The house at 513 N. Court was built in the early 1880s for W.R. Daum President of the Electric Street Railway Company. The house is a contributing structure to the Court Hill Historic District which was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1998. The home is a unique example of brick Italianate style with segmented arches of cream-colored brick, cream-colored brick quoins and decorative cornice brackets.

As the result of fire damage and neglect the property is currently placarded by the Health Department as unfit for human habitation. The property has been placarded by the Health Department numerous times in the past and the current case was opened following a fire in October 2018. Even before the fire, the property had been poorly converted by the owners from a single-family residence into an 8-unit multi-family building and neglected under the ownership of absentee landlords. Features of the most recent deficiency list include: damaged floors, ceilings, walls and windows; smoke and fire damage; deficient plumbing, electrical and mechanical systems; and broken windows, doors, soffit, fascia and structural elements.

As this property remains vacant its condition continues to deteriorate and the out-of-state owners have shown little interest in making repairs and maintaining the property. It has been a magnet for looters, squatters and vandals increasing the fire threat. Nuisance issues including tall grass and litter are persistent. In addition, in its present condition the property continues to have a negative catalytic effect on the rest of the historic district.

Supporters of the house and historic district are hopeful that a party interested in restoring the house can be found either by purchasing it from the owner or as a result of action under Iowa Code § 657A. If a buyer could be found the City Planning Department would provide technical assistance and leverage funding opportunities to assist in a rehabilitation of the property.