By 1887, with his holdings in the J.C. Hubinger Brothers Company, John Carl Hubinger of Keokuk Iowa was a very rich man. The time had come to build his home, which he did with lavish expense and a passion for bigness. The result was a stupendous mansion and estate situated atop the bluff at 1219 Grand Avenue with spectacular views of the Mississippi River. JC was generous and allowed everyone to enjoy his hillside perch.

JC owned the 7-block property on both sides of Grand Avenue from 8th to 15th Street. He sold off various lots on the west side of Grand for private residences. On the east (river) side of Grand he built the following:

- 10th to 12th: Upper and Lower Lake, with island and bridge
- 12th to 13th: 4 levels of lawn terraces with statues, gardens and staircases leading up to the Hubinger Mansion, facing south towards 12th Street
- 13th to 15th: fruit orchards and chicken farm

Hubinger located his horse stables on 12th Street west of Grand. Over the bluff from his estate he constructed an electric power plant near the riverfront.

Click here for a map of the estate.

The original house was completed in early 1888 with further additions later that almost doubled its size. It was a massive three-story 20 room castle with cables and guy wires to hold the building in place. No expense was spared on art, interior finishes and the latest conveniences. Ivory and pearl inlays in oak and mahogany abounded. Moorish and Flemish accents touched all rooms. The parlor, library, billiard room, observation decks - all were filled with antiques and sculptures. Almost each 'apartment' had its own washroom.

The four-level terraced lawn area south of the house was decorated with statues of elk, deer, lions and other figures set amidst carefully groomed trees and shrubbery. A staircase led south from the house down to the lakes. The groundskeepers were constantly kept busy repairing the damage done by the many tourists to the estate.

The combined Upper and Lower Lakes were 300 feet long, split in two with a bridge between. The Upper Lake contained an island and fountain. Boats were provided for the citizens of Keokuk to use for park outings. The lakes were stocked and fishing competitions held. Surrounding the lakes were paved paths with various bridges, gazebos, statues and seating areas along the way.

Over the bluff was constructed the J.C. Hubinger Electric Light Works power plant which supplied electricity to his estate, Pastime Park and nearby areas. It also provided a backup water supply for the lakes on Grand Avenue.

In 1907, with JC in ill health and his fortune severely diminished, he was forced to move from the house (he died the next year). In 1910, with the coming of the new Dam, the orchard and lake areas were sold off for residential use. Except for a caretaker the mansion sat vacant until 1918 when it was razed to make way for the Corydon Rich mansion at 1229 Grand Avenue.

The original JC Hubinger Mansion at 12th and Grand (1887-1918). Note the 4-level terraced lawn area and Upper Lake. Boating and fishing were available to the citizens of Keokuk and many took advantage. Note the two deer statues on the lower terrace. The house faces south towards 12th Street.

The expanded mansion around 1900 with new east wing. Compare this to the previous picture to see how much was added.

The view south from the lawn terraces. Note the Upper Lake with island, the Lower Lake with bridge between, and the little girl having her picture taken in front of some imaginative shrubbery on the grounds. The Mississippi is on the left, Grand Avenue on the right.

Another view south from the lawn terraces. Note the two lakes, the island, the bridge, the statues, the boaters. The Daily Gate City reported on Dec. 9, 1908 five girls were rescued from Hubinger Lake after breaking through the ice.

The last remnants of the Hubinger estate - the foundations of the Upper Lake. Note the stairway at left and lake walls in stone. (2008 photo)

Closeup view of the expanded mansion. Compare to the picture below from the same view.

The Corydon Rich mansion at 1229 Grand Avenue (1920) which sits on the site of the old JC Hubinger mansion at 1219.
Note the two lawn terraces in the foreground. This house also faces south down Grand Avenue. Compare to the picture above from the same view. (2008 photo)

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