Building sparks Iolan’s interest

Iolans likely have passed by the old Dr. Garlinghouse building countless times, giving little thought to the long-abandoned upstairs apartments that have sat vacant for a half century or longer.
Ryan Sparks sees something else.
“When I see this building, I see potential,” Sparks said.
Sparks is nearing the end of an ambitious remodel project, converting the empty, dusty, junk-filled rooms in the upstairs portion of the building at 1 N. Jefferson Ave., into a pair of appealing living quarters for young families.
Sparks, 33, estimates the two 700-square-foot apartments should be complete within the next two months.
“I admit I’m always antsy, excited to get this done, but we’re taking our time,” Sparks said. “We’re not pushing this.”
While structurally sound, the apartments’ age required a full-scale remodel: clearing plaster-covered walls to the wooden studs, replacing all of the wiring and plumbing and installing new heating and air-conditioning systems.
Iola contractor Don Settlemyer — he’s doing everything but the mechanical systems — also replaced 27 windows.
“We’re actually pretty close,” Sparks said while showing off the apartments Monday to a visitor. “These will be modern apartments, but we’re trying to save as much as we can.”
The original wooden trim, for example, would be practically impossible to replicate. That will be saved.
Sparks also hoped to reuse the original wooden doors connecting the apartments to the building’s primary hallway, but city codes forbid it.
That’s because the doors are wooden, and against fire codes.
““It’s unfortunate,” he said. “They’re great, solid, doors. Right now, they’re stacked downstairs. I’d love to find somebody who can find a use for them.”

BUILT IN 1900, the building was known in its earliest years as the office for Dr. O.L. Garlinghouse, a physician and dentist. His offices notably featured one of the earliest X-ray machines in Allen County.
The offices also featured plenty of windows, because air-conditioners were an unheard of concept at the time.
Donna Houser, who researched the history of the building for the Allen County Historical Society, said vinyl shades were installed, and when the windows were opened, it allowed air to circulate through the offices, while serving as an effective barrier for hot weather.
Sparks found several old checks made out to Garlinghouse, dated in 1907. He handed those over to the historical society.
Once the Garlinghouse offices closed, the rooms were used for little more than storage.
The upstairs features four apartments in all, two of which had been remodeled previously and are already occupied, and the two Sparks and Settlemyer are refurbishing.
They began clearing the plaster and replacing windows back in August.
Then came installing the mechanical systems, plumbing and wiring.
“That’s the part where you invest thousands of dollars, but it doesn’t look like you have anything to show for it,” Sparks joked. “That took a couple of months.”
With those in place, Settlemyer and others began the work of rebuilding the apartments from their bare walls.
“I try to help when I can,” Sparks said, “but I’m better at the simpler stuff like painting. There’s no way I could do this without Don. We’ve had lots of people working on this.”
The new apartments are large enough to have roomy living quarters with a separate kitchen and bedrooms. One of the apartments also is large enough to retain wooden pocket doors, another nod to the building’s history.
“I’m glad we were able to keep them,” Sparks said. “It really adds to it.”
New awnings will be installed soon on the building’s exterior as well.

SPARKS envisions a young professional or a small family occupying both apartments.
“I knew there’d be no way to build houses for what it’s costing,” he said, “and I know of the tremendous need for housing in Iola.”
He was hesitant in giving projected rent figures, but anticipated $600 or less.
“With new heating systems and windows, utilities will be next to nothing,” he said. “And unlike living in a house, you won’t have other expenses, like lawn care.
“You go in knowing with renovations that you’ll have unexpected costs,” he said. For example, he had to relocate a bathroom in one apartment because plumbing could not be rerouted.
The westernmost apartment also features a picturesque view of the courthouse square, courtesy of the large windows.

IN ADDITION to the upstairs apartments, the building features three storefront locations, two of which already have businesses. A dance studio is in the corner, while a used furniture store is on East Street.
“The third place is used as a catch-all,” Sparks said. “We’re putting a lot of the things from the apartment in there for now. We’ll see what we can do with it when this is done.”
Sparks is an Iola native who returned to Iola from Ottawa with his wife, Adie, a schoolteacher, after she had the couple’s second child.
“She’s been very supportive through this,” he said. “I love doing rehabilitation projects like this. We’ve done a lot of them over the past 10 years. We’re excited to get this one finished.”
When not focused on rebuilding old houses and apartments, Sparks works as an agent at State Farm Insurance, with his parents, Terry and Cheryl Sparks.