The activity within the Fowler Building marked the birth of regional grocery wholesale operations in Waterloo and fed the evolution of Waterloo from an agricultural town to a city of factories and manufacturing. On its three spacious floors, the Fowler brothers stored specialties and staples including vinegar, dried fruits, and fresh fruits such as apples, oranges, and lemons imported from Chicago and New York.
The brothers invested heavily in the growth of the community, purchasing large tracks of land and becoming stockholders in numerous local institutions including the Rath Packing Company and the First National Bank. At one time, the elder was the largest real estate owner and one of the most popular and valued citizens in Waterloo.
Widely known in its heyday as the most beautiful building in the city, the design and construction of the Fowler Building matched the practicality and aesthetic of those in much larger, more cosmopolitan cities of the time.
The Haffa Building was built in 1885 and first housed a retail clothier and furrier business. Named after its original owner and developer, the building later accommodated a variety of commercial establishments.
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