A Brief History

The Creston House was originally a hotel. It was once two buildings which are now joined together. The South Side was built in 1880 - and actually included the building to the south, 219 South Main, as well. The Creston House was built by Max Mohn, who came to Council Bluffs in 1869 as a shoemaker.

In 1884, the North Side was built. The three story addition cost $15,000. It gave the Creston house 75 sleeping rooms with steam heat. The going rate was $1.50 per night. There was no common wall on the back sides, to allow natural light and air into the rooms. The Creston House was closed for three years from 1892- 1895 for renovations, including the fire escape and a standpipe for all three floors to allow fire hoses to bring water to all floors if needed. This was the concept of a very early sprinkler system.

From 1923-1941, W>E> Clark was listed as the owner of the hotel. Sometime thereafter, the upper two floors were converted to apartments. In 1943, the Veterans of foreign wars (VFW) acquired the building and the first floor was used for their VFW Club for about ten (10) years.

In 1953, Sam’s Supermarket opened and continued at this location until 1978. In 1978, the first floor of the property was converted into offices which were occupied by the State of Iowa Offices - Child Support Recovery and Adult Probation. In the late 1970’s, the upper floors were condemned and not used again.

In 1984, the predecessor to Petersen Law moved into the buildings first floor. In 2010 the Creston House was renovated into the class office space on the upper levels.