the funeral home served more than 400 families annually.

The flood ushered in a short-lived era as headquarters for Theatre Cedar Rapids and the Cedar Rapids Symphony Orchestra, both displaced by floodwaters from their downtown locations.

“It was really a fun time for the building because there was so much activity,” Linge said.

Beth DeBoom, president of Save Cedar Rapids Heritage, called the History Center’s move “a perfect fit” and credited the Linges for their donation.

Save CR Heritage helped promote and publicize the reuse of the building, one of only a handful of mansions left near downtown Cedar Rapids.

After the demolition of the historic First Christian Church, just one block away, and construction of a parking ramp for Physicians’ Clinic of Iowa next to the Grant Wood Studio, the group’s members were concerned about the fate of the Douglas mansion.

“Bravo to the Linges for knowing the historic value of their building and doing the right thing with it,” DeBoom said. “It’s a great gift to the community.”

See more photos from inside the historic mansion and the building’s chronology, followed by today’s press release from the History Center, below:

Today’s press release from The Carl & Mary Koehler History Center:

Grant Wood Studio and Douglas Mansion Chronology

Source: Cedar Rapids Museum of Art

1891 George B. Douglas purchases three adjacent Second Avenue lots on which to build a new home. George B. Douglas’ father was one of the founders of Quaker Oats, while he founded the Douglas Starch Works. A few years later, construction begins on the Douglas’ new residence and carriage house. The architect’s identity is not known.

1906 George B. Douglas completes a deal with Caroline Sinclair, owner of Brucemore, to exchange the Douglas mansion for the Brucemore mansion. The Sinclair family eventually moves into 800 Second Avenue. At some point during their tenure here, the Sinclairs have the entire carriage house moved about 40 feet to the east.

1920s After the popularization of the automobile, the 600 and 700 blocks of Second Avenue became known as Auto Alley because of all the car dealerships and service stations located there.

1923 John B. Turner, who established his mortuary business in 1888, and his son David Turner acquire the property from the Sinclairs and being the process of converting it into Turner Mortuary. It opens to the public in 1924 and The Gazette reports Grant Wood “was responsible for the decorating and furnishing of the interior, and the landscaping of the grounds. He not only personally supervised the work, but also did much of it himself.” Wood also designed the iron gates at the front entrance. The brick barn in the rear of the property was converted into a “modern garage, with space for six cars.”

1924 At the suggestion of the Turners, Wood begins to build a studio and residence above the garage. The ability to live rent-free means Wood can eventually give up teaching his job at McKinley High School. The Community Players produce their first play before a tiny audience in Grant Wood’s studio, starting the theater group that leads today’s Theatre Cedar Rapids.

1932 A fire burns part of the studio, injuring Grant, Nan, and their mother. Grant had to replace the original wooden floor with the one that remains today.

1935 John B. Turner dies at the age of 74. Wood moves out of 5 Turner Alley into a home he purchases in Iowa City. Over the next 65 years, the Studio is rented out as an apartment and even boutique on occasion.

1954 David Turner dies.

1972 John B. Turner II (son of David Turner) and his wife Happy donate 84 works by Grant Wood to the Cedar Rapids Museum of Art. They make additional gifts through 1983.

1978 Cedar Memorial Funeral Homes, founded by David Linge, purchases Turner Funeral Homes.

1982 The Douglas Mansion and Grant Wood Studio are placed on the National Register of Historic Places.

1983 John B. Turner II dies.

2000 The last tenant moves out of 5 Turner Alley.

2002 The Grant Wood Studio building and related property are donated to the Cedar Rapids Museum of Art.

2004 Grant Wood Studio & Visitor Center opens to the public.