Springside (Wynkook Villa) Bellevue, Iowa

Text courtesy of the National Register of Historic Places, a program of the National Parks Service. Minor transcription errors or changes in formatting may have occurred; please see the Nomination Form PDF for official text. Some information may have become outdated since the property was nominated for the Register.

The building, known as Spring Side from at least 1867, was constructed in the mid 19th century as a detached, single family residence. The building is of native stone and wood construction and was designed according to the Gothic Revival architectural style popular at that time. The integrity of the building has been maintained since its construction and now represents an excellent, unique-to-the-area example of Gothic Revival "cottage" architecture.

Spring Side was constructed in 1848 for William T. Wynkoop, a Merchant in Bellevue. Mr. Wynkoop employed a local "work crew" for the building's construction. The building is located on a hillside overlooking the Mississippi River, just outside of Bellevue, Iowa.

The building is detached and is constructed primarily of native limestone with a wooden supported shingled roof. The walls and foundation of the building are entirely stone and motar[sic] and are approximately one and one-half to two feet thick. The building, viewed from the front and sides, is characterized by steeply pitched gables and, at the front, by a gabled tower. These gables are trimmed with wooden scroll-work vergeboard and pendants with finials. The building, from the rear presents a hip roof style, devoid of gables.

The building consists of four stories including an attic and a cellar. The first or main floor consists of an entry hall with a winding staircase to the attic and tower, four principal rooms arranged symmetrically, and a smaller room at the rear. The second story consists of two halls and four symmetrically arranged rooms. The attic and cellar are unfinished. See continuation sheet page 2 for building floor plan.

Windows throughout the building are of double hung and casement construction. Windows formerly opening to the original "wrap-around" porch are of floor to ceiling design. The windows within the front gables and tower are of lancet or pointed arch design; the tower window is capped with a hood mold. Wheel design windows are found on the sides of the tower and at the peaks of the side gables. The living room or parlor at the building's front features a semi-octagon bay window which was originally capped by a balcony.