The clock is ticking with only a few months until the much-anticipated opening of The Centennial, the restaurant to be located at 100 E. State in the historic Centennial Block building.
Dating back to the early days of Jefferson itself, the unique building is now owned by the Why Not Us group that came together in 2019 to cooperatively renovate The Centennial Block building and return it to a functioning restaurant, a valued component of downtown economic vitality.
Above the busy construction activity, quietly poised, observing it all are 61 women’s faces on window hoods that grace the building’s first and second floor windows. The window hoods are perhaps the only remaining of their style in Iowa, according to Bill Plymat , author of “The Victorian Architecture of Iowa”, a book chronicling unique buildings from the 1860’s to present day. Only one other building in southwest Iowa featured the elaborate decorative elements. The Centennial Block building, built in the late 1870’s by Charles Bofink, is certainly unique. Plymat said he knew of no others of “comparable vintage” featuring the detailed terra-cotta examples of decorative facades.
Since the project has developed over the last two years, the faces have come to represent each of the unit holders, which now number 56. Only five of the faces remain to be “claimed” by a donation toward the project at the unit holder level. “Our goal is to reach five more women who would like to become unit holders bringing our total number to 61”, said Why Not Us board president Peg Raney.
To become a unit holder, one must contribute $5,000 to the Why Not Us, LLC for the purpose of renovating the building. “Fifty-six women have made this commitment because they see the value of a destination restaurant located in our beautiful downtown district and the important role it plays in the retail activity around the square,” said Raney.
As residents and visitors alike wait for the restaurant to be completed, the Why Not Us board of directors searched for (and found) a trained and experienced chef in Sara Ostrander. A Grand Junction native, she will be fulfilling her dream as she operates “The Centennial” restaurant featuring foods with “Contemporary Taste, Historic Charm.” She is anticipating opening mid-June 2022.
Now, only the five women’s faces reman to be claimed by unit holders. To learn more about becoming a unit holder, contact Why Not Us board president Peg Raney at whynotustea@gmail.com and follow the entire progress of the restoration on the Why Not Us Facebook page. ~by Jacque Andrew, Why Not Us board member
