North of Grand Neighborhood Association

**UPDATE Sept. 19: This event has been postponed. We will post new information as soon as we have it.**

Join the North of Grand Neighborhood Association for a special presentation at Plymouth Place next week.

Raymond Hueholt, the building’s architect, will speak Wednesday, Sept. 19, 2012, beginning at 12:30 p.m. at Plymouth Place, 4111 Ingersoll Avenue. The event is free and open to the public. Refreshments will follow his talk; RSVP by calling (515) 274-0438.

Plymouth Place was recently deemed eligible for the National Register of Historic Places as an exceptional example of mid-20th century Modern architecture, a movement that was born of the desire to separate from the practice of designing from historical models and the maturation of the industrial machine age.

Now 90 and living in a retirement home in Urbandale, Hueholt worked for the firm Smith, Voorhees and Jensen of Des Moines as the project architect on Plymouth Place and is credited with its design. Hueholt states he was influenced by three major issues as he developed the building design: the first was the desire to impose as little as possible on the site and to retain as many of the trees as possible; the second was to satisfy the numerous HUD requirements; and the third was existing architecture, specifically Marina City in Chicago (1963, Bertrand Goldberg), from which he drew inspiration.

Construction on Plymouth Place began in the summer of 1966; and the building opened in the spring of 1968, seeking residents who were age 62 or older to fill its 200+ units.

Hueholt is also credited with designing the Des Moines Botanical Center (1979).

The North of Grand (NOG) Neighborhood Association honors its roots with the photography exhibit “Take a Trip Through History: An Exhibit of Images Since 1879” in September at Scottish Rite Park in Des Moines.

The exhibit will be on display Sept. 3-28, 2012, in the Scottish Rite Park Art Gallery, 2909 Woodland Avenue. Public hours are Monday-Friday, 8 a.m.-4:30 p.m. There is no admission fee.

As part of historic research conducted in 2011-2012, NOG leaders have been able to uncover the fascinating stories of NOG residents past and present in order to piece together a glimpse of early development in Des Moines, the effects of which can still be seen today. This historically-rich area located between 31st and 42nd streets, 1-235 and Grand Avenue, is a safe, affordable, tree-lined neighborhood that is desirable due to its proximity to Ingersoll shops, restaurants, the bus line, well-established churches, quality schools and historic architecture.

The research was compiled into a nomination for the Greenwood Park Plats Historic District (from 39th-42nd, Grand Ave. – Center Street) for listing on the National Register of Historic Places. The State Nominations Review Committee will review the nomination prior to submission to the National Park Service, which oversees the National Register. This photography exhibit draws attention to the project and the research that took place and was collected. It is a collaborative effort by the North of Grand Neighborhood Association and the Community Development Department at the City of Des Moines, and supported in part by the State Historical Society of Iowa, Historical Resource Development Program; Polk County; Drake University; private donations and volunteer resources.

About Scottish Rite Park
Opened in 1973, Scottish Rite Park is a 12-story, 168-unit building which sits on 10 acres of land on Des Moines’ near-west side. As a senior living community, Scottish Rite Park offers residents an attractive and active retirement setting.

The property was originally owned by James Callanan, a successful businessman, upon which he built his home in 1876 (pictured). For decades, it was among Des Moines’ finest homes. After Callanan’s death in 1904, the home became Hills Retreat for the mentally afflicted (1905). About 1948, it was renamed Hillcrest Hospital, and served the same purpose until it merged with Lutheran Hospital’s psychiatric unit and closed for good in 1964. Shortly thereafter it was torn down and replaced by Scottish Rite Park.

About the North of Grand Neighborhood
The North of Grand Neighborhood in Des Moines, Iowa, is located between 31st Street (east) and 42nd Street (west), and between I-235 (north) and Grand Avenue (south).

NOG’s mission is to ensure that existing and projected infrastructure systems are managed or developed so they enhance the physical, visual and spatial qualities of the neighborhood —promoting a healthy climate for area businesses, and public and private properties.

Ingersoll Live has grown to be one of Des Moines’ premiere summer events playing host to nearly 10,000 people in 2011. The event is a celebration of the revitalization work that has been completed on the corridor in recent years as well as a fundraiser for the ongoing revitalization efforts.

Ingersoll Live will be Saturday, Aug. 25 beginning at 2-11 p.m. The day will begin with a performance by local favorites The Isiserettes Drill & Drum Corp. Also, free performances by Faculty Lounge and Brother Trucker, as well as a dunk tank featuring local business people. More than 30 vendor booths from local businesses, restaurants and artists will be open throughout the event.

ALSO…Ingersoll Live Bike Ride 2012 begins at 1 PM
This ride is an opportunity to get out and experience the unique and historic neighborhoods, trails, parks, and other amenities that are served by the businesses, schools and institutions within the Ingersoll and Grand Ave. District.

The ride is family friendly and will begin at 28th and Ingersoll Ave. Riders will head east on Ingersoll to the Pappajohn Sculpture Park, south to the MLK extension, then east to Principal Park. From there the route will take riders west following the Raccoon River, passing Gray’s Lake and into Waterworks Park. Riders can choose to head back to Ingersoll via Greenwood Park (an approx. 10 mile loop) or continue on to Colby Park in Windsor Heights via trails. From Colby Park, riders can “double-back” riding through Waterbury (one of Iowa’s most picturesque neighborhoods) to Polk and Kingman Boulevards and back to Ingersoll Ave. to complete the nearly 20 mile loop. The ride will include both urban street and recreational trail riding.

A drink ticket will be handed out to the first 50 riders which can be redeemed later in the day at Ingersoll Live. Free bike valet (donations recommended), provided by the Des Moines Bicycle Collective, will be available at the event.

Hope to see you on August 25th!

Order your North of Grand T-shirts here! Shirts are $18 for unisex sizes Small – XL; $20 for XXL.

Click here for order form – MS WORD.

Click here for order form – PDF

All shirts will be Heather Grey with black ink design. Orders will be collected until Aug. 31, 2012. Production time is anticipated to be two weeks; expect shirts to be completed on or around Sept. 17.

Proceeds benefit the North of Grand Neighborhood Association.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT!!

Join the North of Grand Neighborhood Association during the annual National Night Out event Tuesday, Aug. 7, 2012, from 6-8 p.m.

This community party will be held in the parking lot of Boesen the Florist, 3801 Ingersoll Avenue, Des Moines. A kid and pet parade will begin about 5:30 p.m. – everyone is invited to participate. Meet at 632 40th Street and the parade will walk to Boesen’s. Entertainment provided by the band North of Grand, plus free Root Beer floats and a cakewalk for prizes.

National Night Out is an initiative designed to increase crime and drug prevention awareness; generate support for, and participation in, local anti-crime programs; strengthen neighborhood spirit and police-community partnerships; and send a message to criminals letting them know that neighborhoods are organized and fighting back.

Visit www.natw.org/nno/ for more information.