For years, the building at 605 Central Ave. in downtown Fort Dodge was something that people would pass by every day without particularly noticing it. It’s a pretty sure bet that no one stopped and said, ”Wow, look at that.”

But people just might do that now.

The building has undergone a transformation that has revealed a stately brick facade highlighted by three arches that dates to 1880.

Building owner David Madsen demonstrated his confidence in the future of downtown Fort Dodge by launching the $80,000 project. However, revealing and restoring the arches was not his goal. He didn’t even know they were there. He got a big surprise when the green wood siding that was on the building was pried off and the arches were exposed for the first time in decades.

The project started in the fall of 2018 and was completed in 2019. A grant of about $20,000 from the Development Corporation of Greater Fort Dodge helped pay for it.

The effort won statewide recognition recently when it received the Excellent Exterior Rehabilitation Award from the 2020 Main Street Iowa Awards program.

”We’re really proud of Dave for investing in downtown Fort Dodge and making sure that building is going to look historic for the next 100 years,” Kris Patrick, executive director of Main Street Fort Dodge, told The Messenger.

She described the building as an example of what can be done ”with a little elbow grease and some grant funding.”

We appreciate Madsen’s effort at 605 Central Ave. He found a hidden architectural gem and restored it. In doing so, he showed that he believes in downtown Fort Dodge. We hope others share his vision and make investments in the core of our community.