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Photograph of John J. and Agnes Shea House
Photograph by Smallbones, CC0 1.0. Via Wikimedia Commons.

John J. and Agnes Shea House

Built in 1888 (Queen Anne style). Listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1995.

From the record

“The John J. and Agnes Shea House is a historic building located in Council Bluffs, Iowa, United States. This is the only brick Queen Anne house in the city with a corner tower topped by a witch's cap.”

Wikipedia article John J. and Agnes Shea House, CC BY-SA 4.0.

One of 43 National Register listings published here for Pottawattamie County · listed in 1995 · category: Building · built in 1888, Queen Anne style.

Sources: the Wikipedia article · the case file at the National Archives · the National Register database, National Park Service

The listing

  • What is counted as historic. The nomination lists 1 building as contributing to the listing.
  • Listed as. Shea, John J. and Agnes, House - the National Register files a house under its owner's surname.
  • Address. 309 S. 8th St., Council Bluffs, 51501
  • When was it listed? November 1995
  • Category. building
  • Township. Kane township
  • When was it built? 1888
  • Architectural style. Queen Anne style
  • National Register reference number. 95001315 - the number the National Park Service assigned this property when it was listed, and the key its nomination file is catalogued under at the National Archives.

Fires near this property

14 since 2007

Regional context, not property-specific evidence. The federal wildfire occurrence database lists 14 fires within 5 miles of John J. and Agnes Shea House between 2007 and 2020, burning about 324 acres in total. 1 started naturally. None was recorded as arson. Distance is straight-line from the map coordinates, so a fire counted here may appear on a neighbouring settlement's page as well.

Reported cause Fires
Missing data/not specified/undetermined8
Debris and open burning4
Natural1
Smoking1

The most recent of them, most recent first, with the day each was reported and the service that recorded it.

DateCause SizeReported by Name on the report
3 September 2020Missing data/not specified/undetermined1.0 acresIowa Department of Natural Resourcesnot named
27 September 2020Missing data/not specified/undetermined1.0 acresIowa Department of Natural Resourcesnot named
22 April 2018Natural300 acresIowa Department of Natural Resourcesnot named
21 April 2018Missing data/not specified/undetermined1.0 acresIowa Department of Natural Resourcesnot named
20 April 2018Debris and open burning3.0 acresIowa Department of Natural Resourcesnot named
17 April 2018Missing data/not specified/undetermined5.0 acresIowa Department of Natural Resourcesnot named
15 April 2007Missing data/not specified/undeterminedunder an acreIowa Department of Natural Resourcesnot named
13 April 2011Missing data/not specified/undetermined1.0 acresIowa Department of Natural ResourcesE-29/G AVE, IA

Every fire recorded in Pottawattamie County

Mines and quarries near this property

6 within 5 miles

Regional context, not property-specific evidence. The federal mineral resources record lists 6 workings within 5 miles of John J. and Agnes Shea House: 6 past producers. None of them still produces. What was taken out: Sand and Gravel, Construction, Lead, Smelter, Clay. Distance is straight-line from the map coordinates, so a quarry counted here may appear on a neighbouring settlement's page as well.

Where SiteCommodity StatusRecorded
Asarco (Omaha) RefineryLead, SmelterPast Producer
UnknownClayPast Producer
Hively PitSand and Gravel, ConstructionPast Producer
UnknownSand and Gravel, ConstructionPast Producer
UnknownSand and Gravel, ConstructionPast Producer
Wickham PitSand and Gravel, ConstructionPast Producer

Every working recorded in Pottawattamie County

Storms near this property

60 of 67 shown

Regional context, not property-specific evidence. The National Weather Service names Council Bluffs, the town this property stands in, in 67 storm reports between 1994 and 2026: 35 hail, 21 thunderstorm wind, 6 flash flood, 2 funnel cloud. The reports record 1 death and 2 injuries. Each account below is quoted exactly as the forecast office filed it, from the NOAA Storm Events Database, and each date opens the federal record of that event.

WhenEvent Place namedHarm What the report says
April 2001Thunderstorm WindCouncil Bluffs1 killed, 1 hurt, $20,000Two men working alone atop a new meatpacking building were blown off the 40-foot-high roof by the thunderstorm that rolled through the area and produced the widespread hail reports. The winds were measured at 35 to 40 mph at the Council Bluffs airport and at Omaha Eppley Airfield, but could have been locally stronger. One of the men died later that day as a result of the fall. The sudden wind gust blew a section of roof and the men off the building.
August 2004LightningCouncil Bluffs1 hurtLightning stuck a home and critically injured a 15 year-old boy who was shocked while on a computer.
August 1999Flash FloodCouncil Bluffs$4,000,000Very heavy rain fell across eastern Nebraska and western Iowa from Friday 8/6/99 into Saturday morning 8/7/99. Over 10 inches of rain fell at Omaha Eppley Airfield, just across the Missouri River to the west of Council Bluffs Iowa. An unofficial 24 hour rainfall total of 13 inches was reported at Treynor, 10 miles east of Council Bluffs. The heavy rain caused significant damage to around 3000 homes in Council Bluffs with over 3 million dollars damage. Severe street and basement flooding was also observed in Council Bluffs and other homes throughout the county.
April 1994Thunderstorm WindCouncil Bluffs$50,000no account filed
August 1994Thunderstorm WindCouncil Bluffs$5,000Warm, humid, and very unstable air moved over Iowa during the afternoon of the 7th. A warm front moved northeast across the state during the day. During the late afternoon hours a cold front approached the northwest corner of the state. Very humid air was drawn north just ahead of the cold front. Dew point temperatures were in the lower to middle 70s over most of the state by evening. Northwest flow in the middle and upper levels brought in relatively cool air aloft over the area. As a result the lifted indices were in the -10 to -12. range. By early evening, convective available potential energy values reached 4000-6000 J-Kg-1 over much of the west half of Iowa. Thunderstorms fired in two areas initially. The first was over southern Minnesota. The second was over north central Nebraska. The two areas propagated south and grew toward each other with time. Though the storms were tornadic over Minnesota, the main severe weather event for Iowa was hail and high winds. The Minnesota convection dropped into north central and northeast Iowa. Dime-size hail was the result. There were sporadic reports of marble to dime-size hail for about 45 minutes over Winnebago County. Dime-size hail also fell over northwest Hancock County as the storms entered the Woden area. After this time, they weakened as they continued to move south-southeast. As the mesoscale convective system over Nebraska built into southeast South Dakota and northwest Iowa, high winds and hail resulted. Hail ranged in size from three quarter inch to golf ball in size. In Cherokee County, hail damage was reported to many cars in the city of Cherokee by hail 2 inches in diameter. Reports showed at least 150 cars and 100 homes were damaged by the hail. A tornado touched down northwest of Sibley, in Osceola County. One farmstead was hit with damage reported to several buildings, one was destroyed. A woman received minor injuries when she was cut on the hand by flying glass. Five hogs were killed when a concrete block building was collapsed. The building housed 300 hogs. A silo was destroyed on the farm and carried a mile to the south. At the same time one of the cars was lifted and thrown 50 feet. At about the same time, a farmhouse in rural Sibley was struck by lightning. The house was set on fire and was totally lost. Also in Osceola County, north of Sibley, a farmstead was hit by high winds in advance of the tornado. A concrete was destroyed and the end of the barn was completely removed. Woodbury and Monona Counties were hard hit by high winds. The first reports came from Danbury, where 60 to 65 MPH winds were reported. Numerous reports of trees and power lines being downed by high winds were received from Woodbury County. In Monona County, Mapleton and the area around it were hard hit. In the town of Mapleton, the roof was blown off of a car dealership, and the roof was caved in on one apartment building. In the downtown area, winds blew out a three quarter inch thick plate glass window. Several farmsteads were damaged by the winds as well. Two farms had significant structural damage. Another reported one grain bin blown off its foundation, and six others had the sides collapsed and bent over. Twelve hogs were killed when a quonset building was destroyed. One man was injured in Crawford County when high winds downed a large tree limb in front of the car that he was driving. The storms continued south, though they had weakened with winds around 50 MPH. Spotty damage occurred. High winds downed trees and limbs in Harrison County at Dunlap and Pottawattamie County at Council Bluffs. Several tents were blown down by the wind at the County Fair in Dunlap as well. There were also several lightning strikes. Lightning set a house on fire southwest of Sibley, destroying it. A barn was a total loss to fire northeast of Mapleton when lightning struck it. Another storm moved across Shelby County. Lightning struck two house in Harlan. Damage occurred to each, but actual dollar amount was not available.
April 2026HailCouncil Bluffs-Public report of hail estimated up to 1 inch in diameter near Carter Lake, IA.
April 2026HailCouncil Bluffs-Delayed public report of hail estimated up to 1 inch in diameter in Council Bluffs, IA. Time estimated with radar.
April 2025HailCouncil Bluffs-Trained spotter measured hail up to 1 inch in diameter.
April 2025HailCouncil Bluffs-Public estimated hail up to 1.25 inch in diameter, from mPING report.
April 2025HailCouncil Bluffs-Public estimated hail up to 1.25 inch in diameter from social media images. Time estimated with radar.
May 2024HailCouncil Bluffs-Amateur Radio reported golf ball sized hail falling in Council Bluffs.
April 2024Tornado (EF1)Council Bluffs-The ground-level tornado circulation developed near 35th and Broadway in Council Bluffs, producing an intermittent track as it progressed north-northeast through a neighborhood, damaging trees, roofs, and apartment buildings. Peak winds were estimated to be at 110 miles per hour, with a peak width in this segment of the track of 75 yards, and an estimated average width of 50 yards. This tornado continued into Douglas County where it caused EF-2 damage at Eppley Airfield, then moved back into Pottawattamie County shortly after.
July 2024HailCouncil Bluffs-Emergency management reported quarter to ping-pong ball sized hail on the northeast side of Council Bluffs. Severe hail lasted for just under ten minutes at this location.
June 2024HailCouncil Bluffs-A very slow moving supercell thunderstorm developed over downtown Omaha. After remaining stationary for about 30 minutes, it slowly started moving to the south. This storm began producing severe hail in a swath from Council Bluffs to eastern Sarpy County. Multiple reports of hail ranging from quarter to tennis ball sized were received by the office via social media and phone calls from the public and trained spotters.
June 2024HailCouncil Bluffs-The office received a public report of quarter sized hail from mPING.
April 2023Flash FloodCouncil Bluffs-Emergency manager reported water over the intersection of 33rd Street and 3rd Avenue.
June 2022HailCouncil Bluffs-Emergency management reported 1 inch hail.
August 2021Flash FloodCouncil Bluffs-Trained spotter reported 2-4 feet of water over roads.
August 2021Flash FloodCouncil Bluffs-Public reported flooded basements.
August 2021Flash FloodCouncil Bluffs-Emergency manager reported several flooded roads in the city. A couple of cars have been stranded.
June 2018Thunderstorm WindCouncil Bluffs-Large tree limbs were blown down, partially blocking a street in Council Bluffs.
August 2018Flash FloodCouncil Bluffs-The road was closed due to flooding.
June 2017HailCouncil Bluffs-A storm chaser reported quarter size to ping pong ball size hail.
August 2016Thunderstorm WindCouncil Bluffs-Tree limbs up to 4 inches in diameter were blown down.
May 2014Thunderstorm WindCouncil Bluffs-Tree damage, which knocked down some power lines, was mainly reported on the northwest side of Council Bluffs. At the peak there were 3168 customers around Council Bluffs without power.
June 2013Thunderstorm WindCouncil Bluffs-A bowing thunderstorm complex that brought fairly widespread tree damage to a large part of Omaha moved into the Council Bluffs area and then eventually through much of Pottawattamie and southern Shelby counties. Many trees were split or uprooted in Council Bluffs which caused damage to vehicles and homes and brought scattered power outages to town. A wind gust of 60 mph was measured by thw Awos at the Council Bluffs airport at 1010 am CDT.
August 2011Thunderstorm WindCouncil Bluffs-Thunderstorm wind gusts estimated at around 60 mph accompanied hail that reached up to baseball-size in the Council Bluffs area. The wind driven hail caused extensive damage to homes, vehicles and trees around town.
August 2011HailCouncil Bluffs-Hail up to baseball-size which was accompanied by thunderstorm wind gusts estimated at around 60 mph caused extensive damage to homes and vehicles in the Council Bluffs area. Iowa Western Community College had at least a million dollars worth of damage to buildings, mainly to roofs, windows and siding, according to the college's vice president of marketing and public relations.
June 2011Thunderstorm WindCouncil Bluffs-Thunderstorm wind gusts estimated at over 60 mph caused tree damage across parts of Council Bluffs which in turned downed power lines knocking out power to around 4,000 people in town.
July 2010Thunderstorm WindCouncil Bluffs-Thunderstorm wind gusts of around 60 mph downed large tree limbs from Council Bluffs to southeast of town. One limb caught a power line going into a house pulling the mast off exposing live wires which started an attic fire.
October 2007HailCouncil Bluffs-One inch hail was reported near Interstate 29 in Council Bluffs.
August 2007Funnel CloudCouncil Bluffs-A funnel cloud was reported by a spotter moving up and down near 29th Street and Avenue G. The funnel was caught on video and played later on a local tv station.
August 2007Thunderstorm WindCouncil Bluffs-A local media meteorologist measured a wind gust of 74 mph in Council Bluffs. The strong winds caused scattered tree damage in town including downed power lines.
March 2006Thunderstorm WindCouncil Bluffs-Thunderstorm wind gusts estimated at 60 mph broke off some 6 inch diameter tree limbs in town. The winds were from the same cluster of cells that produced the weak tornado in the Papillion, Nebraska area.
July 2006Thunderstorm WindCouncil Bluffs-Thunderstorm winds estimated at 60 mph downed large tree limbs which fell onto power lines near 35th and West Broadway Streets.
June 2005HailCouncil Bluffs-The hail was accompanied by 50 to 55 mph winds.
June 2005Thunderstorm WindCouncil Bluffs-Thunderstorm wind gusts estimated at 60 mph blew a tree down on a golf course east of Council Bluffs, knocked several other tree branches down and also blew over some lawn furniture and caused some shingle damage.
June 2004Thunderstorm WindCouncil Bluffs-Thunderstorm wind gusts estimated at over 60 mph blew down a tree 16 inches in diameter in Council Bluffs. The winds also caused an unoccupied house that was being refurbished to collapse.
August 2004Thunderstorm WindCouncil Bluffs-Thunderstorm wind gusts estimated at 60 mph broke large tree limbs from Council Bluffs to 6 miles east of town.
July 2004Thunderstorm WindCouncil Bluffs-Thunderstorm wind gusts estimated at 70 mph downed numerous tree limbs in the northern and eastern sections of Council Bluffs. Power was knocked out for several hours for 150-175 homes.
May 2003Thunderstorm WindCouncil Bluffs-A thunderstorm wind gust was estimated at 60 mph just east of Council Bluffs. This was from the same thunderstorm that produced 1 inch hail.
June 2003Thunderstorm WindCouncil Bluffs-A thunderstorm wind gust estimated at 60 mph downed a large tree in Council Bluffs.
June 2003Tornado (F0)Council Bluffs-A trained spotter reported a brief touchdown of a tornado in an open field around 10 miles east of Council Bluffs. The tornado was also spotted by air traffic controllers at Omaha Eppley Airfield.
May 2002Thunderstorm WindCouncil Bluffs-A storm spotter estimated thunderstorm wind gusts of around 60 mph.
April 2001HailCouncil Bluffs-See the narrative for Douglas county, Nebraska, for the event that began at 1040 CST.
May 2001HailCouncil Bluffs-See the narrative for Douglas county Nebraska.
May 1998HailCouncil Bluffs-At the Lewis and Clark monument
June 2014HailCouncil Bluffs-no account filed
May 2007HailCouncil Bluffs-no account filed
October 2007HailCouncil Bluffs-no account filed
June 2005HailCouncil Bluffs-no account filed
June 2005HailCouncil Bluffs-no account filed
May 2004HailCouncil Bluffs-no account filed
May 2004HailCouncil Bluffs-no account filed
May 2003HailCouncil Bluffs-no account filed
May 2003HailCouncil Bluffs-no account filed
May 2002HailCouncil Bluffs-no account filed
May 2002HailCouncil Bluffs-no account filed
July 2002HailCouncil Bluffs-no account filed
June 2001HailCouncil Bluffs-no account filed

Every storm recorded in Pottawattamie County

Map coverage status

No historic map-sheet match is published for this property yet. That does not mean no map exists. This record needs a coordinate-quality review before it can be joined to a sheet boundary. Browse the county's mapped places while that work is pending.

Listed places nearby

6 within 8 miles

Other National Register properties close enough to walk or drive between, ordered by distance from this one. Both positions come from the same geocoding pass that matched these properties to their map sheets.

Photograph PropertyDistance Listed
Shepard and Emma Farnsworth Houseunder 500 feet2018
Haymarket Commercial Historic District0.1 miles1985
Y.M.C.A. Building0.2 miles1979
O. P. Wickham House0.2 miles1979
Reverend Little's Young Ladies Seminary0.2 miles1982
Council Bluffs Free Public Library0.2 miles1999

Sources for this property

National Archives recordThe nomination case file for reference 95001315 in Record Group 79.
Wikipedia articleCommunity-written account of this property, licensed CC BY-SA.
Pottawattamie CountyAll 43 listed properties in this county.

Provenance

  • Listing record. National Park Service National Register of Historic Places, listed-properties dataset, current to 2026-05-22.
  • Map join. Address geocoded through the United States Census geocoder, then tested against the published boundary of every sheet in the USGS Historical Topographic Map Collection.
  • How this page is made. Listing fields come from federal records; map-sheet coverage is a labelled coordinate-to-boundary calculation, not a source-field claim.
  • Wildfire. Short, Karen C. 2022. Spatial wildfire occurrence data for the United States, 1992-2020 [FPA_FOD_20221014]. 6th Edition. Fort Collins, CO: Forest Service Research Data Archive. https://doi.org/10.2737/RDS-2013-0009.6 Collected with United States Government funding and usable without additional permissions or fees.
  • Mines and quarries. USGS Mineral Resources Data System (MRDS) https://mrdata.usgs.gov/mrds/ A work of the United States government, no copyright under 17 U.S.C. 105.
  • Storms. NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information, Storm Events Database https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/stormevents/ A work of the United States government, no copyright under 17 U.S.C. 105. Narratives are quoted verbatim from the National Weather Service report and are not edited or summarised.