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This three-story hotel, which has conducted business as such since 1849, features a rectangular-shaped plan configuration, a cut stone foundation, a combination brick and concrete block exterior and a flat roof.

Numerous additions have been made to the building subsequent to its first dates of construction in 1849, 1882 and c. 1912. (see bib. Ref. A, d). The concrete block-faced addition on the south side was built between 1905 and 1915. (see bib. Ref. B). It houses the iowa county dairy herd improvement association. The brick addition, also on the south side is a relatively new development. It houses the office of dr. L. R. Ketchum, optometry.

Another contempory one-story attachment to the west houses the u.S. Post office. Overall, the three-story building, which has been known as the hotel higbee since 1895, is in fair condition. (see bib. Ref. A). A ‘site file’ exists for this property. It contains additional information such as correspondence, newspaper clippings, or historical information.

It is a public record and may be viewed in person at the state historical society, division of historic preservation. Architectural/engineering significance: a pivotal element of the proposed iowa street historic district, the hotel higbee is an important example of commercial verncular architecutre.

The two-story brick structure, which is largely intact architecturally, is among the city’s oldest business establishments and one that has housed a hotel since its construction in the mid-nineteenth century. (note: the rear addition, including the u.S. Post office, is a non-contributing addition). Historical background: begun in 1849, the hotel higbee is located at the southern edge of the proposed iowa street historic distirct. According to historical accounts, “Dutch” water was the building’s original owner, but before the structure was completed, he sold it to herman tick and he, in turn, to thomas and moses howell who opened the hotel, the dodgeville house, in 1852.

Five years later richard jones purchased the property and renamed it the united states hotel. Reuben marks took control in 1875 and again the hostelry was renamed, this time for its owner (marks hotel). In addition, under marks’s ownership, the structure was renovated and enlarged, nearly doubling its original size. The hotel was described at this time as the “Only temperance hotel in dodgeville that is doing a large business.” (see bib. Ref. E). H.L. Clauer was the next owner (1891) of the structure which became the merchants hotel. In 1895 claurer sold the business to adeline higbee who gave the hotel the name it has retained to the present. (see bib. Ref. A, c, d, e). In the early twentieth century the hotel was owned by John Starry, charus phillips (1909-1916), (the phillips residence is located at 205 n. Level street, 45/3), r.C. Jeske, and g.F. Simerson