Restoration Days

written by admin

Albia Restoration Days is a time for the whole community to join together and reminisce about the good ol’ days and admire how far the community has come.  Many activities are held throughout the long weekend to encourage people to come out and celebrate the restoration of our beautiful town.  Being one of the largest events put on by Albia, we welcome many new and returning visitors from surrounding areas.  Don’t be afraid to experience the fun and invite your whole family! Looking forward to seeing everyone there!

About Restoration Days

Editor’s Note: Robert T. Bates died in March of 1995. Although it has taken many devoted people in this community to begin and con­tinue “Operation Facelift,” the restoration of the Albia square was Bates’ vision which developed the idea in the first place.  His energy and enthusiasm kept it alive through good times and bad.

Dozens of people have con­tributed sizable gifts to the projects that have created the historic square, like the antique lighting, Christmas lighting and new bandstand, but Bates was always there during his life to make sure the funding was complete and the projects were done right.

Bates established a $2 million trust to continue the work of the restoration around the square.

The Albia Area Chamber of Commerce invites you to experience a celebration of beautiful buildings.  The Albia square and business district represents a fine collection of late 19th and early 20th century commercial buildings… restoration was not a one-shot project.

 

In 1987, nondescript lighting around the square
was replaced with reproductions of Albia’s
original gas lamps.

 

 

Through the 1980′s the rundown movie theater was transformed into the Albia Theater, the original
Albia State Bank was completely restored into a beautiful and functional law office and a burned out former pool hall was turned into a recreation center.  By the mid-1980′s, the idea of converting useless second floor  space above the historic buildings into upscale apartments became popular and there are a dozen apartments featuring elevators, Jacuzzis, garden decks and elegant designs to match the exteriors of historic buildings.

The 1990′s introduced new projects as well.  The Perry and Skean buildings were rebuilt.  The Noble Block building, nearly destroyed by misuse, was turned into the beautiful “Johnson” apartment building; and to open the millennium, the People’s State Bank building was the community’s most recent                         

restoration.  All surround the $1 million courthouse restoration project.  Thus, the integrity of the area and the 92 historic structures that make up this National Register Historic District (1985) have been maintained at a high level.  Join us in our celebration of renewal, heritage, architecture, and the arts.

 

Sit back, relax and enjoy all the Restoration Days activities have to offer before saying goodbye to the turn-of-the-century elegance!

 

 

FOR MORE INFORMATION,
 PLEASE CONTACT THE ALBIA AREA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE:
 18 South Main Street
 Albia, IA 52531
 641.932.5108