East Dubuque High School

Beginnings

Ahva Living of East Dubuque was originally built as a school in 1893.

This historic building is listed on the National Register of Historic Places since 1982. It was constructed in two sections, one in 1893, the other in 1914 and designed by a local architect, Thomas Carkeek.

The architecture is a Romanesque Revival style that is captivating. The last graduating class was in 1978. Residents and families can still recall going to high school in the former school.

After graduation in 1978…

  • The gym was dismantled and moved to another location in East Dubuque where it serves as storage.
  • A wing was added in its place in the early 1980’s.
  • It added 22 IL / AL apartments and a memory care wing of 14 beds.
  • The first community was named Hillman House.

Hillman House was sold to Bell Tower who completed renovations in 2008.

Improvements provided an atmosphere that reflects the heritage of this time-honored building while including the most up-to-date safety features including an emergency call system and state-of-the-art fire protection equipment.

Historical East Dubuque
Historical East Dubuque
Historical East Dubuque

Timeline of East Dubuque

200 BD – 500 AD

Native Americans of the Hopewell period built numerous mounds on the hills, many of which are preserved in Gramercy Park

1827

The first European to settle in the area was Eleazer Frentress. The original cabin built by the family on Frentress Lake is now on display at the Mississippi River Museum

1853

The town was platted as Dunleith, named after a Scottish city that had been home to several of the founders.

1856

Dunleith is incorporated. Its industries included breweries, a nail factory, farm machinery, and barbed-wire manufacturer. The arrival of the Illinois Central Railroad in 1855  triggered the economic boom

1879

Dunleith becomes East Dubuque to fix its unsavory reputation it had developed

History of East Dubuque

East Dubuque, peacefully situated between the Mississippi River and the surrounding high bluffs, boasts a fascinating and exciting history. Fascinating because of the prehistoric cultures, the more recent Native Americans, the French explorers, the early settlers, the land speculators, the ferryboat kings, the railroad tycoons, the bridge builders. Exciting because of Prohibition, speakeasies, the “Strip,” Al Capone and whiskey stills in the hill, thus, at one time, giving East Dubuque the name “Sin City”.

The French explorer Nicholas Perrot (17th century), Julien Dubuque and Stephen Dubois (1787) were the first known settlers. By 1832, at what is still called Frentress Lake, Eleazer and Diadamia Frentress became the first couple to farm the prairie. In the same year the Reverends Crummer and James established the first preaching services in a plank schoolhouse on the Frentress property.

Originally named Dunleith after a Scottish village, the little river settlement quickly prospered. The name was changed to East Dubuque in 1877 and the railroad soon brought land speculators, hotelkeepers and ferry operators.

Captain Merry built the legendary Merry Building located on Sinsinawa Avenue and became very successful ferrying people and cargo across the Mississippi River. In 1868 the railroad tunnel and bridge, still in use, ended the lucrative passenger and hotel trade. By 1887 the Old High Street foot and wagon bridge was built parallel to the railroad bridge.

Then, in 1943 the beautiful Julien Dubuque Bridge was completed and at 7,392 feet is still one of the longest tied arch and cantilevered spans ever built. It was built by Ned Ashton of Bethlehem Steel. Before the bridge was built, the interests between Dunleith and Dubuque suffered for many years due to lack of transportation. Named one of the top 10 bridges in the country, by Road and Bridges Magazine in 2003. It is the last historic bridge connecting the city of East Dubuque with the Iowa side of the Mississippi River.

Ahva Living of East Dubuque

Located along the Mississippi River in the tri-state area bordering Iowa and Wisconsin, Ahva Living of East Dubuque serves seniors in neighboring Dubuque, Iowa and southwest Wisconsin. The services we provide include:

  • Independent
  • Assisted Living
  • Memory Care
  • Respite Services
east dubuque

Our mission is to provide an atmosphere of respect, comfort, and grace, where quality of life is of the utmost importance. We pride ourselves in treating each resident with respect and dignity.