Landmark Designation: 1996

Architectural Style: Italianate 20th Century Commercial

Construction Date: circa 1875, remodeled circa 1926

Nominated by: Suzanne Curry and Jim Griesel for the Rock Island Preservation Society

The structure was designated a Rock Island Landmark for its outstanding and intact early 20th Century Commercial architecture with Prairie-style influences.

The Robinson Hardware Store was built circa 1875 with an Italianate facade. An early 20th century remodeling was undertaken just prior to Robinson Hardware occupying the building. However, the storefront is still intact and very similar to the other remaining 1870s commercial building at the Star Block, 1821-29 2nd Avenue, which is also a city landmark. The Robinson Hardware Store features patterned brick and limestone, mullioned windows and the outstanding, intact storefront.

Over the past 120 years, commercial tenants, namely flour and feed dealers, wholesale and retail grocers and hardware stores, have occupied the property. Until 2001, the building had an amazingly intact interior, reminiscent of an 1800s grocery or hardware store. From the tin ceiling to the stock ladders to the glass cases and hardwood floors, this property embodied a past era. William Robinson, son of the original storeowner, hoped to preserve the interior, but was unsuccessful. Robinson worked there with his father as a teenager, and ran the business until it closed in the 1980s. Unfortunately, Rock Island’s Preservation Ordinance does not permit the landmark designation of the interior of buildings.