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Washington Evening Journal
111 North Marion Avenue
Washington, IA 52353
319-653-2191
A century of care: From fashion to counseling
Southeast Iowa Union offers audio versions of articles using Instaread. Some words may be mispronounced.
MARENGO — At 1024 Court Avenue, a building once known for its elegant hats now offers something even more enduring: healing.
Home to Switzer and Wilson Counseling Services, the structure has long served the Marengo community, but until recently, it stood in quiet contrast to its vibrant purpose.
That changed thanks to a transformative renovation project that honors both the building’s past and the women shaping its future.
The building was built in 1901 by Elizabeth Blasier, a pioneering businesswoman whose millinery shop became a local destination. Her “Fine Millinery Display” advertised on page 6 of the Marengo Pioneer Republican featured Paris pattern hats and stylish arrangements that drew admiration from women of taste across Iowa County.
For 35 years Blasier ran her shop with vision and vitality while serving in the Methodist Church, the Order of the Eastern Star and the Daughters of America.
Over the decades, 1024 Court Avenue has worn many hats. From insurance agencies to restaurants, the building has housed a variety of businesses, each adding its own chapter to the story.
Through all its transformations, the space has remained a fixture of downtown Marengo, adapting to the needs of the community while retaining its historic charm.
Since March of 2018, Switzer and Wilson Counseling Services, led by Kelli Switzer and Angie Wilson, has offered trauma-informed therapy, eye movement desensitization and reprocessing, play therapy, and support for clients of all ages.
Despite the life-changing work happening inside, the exterior didn’t reflect the care and professionalism within.
“We always felt like the ugly duckling,” the owners aid. “We loved our space, but it didn’t match the heart of what we do.”
With the help of a Downtown Façade Grant from the City of Marengo and a Façade/Sign Grant from the Iowa County Community Foundation, the team was finally able to give the building the face-lift it deserved.
The project was guided by Corienne Dally of Bear Creek Design Studio, who helped Switzer and Wilson Counseling successfully apply for both grants, select color palettes to match their vision and create a full-color rendering that brought the concept to life.
Bear Creek Construction and T/R Painting Services transformed the building’s exterior while staying within the Iowa Economic Development Authority’s Downtown Design Guidelines.
And through it all, one detail remains untouched — the Blasier name, still etched proudly across the top of the building, a quiet tribute to the woman who first brought beauty and business to this corner of Court Avenue, and a reminder that legacy lives on in every brick and beam.
Future plans for the building include the possible addition of a striped awning, a nod to classic storefront charm that would further enhance the building’s welcoming presence and visual appeal.
