Design & Construction
The History of Drake Hall
an Iowa Landmark Takes Shape
Commissioned in 1908 by Centerville banker and businessman David Campbell Bradley, the home that would become Drake Hall was designed by prominent Iowa architects Frank E. Wetherell and Alvah J. Gage.
Completed in 1909, the residence combined remarkable craftsmanship with an unexpected Japanese influence that gave the home its distinctive character.
More than a century later, much of that original vision survives, from its hand-hewn Bedford limestone and green-tiled roof to its stained glass, woodwork, fireplaces, and extraordinary interior details.
MORE THAN A CENTURY OF STORIES
The Life of Drake Hall
Since 1909, Drake Hall has been a family home, gathering place, nursing home, college, school, community landmark, and preservation project. Its history reflects more than a century of life in Centerville.
THE PEOPLE BEHIND THE STORY
The People of Drake Hall
Frank E. Wetherell
The Architect
Designed Drake Hall with Alvah J. Gage in 1908, bringing together Arts and Crafts craftsmanship and distinctive influences.
David Campbell Bradley
The Visionary
The Centerville banker and businessman who commissioned the extraordinary family residence.
Cora May Stubbs Bradley
The Heart of the House
Cora transformed Drake Hall into a center of tamily, social, and civic life in early twentieth-century Centerville.
Bettina Bradley Stuart
A Life Remembered
Her 1911 wedding filled the house with celebration; her story reflects both the joy and the tragedy of this era.
Morgan E. Cline
The Preservationist
Acquired the property in 2000 and helped preserve the remarkable historic fabric that survives today.
PRESERVING THE NEXT CHAPTER
History Is Still Being Written
In 2021, Kyle Shiroma and Gerhard Spillmann became the next stewards of Drake Hall.
Drawn to its remarkable architecture, preserved interiors, and connection to Centerville, they began a new chapter devoted to restoration, preservation, and sharing the property with the community.
Today, Drake Hall is once again a living home and gathering place, with ongoing projects dedicated to protecting its architecture, gardens, collections, and stories for future generations.
