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vx':�' .' ''' '='.'1. +'HEREBY CERTIFY that I aiit`ihe Ci -Clerk'of"the:Ci' :of El in;
I, Maiie;Yearnian,,,iDO, tY tY B
�; Illinois;.and+that aa'aich City-Clerk i'am.....keeper'and custodian of the:file's and''records of
•said City 'of:Elgin'•and:the'.seal thereof•
1-/-1.,:'(:•.',':.::, i.i I{DO FURTHE `':.CERTIFi. that,thel"attached:is a:full :true;and correct.copy of
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; •In.Witness Whereof,I'xhave,. reui to sermy;hand"and affixed the corporate ,seal' of the
'City,af,El gine at;;tt e�saidscity Intili'e r�' t ind' tute':aforeaaid this I. day of
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83 VOLUME XLVI
I .
RESOLUTION ,
DESIGNATING THE ELGIN HISTORIC DISI`RICT
Fx` 1�REAS, the area described in Exhibit A attached hereto has been
identified in "Architecture and Historic Urban Neighborhoods of the Fox
►. 4 River" by Kane County Urban Development Department, inventoried by the
I = Illinois Department of Conservation and researched by E. C. Alft in"The Elgin Historic District" (see attached) as a significant historical
# , and architectural area of the City of Elgin; and
• WHEREAS, the "Elgin Historic District" includes part of the original
plat of Elgin as laid out by James T. Gifford, the founder of Elgin; and
r . WHEREAS, all properties currently listed on the National Register -i;
of Historic Places in the City of Elgin are contained within the "Elgin
Historic District"; and
i_ .. WHEREAS, seventy-five percent of the structures located within the
"Elgin Historic District" date from the 1850's to 1900 and encompass a
broad range and diversity of architectural styles; and
I_ -i WHEREAS, it is appropriate to designate areas having special historic, ,
community or aesthetic interest or value for the purpose of recognizing
Elgin's historic, aesthetic, architectural and cultural heritage; enhanc-. •1.
ing one of the city's oldest residential areas; promoting civic pride
through an awareness of Elgin's unique development and history; and en
I!! . couraging conservation of an important segment of the man-made environ-
f} ' ment of the City of Elgin.
L NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF
ELGIN, ILLINOIS, that the City Council of the City of Elgin hereby designates
. the territory described in Exhibit A attached hereto and made a part hereof •
.. b1 . y reference be and is hereby designated as the "Elgin Historic District."
. w\
fr' s/ Richard L. Verbic ;"•it• . '
Richard L. Verbic, Mayor
Presented: March 11, 1981
€r- . Adopted: March 1 1 , 1981 -
Vote: Yeas 7 Nays 0
Recorded:
r :
1. i
l` - Attest:
s/ Marie Yearman
•
.•r Marie Yearman, City Clerk /`
1.
' RESOLUTION ADOPTED AUTHORIZING AN AGREEMENT
U. WITH CHICAGO FIREWORKS COMPANY
` Councilman Hill made a motion , seconded by Councilman Waters , to .,
adopt the aforementioned resolution. Yeas : Councilmen Barnes , ;:�.
Gilliam, Hill , Kirkland, Nelson, Waters and Mayor Verbic . Nays :
None..
it
113 .
I, 1993-378
The Elgin Historic District; containing approximately 208 acres entirely North of the Northwest corner of the intersection of Academy Pl. with Park St. CA
within Sec. 13, Twp. 41 N., R. 8 E. of the Third Principal Meridan in Kane on the said West right-of-way; thence Northeasterly continuing across Academy N
County, Illinois, is bounded by a line described as follows: Pl. approximately 45' to a point on the East right-of-way of Academy Pl., 163.0
Commencing at the S.W. corner of Sec. 13; thence Northerly approximately North of the Northeast corner of the intersection of academy P1. with Park St.
2640' on the West section line of said Sec. 13 to the point of intersection with the on the said East right-of-way; thence Easterly 322.44' continuing across Block --
centerline of East Chicago St., St. Rt. 19; thence Easterly along said center- 130 of B.W. Raymond's Addition along a line parallel to the north right-of-way
line approximately 545' to the point of intersection with the centerline of of Park St. to a point on the West right-of-way of College St., 163.0' North
Center St. for a point of beginning; thence Northerly approximately 827' along of the Northwest corner of the intersection of College St. with Park St. on the
said centerline of Center St. to the point of intersection with centerline of said West right-of-way; thence Southeasterly continuing across College St.
Dundee Ave.; thence Northeasterly approximately 666' along said centerline of approximately 46' to a point on the East right-of-way of College St., 132' North
Dundee Ave. to a point intersected by the Westerly elongation of the North of the Northeast corner of the intersection of College St. with Park St. on the
property line of Lot-008, Block 109 in B.W. Raymond's Addition; thence Easterly said East right-of-way, which corresponds with the Northwest corner of Lot -014,
along said elongation through a point on the E. right-of-way of Dundee Ave., Block 131 of B.W. Raymond's Addition; thence Easterly along the North property
108' measured along said right-of-way, North of the Northeast corner of the line's of Lots -014, -015, -016 and -017 in said Block 131, 210.541 to the North-
intersection of Dundee Ave. with Park St., and continuing Easterly along the east corner of Lot -017;thence Southerly along the East property line of Lot -017
North property line of Lots -008, -009, -010 and -011 within Block 109 in said 52'to the Northwesterly corner of Lot -032 in said Block 131; thence Easterly along
Addition approximately 250' to a point 5' East of the Northeast corner of Lot the North property line of Lot -032 in said Block 131, 80' to the point of inter-
-011 of said Addition to the West property line of Lot -012, Block 109 of said section with the West right-of-way of Gifford St., being a point 80' North of the
Addition; thence Northerly along said West property line approximately 84' to Northwest corner of the intersection of Gifford St. with Park St. on the said
the Northwest corner of said Lot -012; thence Easterly along the North property West right-of-way; thence Easterly continuing across Gifford St. approximately 50'
line of said Lot -012, 62.75' to the Northeast corner of said Lot -012; thence to a point on the East right-of-way of Gifford St., 84.16' North of the Northeast
Southerly along the East property line of said Lot -012, 47' to a point inter- corner of the intersection of Gifford St. with Park.St. on the said East right-
sected by the North property line of Lot -013, Block 109 in said Addition; of-way, which corresponds with the Northwest corner of Lot -006, Block 133 of
thence Easterly along said north property line of Lot -013, 99.79' to the point L.F. Brayman's Subdivision; thence Easterly along the North property line of
of intersection with the West right-of-way of Academy P1., being a point 134.5' Lot -006 in said Block 133, 115.5' to the Northeast corner of said Lot -006
(1) (2) A h, b T7
on the West property line of Lot -017. Block 133 of L.F. Brayman's Subdivision; thence Southerly along the East property line of Lot -025 in said Block 209,
thence Northerly along the West property line of Lot -017 in said Block 133, approximately 66' to the Northwest corner of Lot -026 Block 209 of J.H. Becker's
132' to the Northwest corner of said Lot -017; thence Easterly along the North Addition; thence Easterly along the north property line of Lot -026 in said
property line of Lots -017, -018 and -019 Block 133 in L.F. Brayman's Sub- Block 209, approximately 73' to the Northeast corner of said Lot -026, a point
division, approximately 198' to the Northeast corner of Lot -019 of said Block of intersection with West right-of-way of Hill Avenue, 73' North along said
133; thence Southerly along the East property line of Lot -019 of said Block 133, West right-of-way to the Northwest intersection of Hill Ave. with Park St.; CO
49.5' to the Northwest corner of Lot -021, Block133 of L.F. Brayman's Sub- thence, Northeasterly continuing across Hill Ave. approximately 95' to a point
M
division; thence Easterly along the North property line of Lot -021 of said Block on the East right-of way of Hill Ave., approximately 137' North of the North-prj
133, 66' to the Northeast corner of said Lot -021; thence Southerly along the east corner of the intersection of Hill Ave. with Park St. on the said East
East property line of Lot -021 of said Block 133, 65' to the Northwest corner right-of-way, which corresponds with the Northwest corner of Lot -004 Block 210
of Lot -024 Block 133 of B.N. Raymond's Addition; thence Easterly along the North of J.H. Becker's Addition; thence Easterly along the North property line of Lot -01
property line of Lot -024 Block 133 of B.W. Raymond's Addition continuing of said Block 210 241.5' continuing Easterly parallel to and 132' North of the
Easterly parallel to and 100' North of the North right-of-way of Park St. across right-of-way of Park St. along the North property line's of Lots -008 and -009
Channing Ct. to the Northeast corner of Lot -029 Block 133 of B.N. Raymond's Block 210 of Grote and Waldron's 3rd Addition to the Northeast corner of said
Addition a total calculated distance of approximately 224.2'; thence Northerly Lot -009, a point on the West Right-of-way of Porter St. 132' North of the
along the West property line of Lot -030 Block 133 of B.M. Raymond's Addition, Northwest corner of the intersection of Porter St. with Park St.; thence South-
perpendicular to the aforementioned Easterly line, a distance of 114.5' to the easterly continuing across Porter St. approximately 80' to a point on the East
Northwest corner of said Lot -030; thence Easterly along the North property line Right-of-way of Porter St., 86' North of the Northeast corner of the inter-
of Lot -030 Block 133 and continuing along a Easterly elongation of said property section of Porter St. with Park St. on the said Right-of-way, which corresponds
line being parellel to and 214.5' North of the North right-of-way of Park St. with Northwest corner of Lot -008 Block 211 of Grote and Waldron's 3rd Addition;
a calculated distance of approximately 363' to the Northwest corner of Lot -014 thence Easterly along the North property line of Lot -009, a point of inter-
Block 209 of B.N. Raymond's Addition; thence Southerly along the East property section on the West property line of Lot -009 in said Block 211; thence Northerly
line of Lot =014 Block 209 of said Addition, 39.58' to the Northwest corner of thence Easterly along the North property line of Lot -008 Block 211 approxi-
Lot -015 Block 209 of J.H. Becker's Addition; thence Easterly along the North mately 68' to the Northeast corner of said Lot -0085 a point of intersection
property line's of Lots -015. -016, 017, -018 and -019 all in Block 209 of on the West property line of Lot -009 in said Block 211; thence Northerly
J.H. Becker's Addition approximately 300' to the Northeast corner of Lot -019 in along the West property line of Lot -009 Block 211 of Grote and Waldron's 3rd
said Block 209; thence Southerly along the East property line Lot -019 in said Addition approximately 46' to the Northwest corner of said Lot -009; thence
Block-209-approximately 28' to the Northwest corner of Lot -025 Block 209 in Easterly along the North property line of Lot -009 in said Block 211 and con-
t.
J.H. Becker's Addition; thence Easterly along the North property line of Lot -025 tinuing East along a straight line 68' to the Northwest inside corner of Lot
in 'said Brock 209 approximately 42.6' to the Northeast corner of said Lot -025; -010 Block 21T of Grote and Waldron's 3rd Addition; thence Northerly along the
I�1 (41
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Westerly property line of Lot -010 of said Block 211, 33' to the Northerly corner of the intersection of Lillie St. with Liberty St. on the said Right-of-way_
Northwest corner of said Lot -010: thence Easterly along the North property which corresponds with the Northeast corner of Lot -001 Block 278 of J. Force's
lines of Lots -010, -011 and -012 Block 211 of Grote and Waldron's 3rd Addi- 2nd Addition; thence Southerly along the East property line of Lots -001, -002,
tion, 141' to the Northeast corner of said Lot -012; thence Southerly along the and -003 Block 278 of J. Force's 2nd Addition and Lot -004 and 006 Block 278
East property line of Lot -012 of said Block 211, 31.5' to the Northwest of Jonathan Force's Addition, 280.5' to the Southeast corner of Lot -006 of
corner of Lot -016 Block 211 of Vail's Addition; thence Easterly along the said Block 278, a point of intersection with the North Right-of-way of
North property line of Lots -016 and -017 Block 211 of said Addition, 135.33' Forest Ave., a point 99' East of the Northeast corner of the intersection of
to the Northeast corner of Lot -017 of said Block 211, a point on the West Forest Avenue with Liberty St., along the said Right-of-way; thence South-
Right-of-way
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of Liberty St., Illinois State Route 25, and 133.5' North of the easterly continuing across Forest Avenue approximately 85' to a point on the
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Northwest corner of the intersection of Liberty St. with Park St. along Right- South Right-of-way of Forest Ave. 148.5' East of the Southeast corner of the CT)
of-way; thence Easterlycontinuingacross LibertySt. approximately 66' to a interesection of Forest Ave. with Liberty St. on the said Ri ht-of-wa , which C�
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point on the East Right-of-way of Liberty St., 130.6' North of the Northeast corresponds with the Northeast corner of Lot -001 Block 280 of Jonathan Force's
corner of the intersection of Liberty St. with Park St. on the said Right-of- Addition; thence Southerly along the East property line of Lots -001, 002,
way, which corresponds with the Northwest corner of Lot -012 Block 229 of -003 and -015 Block 280, of said Addition 280.5' to the Southeast corner of •
J. Force Heir's Addition; thence Easterly along the North property line of Lot -015 Block 280 of said Addition, a point of intersection with the
Lot -012 of said Block 229, 55' to the Northeast corner of said Lot -012; thence North Right-of-way of Linden Ave., 148.5' East of the Northeast corner of the
Southerly along the East property line of Lot -012 of said Block 229, approxi- intersection of Linden Ave. with Liberty St., along the said Right-of-way;
mately 131' to the Southeast corner of said Lot -012, a point on the North thence Southerly continuing across Linden Ave., approximately 67' to a
Right-of-way of Park St., 55' East of the Northeast corner of the intersection point on the South Right-of-way of Linden Ave., 132' East of the Southeast
of Park St., with Liberty St. on the said Right-of-way; thence Southeasterly corner of the intersection of Linden Ave. with Liberty St. on the said Right-
across Park St. approximately 103' to a point on the South Right-of-way of of-way, which corresponds with the Northeast corner of Lot -001 Block 282 of
Park St., 132.3' East of the Southeast corner of the intersection of Park St. Co. Clerk's Subdivision; thence Southerly along the East property line of
with Liberty St. on the said Right-of-way, which corresponds with the North- Lots -001 and -002 Block 282 of said Subdividion, 115.5' to the inside South-
east corner of Lot -001 Block 276 of J. Force Heir's Addition; thence Southerly eastern corner of Lot -002 in said Block 282; thence Easterly along the South-
along the East property line of Lots -001, -002, -003 and -004 Block 276 in east property line of Lot -002 in said Block 282, 16.5' to the outside South-
said J. Force Heir's Addition, 248.6' to the Southeast corner of said Lot -004, east corner of said Lot -002; thence Southerly along the East property line
a point on the North Right-of-way of Lillie St., 132.3' North of the Northeast of Lot -002 in said Block 282, 12' to the further most Southeast corner of
corner of the intersection of Lillie St. with Liberty St. on the said Right-of- said Lot -002; thence Westerly along the South property line of Lot -002 in
way; thence Southeasterly continuing across Lillie St. approximately 68' to a said Block 282, 33' to a point of intersection with the East property line of
point on the South Right-of-way of Lillie St., 148.5' East of the Southeast Lot -003 Block 282 of Co. Clerk's Subdivision: thence Southerly along the East
( 5) (6)
property line of Lot -003 of said Block 282, 75' to the Southeast corner of with the East property line of Lot -005 Block 426 of Eastview Addition, along
said Lot -003, a point of intersection with North property line of Lot -004 said South property line; thence Southerly along the East property line of Lot
Block 282 of Co. Clerk's Subdivision; thence Easterly along the North property -005 in said Block 426, 49.5' to the Southeast corner of said Lot -005, a point
line of Lot -004 of said Block 282, 33' to the Northeast corner of said Lot of intersection with the North Right-of-way of Eastview St.; thence Westerly
-004; thence Southerly along the East property line of Lot -004 of said Block along the North Right-of-way of Eastview St., 135' to the Northeast corner of
282, 45' to the Southeast corner of said Lot -004, a point of intersection the intersection of Eastview St. with Liberty St.; thence Northwesterly
with the North Right-of-way of Chicago St., Illinois State Route 19, 149.5' continuing across Liberty St. approximately 80' to a point on the West
East of the Northeast corner of the intersection of Chicago St. with Liberty St., Right-of-way of Liberty St., 239 South of the Southwest corner of the
along said Right-of-way; thence Southwesterly continuing across Chicago St., intersection of Liberty St., with Chicago St., which corresponds with the
approximately 75' to a point on the South Right-of-way of Chicago St., approxi- Southeast corner of Lot -002 of Florence Hintze's Subdivision in Block 405;
mately 113' East of the Southeast corner of the interesection of Chicago St. with thence Westerly along the South boundary line of Florence Hintze's Sub-
Liberty St. as determined by the Westerly elongation of the said South Right-of- division, 230' to the Southwest corner of Lot -001 of said subdivision
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,way intersecting with the Northerly elongation of the East Right-of-way of a point of intersection with the East Right-of-way of Porter St., 236.38'
Liberty St. as measured along said South Right-of-way, which corresponds with South of the Southeast corner of the intersection of Porter St. with M
the Northeast corner of Lot -001 Block 426 in J. Davidson's Addition; thence Chicago St., along said East Right-of-way; thence Southwesterly continuing C)
a,
Southerly along the East property line of Lot -001 in said Block 426, 97' to the across Porter St., approximately 70' to a point on the West Right-of-way .....
Southeast inside corner of said Lot -001; thence Easterly along the Southeast of Porter St., 275' South of Southwest corner of the intersection of
property line of Lot -001 in said Block 426, 18' to the Southeast outside corner Porter St. with Chicago St., a point which corresponds with the Southeast
of said Lot -001; thence southerly along the East property line of Lots -001 and corner of Lot -013 Block 404 in W.H. Hintze's Subdivision, along said West
-003 Block 426 of said Addition, 66' to the Southeast corner of Lot -003 of Right-of-way; thence Westerly along the South property line of Lot -013 in
said Block 426, a point of intersection with the North Property line of Lot -004 said Block 404, approximately 168.5' to the Southwest corner of said
Block 426 of J. Davidson's Addition; thence Easterly along the North property Lot -013, a point of intersection on the East property line of Lot -008
line of Lot -004 in said Block 426, 50.05' to the Northeast corner of said Block 404 in Co. Clerk's Subdivision; thence Southerly along the East
Lot -004 thence Southerly along the East property line of Lot -004 of said Block property line of Lot -008 in said Block 404,approximately 16.74' to the South-
426, 49' to the Southeastern outside corner of said Lot -004; thence Westerly east corner of said Lot -008; thence Westerly along the South property line
along the Southwestern property line of Lot -004 in said Block 426, 6' to the of Lot -008 in said Block 404 and continuing Westerly along the South
Southeastern inside corner of said Lot -004; thence Southerly continuing along boundary lines of Co. Clerk's Subdivision in Block 404 and John Webb's
the Southwestern property line of Lot -004 in said Block 426, 17' to the Subdivision Block 402, 714' to a point of intersection of the South boundary
Southern most Southeast corner of said Lot -004; thence Westerly along the South line of John Webb's Subdivision Block 402 intersected by the Southerly
property line of Lot -004 of said Block 426, 40.5' to a point of intersection elongation of the center line of Warwick P1., a point 314' East of the
(7) (8)
East Right-of-way of Channing St. as measured along the South boundary line the South Right-of-way of said alley, approximately 66' East of the South-
of John Webb's Subdivision Blocks 401 and 402, a line corresponding to the South east corner of the intersection of said alley with Channing St., which corres-
Right-of-way of a 25' wide alley within and along said South boundary line; ponds with the Northeast corner of Lot -008 Block 451 of Home Addition; thence
thence Southerly along a line parallel to and 314' East of the West Right-of-way Southerly along the East property line of Lots -008 and 009 451 of said
Channing St., approximately 650' to a point on the South property of Lot -001 Addition, approximately 116' to the Southeast corner of Lot -009 in said
flock 403, known as Channing Memorial Park, thence Westerly along the South Block 451, a point on the North Right-of-way of Stella St. 66' East of the
sroperty line of Lot -001 Block 403, 149' to a point of intersection with the Northeast corner of the intersection of Stella St. with Channing St., along
East property line of Lot -002 Block 403 of J.H. & F. Gifford's Addition; thence said North Right-of-way; thence continuing Southerly across Stella St. approxi-
southerly along the East property line of Lots -002 and 003 Block 403 of said mately 68' to a point on the South Right-of-way of Stella St., 67' East of
kddition, 99' to the Southeast corner of said Lot -003; thence Westerly along -
N.the Southeast corner of the intersection of Stella St. with Channing St., along N
the south property line of Lot -003 in said Block 403, 33' to a point of inter- Right-of-way, c
said South which corresponds with the Northeast corner of Lot -001 M
section with the East property line of Lot -004 Block 403 of Waldron Heir's Block 453 of Home Addition; thence continuing Southerly along the East property (91
CY)
Subdivision; thence Southerly along the East property line of Lot -004 in said line of Lot -001 in said Block 453, 52' to a point of intersection with the
Block 403, 25.5' to the Northeastern outside corner of said Lot -004; thence North property line of Lot -003 Block 453 of Home Addition; thence Easterly
Westerly along the Northeastern property line of Lot -004 in said Block 403, along the North property line of Lot -003 of said Block 453, 36' to the
26' to the Northeastern inside corner of said Lot -004; thence southerly along Northeast corner of said Lot -003; thence Southerly, along the East property
the East property line of Lot -004 and -005 Block 403 of said Subdivision, 115.5' line of Lot -003 of said Block 453, 48' to the Southeast corner of said Lot
to the Southeast corner of said Lot -005, a point of intersection with the -003, a point of intersection with the North property line of Lot -004 Block
North Right-of-way of Laurel St., 106' East of the Northeast corner of the 453 in Geo. Plummer's Addition; thence Easterly along the North property line
intersection of Laurel St. with Channing St.; thence continuing Southerly of Lot -004 in said Block 453, approximately 66' to the Northeast corner of
scross Laurel St., approximately 67.5' to a point on the South Right-of-way of said Lot -004; thence Southerly along the East property line of Lots -004,
Laurel St., 99' East of the Southeast corner of the intersection of Laurel St. -005 and -006 of said Block 453, 125' to the Eastern most Southeast corner
with Channing St., a point which corresponds with the Northeast corner of of said Lot -006; thence Westerly along the Southeast property line of Lot
.ot -001 Block 451 of Home Addition, along said South Right-of-way; thence -006 of said Block 453, 51.5' to the Southeast inside"corner of said Lot -006;
Southerly along the East property line of Lots -001 and -002 of said Block 451, thence Southerly along the Southeast property line of Lot -006 in said Block
approximately 80' to the Southeast corner of said Lot -002 Block 451 of Home 453, 25' to the Southern most Southeast corner of said Lot -006; thence
addition, a point of intersection on the North Right-of-way of a alley approxi- Westerly along the South property line of Lot -006 in said Block 453, 40'
matrly:15' wide, approximately 99' East of the Northeast corner of the inter- to a point of intersection on the said South property line with the East
section of said alley with Channing St. on said North Right-of-way; thence property line of Lot -018 Block 453 of Geo. Plummer's Addition; thence Southerly
Soutnwesterly continuing across said alley approximately 35' to a point on along the East property line of Lot -018 in said Block 453, 79' to the South-
,. (9) (10)
ast corner of said Lot -018, a point of intersection of the said East property
ine with the North Right-of-way of Villa St. U.S. Business Route20, approxi-
ately 93' Southeasterly, as measured along said North Right-of-way, from the
ortheast corner of the Intersection of Villa St. with Channing St.; thence
esterly in a straight line, approximately 122' to the intersection of the
enter lines of Villa St. with Channing St.; thence Northwesterly along the
enter line of Villa St., approximately 1790' to the intersection of the
aid center line of Villa St. with the center line of Praire St.; thence
lesterly along the said center line of Praire St., approximately 15' to the
lorthwestern center line of Villa St.; thence Northwesterly continuing along
:he said Northwestern center line of Villa St., approximately 800' to the
point of intersection of said center line with the center line of DuPage
it.; thence Easterly along said ,center line of DuPage St.; thence Easterly
llong said center line of DuPage St., approximately 20' to the point of CO
P--
Intersection of said center line with the Northern center line of Villa St.; Cr)
M
thence Northerly along said Northern center line of Villa St., approximately CT)
340' to the point of intersection of the said Northern center line with the
:enter line of Chicago Ave., being the Point of Begining; the entire district
pounded by the line herein described is located within Section 13, Township 41 N,
t 8 E of the Third Principal Meridian, within the City of Elgin, Kane Co.,
fllinois.
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Copyright 1980
By E. C. Alft
4
Preface
The Elgin Historic District was first proposed in the Fox River
Study III 1976-77: Architecture and Historic Neighborhoods on the
Fox River, prepared by Carole Zelli and published by Kane.County
Urban Development.This report identified 74 properties in the area.a
list derived from the Illinois Historic Sites Survey and Elgin Area
Landmarks, a 1975 publication of the Elgin Area Historical Society.
The district roughly encompasses an area around East Chicago Street
extending from Center Street on the west to Liberty Street on the east.
It is bounded on the north by Park Street,on the southwest by Villa,
and on the southeast by South Channing and a line from DuPage
Street through to Eastview.
Published at Elgin, Illinois, This guide is an outgrowth of tours organized by the Elgin Area
g Historical Society beginning in 1962. It is designed both for readers
by the interested in the district's past and for pedestrians and bicyclists who
Elgin Area Historical Society may wish to follow the route of about three miles in length.Its purpose
and the is to create an awareness of a community legacy which will encourage
Gifford Park Association preservation of landmarks and a renovation of the neighborhood.
The places described were selected on the bates of nineteenth cen-
tury construction, historic significance, visual interest, architectural
style, and adherence to original appearance. Some exceptions to these
criteria are included,and others which may meet them have been omit-
ted due to lack of space or oversight. All the homes are privately
owned and not open to the public. The author is indebted to members
of the Elgin Area Historical Society and the Gifford Park Association
for their assistance and to his daughter, Susan Alft,who prepared the
drawings. Omissions and errors are his alone.
Printed in the United States of America
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IPP
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The Elgin Historic District
One of Elgin's oldest residential areas is located east of the central
business district around the Chicago Street corridor. The housing,
much of it built in the last quarter of the nineteenth century,
represents a variety of construction materials and architectural styles.
The more ornate are often lumped together as gingerbread or Vic-
, torian, but the careful observer will see that older homes are not all
alike. The Historic district contains good examples of the Greek
Revival, Gothic Revival, Italianate, Mansard, Queen Anne, Stick,
Shingle and Neo-Colonial styles.Three buildings within the area—Old
Main, the Stone Cottage, and the Universalist Church—have been
entered in the National Register of Historic Places.
In this neighborhood James T.Gifford,the city's founder,built his
log cabin in 1835, and the town's first church bell was pealed in 1839.
Lots were plotted by Gifford as early as 1842. Here were concentrated
the homes of foremen and other employees of the world's largest watch
factory, including the designer of its famed automatic machines and
the director of its military band. Among the residents were leaders of
the Midwest dairy industry: the head of the Elgin Board of Trade,
which once established prices for butter throughout much of the coun-
try;the superintendent of the Borden milk condensing plant;the presi-
dent of the Elgin Butter Co.;and the editor of the Elgin Dairy Report.
Here lived the founder of the David C. Cook Publishing Co.; leading
merchants, such as the Ackemann brothers;mayors; bank presidents;
and the publisher of one of the city's daily newspapers.
Large residences with spacious grounds, brick townhouses with
overhanging cornices,and small frame cottages are interspersed along
the tree-lined streets. Most of the dwellings are in good condition,and
a high proportion are owner-occupied. Several of the streets begin and
end within the area, and some are only a block long. A pedestrian is
rewarded with sights of dignified columns, round and square turrets
and towers, ornamented gables and doorways, modeled brick
chimneys, and carved window lintels that expressed the pride and in-
' dividuality of a by-gone era.
Many of the dwellings were erected during the growth of the Elgin
National Watch Co.to a dominant position in the industry. In the sum-
mer of 1879 this firm was employing 840 hands; by 1891 there were
more than 3,000 employees at the big factory turning out about sixty
' per cent of all the fine jeweled movements produced in the United
States. A local paper, the Advocate, boasted on April 29, 1882 that
Elgin was"the only live,energetic,go-ahead booming city in northern
Illinois, and don't you forget it. Let her continue to boom, and to all
who wish to join in this boom with us, we say come, for we have room
for all."
Newcomers to the city from farms and foreign lands continued to
arrive until the Panic of '93. Houses were provided for large families,
- 1
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Gifford's Plat of 1842 a • •. ' • + • •\
James T. Gifford's original plat of the town of Elgin was surveyed by Peter CITY OF
,• �, ,• • ..
Wagner in 1842.All of the lots except the fractionals were 66 feet wide by 132
feet deep. Streets were 66 feet wide except Center, which was 99 feet wide. i I f I�'. - -
Center is a broad thoroughfare because Gifford envisioned it as the commercial • . • ,
•
core of the settlement. Running along the crest of a steep hill, it was free from " \ -
river flooding. Businesses gradually moved down the hill with the growth of � - .
population on the west side. What is described as "Public Ground" along __J " ' "
Center Street is now G.A.R.Memorial Park.The"Burying Ground"in the north• '
east corner of the plat was later abandoned for the Channing Street location. Elgin in 1860
Gifford's addition of 1844 added lots south of Prairie and Villa, laid out There were less than 150 buildings in the Historic District when this map was
another public square (now Gifford Park) and extended the original plat to made by Adin Mann in 1860.Only.one house, the Stone Cottage,occupied the
Charming Street. block bounded by Prairie, Chapel,Villa and Gifford Streets.
N '> L. and the needs of couples and single workers were met by the construc-
c o la a r tion of boarding houses and brick "flats," the term then used for
v v a. o& duplexes, townhouses and apartments. Most of Elgin's brick
a 0 `.c flats—the local equivalent of New York brownstones and Chicago
J.5
2 greystones—which arose in this period were located in the Historic
District.
W.3c heart of the area is Chicago Street. In the elegant eighties and
f v--A in only briefly gay nineties,the wealthier families had domestic servants,
°' Ea. t often German or Scandinavian immigrants, and grooms for their
o 4.a E o Y = iv spirited horses and fine equipage. Location on or near this half mile
So u A 8, between Center and Liberty Streets was ideal.Crossing Chicago Street
c 3.o g. were streams of pedestrians and lumbering horse-drawn buses bound
d ,,. to and from the watch factory to the south.Later the street cars,which
c c— c w began running on Chicago Street in 1890,connected Lord's Park with
I c the business district.On band concert nights in the park extra trolleys
. ..n c 1° were provided to carry people along this corridor. This was the first
- ; ';,, •i•.. uJ Lkd 121-f�N1-I; : I 0 0 1p ` residential thoroughfare in Elgin to be big
•
k .3 ao . g gi paved with brick, and
a -� �,�- "-r+ `a• �� c > Memorial Day parades passed by on their way to the cemetery on
�• ; .0;-1_,,.-. ' .4F.7%-i
_xt ,cv&oChanning Street. Chicago Street• could claim both the city's largest
i-ve ~- •.,�L •• .. • : ociF ; ao $ residential stable and the first automobile owner.
='.5 '. ► -1�:ir;•+ •
a ¢ r Elgin architects, some evolving out of their original function as
'""' F- ` �= builders, had abundant
2 ,.Q I,. rA}; _� : 1 ;;� d $ opportunity to display their talents. Smith
_ .of . 4. �v�rM�+� y� L.Y «-
�. � r--�i •,,; �;�}��� ��...F:' � a g �, � Hoag(1838-1916)arrived in town to build the Opera House in 1870-72;
�' . ^r_
' ; , �: ' ..,. c»- - h by the eighties he was a practicing architect. He was followed by
_ - ' �=wra� �'''^ L. '� Gilbert M. Turnbull (1353-1919),
, .r.���,. •;;�_ •�,�- L-, t � .., another contractor, who began con-
centrating L,,':` 'I' j 'Is"'
'-' ; --c centrating on plans by 1889. Turnbull's partner in his Chicago office,
' KO. D'.i"f` ";,' t.4.. •i.:"t�_ F ;,N David E. Postle(1863-1939),joined him about 1892. W. Wright Abell
• I' - • !1 ''i• A '^g (1853.1,91,0 entered the field after serving as a watch factory architec-
ed
tural I.:,,, • E m 5.15._, Lural draftsman.
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M�rJi .-l. �'
°" •''- •Designated East Chicago Street in 1894 after Bridge Street across the river was
'I P re-named West Chicago Street.
5
mason who built the Stone Cottage, was born in Wayne County, New
York, not far from Rochester.
Uniformity in the size of the stones was obtained by using a board
4
-.-
` �, with two holes; the stone was acceptable if it went through the large
---- 4 hole but could not pass the smaller. The thick rubble stone wall into
which the cobbles were imbedded was allowed to dry every few feet
A Self-Guiding Tour of the because too much pressure from above would cause the round stones
ELGIN HISTORIC DISTRICT i to slip out. The water-rounded cobblestones in this home are round,
oval, and odd-shaped. They are of different colors, but various shades
START AT DAVIDSON PARK of light and dark grays predominate.Corner quoins,necessary because
Chapel, Prairie, and Villa Streets the stones can't be joined like bricks, are warm gray limestones. Win-
James T. Gifford and his brother, Hezekiah, arrived at what is now dow openings have ten-inch high
Elgin in the spring of 1835. Hezekiah came to establish a farm, and lintels and four-inch thick sills cut
James to found a town along Fox River. The site chosen was a direct from the same material.
line between the lead mines at Galena near the Mississippi and the Gifford died soon after the
little lake port of Chicago.The founder's cabin was located in the mid- house was finished, but it was oc-
dle of Prairie Street,between Chapel and Villa. It served as the town's 'AN,- ��,,pp� cupied by his widow, daughter
first school, first church, and first post office. '.i4! '' !.• . , and son-in-law—Caroline and
The concrete base in the park was laid in 1934 for the Pioneer ;s'.: Orlando Davidson—for many
Memorial monument of Elgin sculptor Trygve A. Rovelstad. The .„ r ,:,„ years. The mansard portion and
colossal four-figure group is pictured on the Elgin Commemorative *:'':. `+ '-•= the north wing are later addi-
Half Dollar authorized by Congress in 1936, but the funds raised by :t�` tions. Servants' quarters and a
the sale of these coins at $1.50 each were insufficient to complete the 4 ' carriage house, no longer ex-
project. isting, stood in the rear of the
The only free-standing figure sculpture in Elgin is a copy of"Over house. The original front of the
the Top"by John Paulding.School children contributed funds to erect building is now the west side.(See
the statue of a World War I doughboy in 1922. Vandals broke off the the cover illustration, which is
end of the rifle in 1936. reproduced from an 1872 atlas.)
The property once covered an en-
363-365 Prairie tire city block,and deer grazed on
The Stone Cottage was James Gifford's third Elgin home,erected in • the extensive grounds. On the
1849-60 after he had returned from an ill-fated venture at establishing broad lawn or in its spacious
a new town at Port Ulao, Wisconsin. The home combines a mansard James T. Gifford rooms were held the parties,
roof and Southern columns,but its architectural significance lies chief- church gatherings and teas
ly in its cobblestone construction. This type of masonry arose in New that were among the most remembered events of nineteenth century
York state,and about 90 per cent of all cobblestone buildings are said Elgin's social life. In 1903 the house was remodeled for rental pur •
-
to be found in a 60-mile radius around Rochester. After completion of poses. The Stone Cottage was listed on the National Register of
the Erie Canal in 1825,the masons who had been employed in its con- Historic Places in 1980.
struction applied their skills to building homes of this material. Found
in abundance in fields and along lake shores, they were cheaper than 360-362 Prairie
brick because they did not have to be shaped and kiln-dried. The New This brick flat, erected by Gilbert M. Turnbull in 1888, was one of
York masons embellished the mortar joints to highlight the stones, many built to house the expanding labor force of the watch factory.
and patterns of light and shade change during the day. • Usually two stories with a basement, the Elgin brick flat's
The Stone Cottage illustrates the transfer to the pioneer West of characteristic features included an overhanging metal cornice, an
practices developed in the East.Many of Elgin's early settlers,like the ornamented wood porch, and stained glass window edging.There was
Giffords, emigrated from central New York, and they brought with often a slanted bay window at the side. The common brick construe-
them their admiration of cobblestone houses. Edwin F. Reeves, the tion was relieved with red brick trim.
6 7
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•
TURN RIGHT AT GIFFORD - •
160.154 South Gifford ��`C,\,,
Another brick flat,this one has three-sided front bays and was built in \'�
1890. The builder, Gilbert M. Turnbull, married Edith Kinney, the 0' +++;' `�`•.. .
daughter of the original owner. On the north side is an oriel, which ++�,�'«
begins above the first storey. A baystarts at the ground. ` ��rll
•
166 South Gifford r is T..-1." r:•''' i/i/, ..•
Built in the early seventies, this +++�`':. '� -� •.•:•.'„'10%/4.';'.';'./11.•••:14'i'
�, was the home of Increase C. ►,+�r.. '/ ' ,.,
• Bosworth, merchant and presi- �Ae b rt;r r t r -- '' ...::;::,• �� '
dent of the First National Bank, ,o' +►'"v r r _ . ...-,..-14:,::;......:,:.,,.....,`
• 1876-1888. He was also a leading %,I' L. G'�` •• �. ..::%'•\,�:..
i ,\-a ,...•,.;,,
investor in the railroads coming J :.,. ! :.; ;•
: -• ,�; through Elgin. Especially in- ` b �/ l •i`,410%;i 'ii
g on both the north and \ /
'r south sides is the two-storey bay \ y r• ',,`.��'`4;•
culminating•in a framed arra - )� /� �i 10'..,
window. Note the rippling effect ��/ ; ;/ +, .� ����
of the eaves brackets. The barn „ /.:i'•••
still stands at the rear of the ',••.: ,,••••
house. 1111,,,a5:•./.........,/� ; ,•;,• ..,,,....1.;.f.,
TURN LEFT AT VILLA ij Q® �� ,4+ y;
In 1837 James Gifford was one of ® `;
• a team of three men authorized by141:° .1,.,::, /////' - �:.:
.. the state legislature to mark a ////// : ::. :4,.,�i..... •::,
road from Meacham's Grove(now ••�///? , ;; ':, ;/.:._.'"•:•••• :'....:;A:.:•::',:::../,'::'.;:.
/•:i;1.•
Increase C. Bosworth Bloomingdale) to Galena. The //%%�,-5'4�%:.� /%///%/.''i:,;,:;,.
route they surveyed ran past Gif• • •..::4:4:,,,:".". ;;;',•.,,' : „�•.i%r"••` ;,;i'/••••
ford's cabin and was followed by travelers on their way West. This """•' '': %`• �•�I'��•��s�. ''9'�%'`'''
early state road is now Highway 20. 4,• / //'• is ii;�'f'•
251.265 Villa %0...-
The Weatherill Building, erected in 1883, was one of the first brick
11:11.
% :�i'flats erected in Elgin. Note the ornamentation of the entrance and the '� ';;
curved window bay. '?:
264 Villa
•
Settlement on the east side of Elgin was a family affair. Six brothers
and sisters of James T. Gifford and five brothers and sisters of his • 1
•
wife, Laura Raymond, came to the town or its vicinity. One of _
Gifford's younger brothers, Abel, arrived in Illinois in 1837 and pur- . •
chased a farm in Hanover Township. In 1889 he retired to Elgin and
occupied this house, built for him by Gilbert M. Turnbull. Inside is a .
glazed tile fireplace. The tower windows provide a long view to the
north up Gifford Street. 259 Villa
8
259 Villa intersection. That year the ague, which spread in many new set-
Jesse Anderson Townsend,an assistant foreman at the watch factory, Clements, became epidemic. The town was shunned by strangers, and
had this residence erected for $4,500 in 1886. It is in the STICK some panic-stricken residents fled the area.
STYLE, popular from 1860 to 1890, which emphasizes a projecting As the city's population grew, the burial ground filled up, and a
gable over a balcony or porch using thin pieces of wood for decorative new Bluff City cemetery was opened in 1889. With the passing years
effects. This is one of the few Elgin homes with its original cresting, many of the remains were transferred, but other graves were
the cast iron ornamental railing on the roof. On some houses it was neglected, and "Old Cern" became a prey to weeds and vandals. In
also used above bay windows and porches. 1947 the site was finally turned into a playground for the Elgin public
schools.
TURN LEFT AT CHANNING TURN LEFT AT FULTON
Gifford named Elgin after a Scotch hymn tune. He also named the
streets in his town plats. Since he was both devoutly religious and a 427-429 Fulton
foe of slavery, it is probable that Channing Street honors William This double residence was erected for Frank B. Cook, a Hanover
Ellery Channing, a clergyman and early advocate of emancipation. Township farmer, in 1890. Its clean-cut utilitarian lines are
who died in 1842. embellished with face brick decoration and• leaded glass borders
169 South Channing around the front windows. The builder, who was also probably the
Would you believe this brick flat was once a chewing gum factory, designer, was Gilbert M. Turnbull.
1884-1887?It was remodeled as a residence in (882 after the business St. Mary's Church
moved to Prospect and Slade.The label of Josey Vollor&Company's .
Grasshopper brand pictured a grasshopper on top of a pig.A ban on Northwest corner of Gilford and Fulton
smoking at the watch factory was necessary if the movements were to The earliest foreign immigrants to arrive in large numbers were Irish
be accurate and reliable.Male employees adopted chewing tobacco as a laborers helping to construct the Galena and Chicago Union rail-
substitute. Their spittons were often a peril for the many working road through this area in 1849-51. They began construction of a cob-
women, who wore long-skirted gingham and.calico dresses.The ladies blestone church of the Immaculate Conception in 1851 on a lot at the
chewed gum, which can also be hazardous. southwest corner of Gifford and Fulton donated by James T. Gifford.
Some of their descendants in 1896-1899 helped build St. Mary's
Intersection with Stella Church in the shape of a cross. At the time of its erection it was the
450.456 Stella most costly church ever raised in Elgin. Of stone and pressed brick in
A two-story brick flat erected in 1888,this building's exterior has a the Gothic,etyle, it 132,feet]Qn& The architect,was Martin.Cern,'of
variety of embellishments: false gables, a two-sided triangular bay C_ o,--
between two square bays, beveled second floor corners, ornamented
porticos, and a half-round window above the central bay. The decora- 390 Fulton
tion above and below the bay windows has the same design. The Klu Klux Klan was active in Elgin in the twenties. In addition to
terrorizing blacks, Klan animosity was directed toward Catholics. A
CONTINUE ON CHANNING fiery cross was burned in front of this church rectory on the night of
158 and 110 South Channing February 28, 1925. The police did not respond to Father H. E.
Similar in appearance when they were built in 1891, these were the Ouimet's repeated calls for assistance, even though the disturbance
homes of the Allen brothers,Flavius Rinaldo at No. 158 and Fred B.at continued for more than an hour. The priest denounced the Klansmen
No. 110. The former was a retailer and at one time a manager of the • as cowards, and church members protested police indifference. A link
Opera House; the latter was a watch worker and alderman for eight between the KKK and the Elgin police was confirmed not long after-
years from the old fourth ward.The brick on No. 110 has been painted, wards, when Klansmen attended a midnight funeral service over the
but the save brackets remain. grave of a recently deceased officer.
Intersection with Fulton 386 Fulton
One of Gifford's sons was named Fulton, and so is this street. The Franklin S. Bosworth had this house built not long after he moved to
founder's second plat in 1845 included a cemetery to the east of this Elgin from Dundee in 1871. A hardware merchant,he was first chosen
10 11
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mayor of Elgin in 1880. Many observers credited his re-election in
1881 to the destruction of the Chicago Street bridge when the darn
went out in an April flood on election day. West side supporters of his
opponent who were going to vote enmasse later in the day were
distracted by the event and never reached the east side polling place. .
Northwest corner of Park Row and Fulton
71-73 Park Row .
Gilbert M.Turnbull built and once lived in this brick double residence,
completed in 1888. It is very similar to the flat at 360-362 Prairie. His
largest local structures were the City Hall, 1893; the church of the ,�;u
German Evangelical Association(now Faith United Methodist), 1893; �/ '��J'��-,&�,f� , l�"�
Sherman Hospital, 1895; Wing School, 1899;the Sherwin Block, 1902; :!Qj:�J;��.l �'
and the Peter Burritt Memorial Building, 1914. During his later years ••11//1/', '
•
he specialized in factory buildings and was often employed by the /��r;{r��,��;1;; rf r r r r r�,:WO" 1111
Borden Condensed Milk Co: and the Bowman Dairy Co.
TURN RIGHT AT SOUTH CHAPEL •�,���;1;'/r;a : J�/4,I/ ������,�r�rr�rl"
70 South Chapel ./..::::41"14014 „u t ,' f�
A three-story octagon boarding house once stood on this site. It wast1111l11 / i.,,
destroyed by fire in 1897. A son of D. C. Cook, the publisher, lived in
rill3
this ten-room house, which was erected in 1898-99. The architect was ill 0 e
W. W. Abell. An early automobile enthusiast, George Cook fitted the . ' � if/ r?
garage with a revolving turntable to avoid having to back out. His ;r/' %�l << ��,
father often rode a bicycle to work. One morning before starting time, 1��
while he was idling with his employees near the plant entrance,George ,
wheeled up in an eye-catching roadster. The old man wryly observed, 14 s Ilk
"You've got to have a rich father to afford a car like that." J
Gifford Park t_t1t► = BM. ?j' �� I
Elgin's first park,originally called the Public Square, was laid out by t Ile_�1 ?`: _i �; %
James T. Gifford in his 1844 addition and enlarged to the east in �<; ;= '''+-=:��
1867-68. During the Presidential campaign of 1860, the Republicans \`_ ;� 1 „— •
held a rallyhere, and hundreds of wagons belonging to those • ' `'� �•— "_huge `'"—
� t Ir I■ ,, f
driving in from farms and neighboring towns jammed the streets.The i r x,.;�
speakers were on two stands,one thundering forth praises of Abraham .��
Lincoln in English and the other in German. /
I�li� III
Streets in Elgin were lighted beginning in 1883 by electric arc ,�t, 'r" ., ��
lamps set on top of nine towers scattered around the city.One of these %� ,..
towers, 86 feet high, was located in Gifford Park, 1886-1904. Two •
l��sr=- ,,:�" '" `''', '��1
other masts in the Historic District, both 126 feet high, were on the � ,, .. r q �.ti/f� �,
Academy grounds and on the corner of Chicago and Porter. The arcs 1 _a—`i %Alas .? .•,,,=,a <:
shed a mellow effulgence over the ground below, but their effec- - -- '?' `:•'• '
tivenessbyshadows from intervening trees and "' '''
was diminished -.� „.;,; ; ;... :-: - ^ ices--d--
buildings.
Gifford Park has served generations of students. The Old Brick
school opened in 1848 at the northeast corner of DuPage and Chapel. 71-73 Park Row
12
A high school was erected along DuPage Street in 1883-84 and is characterized by projecting dormers, bay windows, and heavy.
replaced by the present structure in 1910. Designed by D. E. Postle,it overhanging eaves with supporting brackets.
was constructed in two stages, 1905-06 and 1910-11. Elgin High The Gulley
School moved to a new location on Maroon Drive in 1972. Because of
its proximity to these buildings, Gifford Park was long known as • At the time of settlement this vicinity had several deep depressions,in
"high school park." some of which water remained most of the year. One gulley, east of
Parks were originally de- Geneva Street, started at Fulton and stretched north of Chicago
signed to be admired for their • Street.These ravines interfered with the growth of the east end of the
beauty. To the left is a design of city, and the street grades were finally, raised in the seventies.
the flower beds in the early Much of the center of the block bounded by Chapel, Chicago,
n^+ eighties. Later a bandstand was Geneva,and DuPage Streets is still ten to twelve feet below the street
installed. The park was land- level.The observer will note several buildings where the sidewalks are
`—, scaped with modern berms and above the first floor.
equipped as a playing area in
••••<(CI 0›. 1980. 301 DuPage,
Across the park to the east. European immigrants, arriving in Elgin to work in the city's watch
on the southeast corner of Park . and dairy industries,organized churches where they could worship in
9i7$ Row and DuPage,are the Everett their own language and traditions. A Swedish group, the Svenska
apartments completed in 1899. Evangeliska Emanuel Forsamlingen,erected this church in 1895-96 on
They were designed by D. E. Pos- a lot once occupied by a cobblestone cottage. The building was pur-
tle and originally contained two chased by the Spates Temple Church of God in Christ in 1974.
six-room units, two five-room
units, and four four-room units. TURN RIGHT AT GENEVA
This is one of the first Elgin multi-family residences to be called an Franklin School, 'on the east side of the street, was opened in
apartment building rather than a flat. The original dormers, now November, 1891. After it was constructed, a cobblestone Baptist
removed, and the columned porticoes place the Everett in the Neo- church later used as a school was torn down. It stood near the corner.
Colonial style.The second floor windows and the fan and side lights in Some of its stones are imbedded in the retaining wall at the north end
the elliptically arched entrances are traceried. of the site.
The building comprises two stories, a large garret, and a base-
TURN LEFT AT DUPAGE ment. Each floor had four classrooms,each with separate cloak rooms
327 DuPage for boys and girls.The garret and basement were used as recess rooms.
The driver of a Rambler automobile dashing around town in 1904 at The dark green chalkboards were an innovation. The original staff of
speeds variously estimated from 20 to 30 miles per hour raised a public eight teachers included May Davidson,granddaughter of the founder.
outcry. Police took no action when he raced a streetcar or narrowly A training school for Elgin teachers,.necessary in a day when most
missed hitting a pedestrian and a locomotive. The car became known teachers did not have a college education, was started here in 1892.
as the"Red Devil,"and the driver's escapades were responsible for the The last classes in Franklin school were held in 1968.
city's first motor vehicle regulations. The City Council restricted
speed to six miles per hour on downtown streets,eight miles an hour in 12 South Geneva
residential areas, and four miles per hour when turning corners. The These flats were designed by Smith Hoag and built for Anson W. Root
driver of the "Red Devil" lived in this house. He was Alderman John • in 1890. The landlord's own home on the southwest corner of Geneva
Murphy, and he voted for the ordinance. During the years 1911 and Chicago Street was erected many years earlier. Root, the son of a
through 1914, Murphy devised the first successful motorized street pioneer who first lived in a log cabin at the southeast corner of Chicago
sweeper. It was the prototype of the machines now manufactured by • and Villa Court, was a proprietor of one of the early river mills.
the Elgin Sweeper Co. -
'rhe house was built in the early seventies and is an excellent TURN RIGHT AT EAST CHICAGO
example of the MANSARD style popular in the United States from 301 East Chicago
1860 to 1880.The high mansard roof functions as a wall,and the style When Elgin's population was less than half of what it is today, there
14 15
•
were dozens of little groceries scattered around town. The front por-
tion of this dwelling was remodeled for store use in 1896. Its
• successive operators have served the neighborhood since that time.
320-322 East Chicago • 1.....--.
Andrew Magnus built this row of six three-story flats in 1892.His own
fine home, erected about 1884, is nearby at 18 North Chapel.
•
350-358 East Chicago
• Smith Hoag designed this row of five two-story and basement brick
vs'
townhouses. They were constructed in 1891.92 for Mrs. Mary L.
Dickinson, who once taught in the Elgin Seminary for young ladies. +�The groups of apartments are separated from each other by brick ; ::::.
firewalls.
ESTbB L./Mil-1E11 1 SOo.
S1VIITHHOAG
, .,, ,
Bilild c
tra t
lAr hit ti
3,,,,. .. ......:,...„.„.,„,„:„..„.::,.:::„.,,,:::,,..::,::.:,,,..„.,:;,,,.,..., , ,.. .,,
fir:J.:�.i: �!!•.:.i:,'j /
•
Estimates given and contracts taken for all kinds of Brick, `~
Stone or Frame Buildings. Jobbing and Repairing
promptly attended to.
j Offiee over Home Baul>t. , `"i
Shop cor. Bridge St.and Chicago & Pacific R.R., • e
G ELCIN, ILL. e ` '' . e,
■-
383 East Chicago
Completed in 1887 for the Rev. Hugh Rowland, pastor of the Baptist jliff7j:/re.,Ylift.":
: Y e�
Church, this house served for many years as the parsonage of the Y
Episcopal Church and has more recently been occupied by offices of . L .i ,1 ,,01
School District U-46. It was built by Gilbert M. Turnbull. Note the ; : ibull's eye motif on the tower and wall decoration. • .
•389, 392, 398 East Chicago 1 1and 1 1
16 and 20 North Gifford
Jonathan Force, a mechanic and carpenter employed in Elgin's early 383 East Chicago
' 16
farm implement shops, built the original portion of No. 392 about gazeteers are now much in de-
1848. It was at first a one-story, L-shaped structure. In his spare time mond as collectors' items. One of
Force engaged in fruit growing experiments. He advertised his place these, a Combination Atlas Map "ti,.
for sale in the Elgin Gazette, Jan. 24, 1866,as"a good and convenient
of Kane County issued in 1872, , ��
house, with a garden of 1•'/. acres, filled with choice fruit trees, • pro the illustration of the * �Y: ,1' ),,i
situated in the pleasantest part of town." Stone Cottage used on the cover
The buyer was Charles T. Kohn, a German immigrant who had a of this guide.
1
meat market onDouglas Avenue. He couldn't give away liver or Thompson became secretary ;`:,
sausage to the "Americans," although the Germans prized these and manager of the Elgin Gas
meats as delicacies. Charles Kohn wanted his children to be Light Company, which explains �� ;; ' '
"Americans" and did not allow his family to speak German. This led why his home, built in 1870, was �, • t
to his eventual break with St.John's Lutheran Church,which he had the first in the city to be gas-lit. 1,i•' ,:;:71
helped to organize in 1869,and to the removal of his children from the He also helped organize the Elgin ••'4 `
hial school. ''
�� National Bank,serving as its first :i
In 1880 the house was remodeled with a second storey placed president. The large barn at the •
partly over the old L wing. The bay window was added, and larger rear of the property was erected
panes of glass were put in front of the house. The back windows still in 1887. ••
have the old small squares. In the old buttery and in the kitchen,and
in the downstairs study there remain the simple,hand-fashioned wood- 428 East Chicago
work of the original building. The Kohns had purchased only the Seven experienced watch makers
southern half of the long lot, but the remaining fruit trees bore arrived from Waltham,
abundant harvests.The family made great quantites of jam,jelly,and Massachusetts, in 1864 to start
Moses Thompson
wine. up the first watch factory in the
The Kohns were a close-knit family. There were four children who West. Each was paid a bonus and given a five years',contract and a
grew up in the home—Mary, Bertha, Anna, and Charles L. Kohn. • half acre near the factory as a homestead.One of them,Otis Hoyt,was
When Mary and Anna married, their father presented them with in charge of making pinions. He had this home built in 1881.
duplicate houses around the corner at 16 and 20 North Gifford Street.
The son erected his home in 1891 on the site of a former cobblestone 440 East Chicago
house across the way at 389 East Chicago. R. Elliot Abell,husband of Another of the craftsmen from Waltham, known in company lore as
Anna, completed the "Entwine" apartment house on the northwest the Seven Stars, was Patten S. Bartlett. At first the foreman of the
corner of Gifford and Chicago in 1910. plate department, he became an assistant superintendent. Bartlett
Bertha Kohn married Dr. Alban L. Mann in the homestead in lived in this house, erected in the seventies, for many years. It was
1887. They lived here and cared for the aging parents. After her extensively remodeled in 1901 and has since been converted for use as
father's death,the house was given to Bertha.Dr.Mann was a pioneer a nursery school. Successive changes in homes over a long period of
in the cause of public health. One of the first physicians to have a time make it difficult to visualize their original appearance, and
patient removed to Sherman Hospital, he was an advocate of com- modern siding has often replaced or hidden the decorative window
pulsory birth registration and universal smallpox vaccination. He mouldings.
served as the city physician, 1889-91 and 1912-37,and is credited with
quickly tracing the source of Elgin's typhoid epidemic in 1916. The 443 East Chicago .
Manns celebrated their golden wedding anniversary in the same house • Asahel Bemis Hinsdell, a pioneer settler of Hanover Township, re-
in which they were married. moved to Elgin and built this substantial residence about 1848. The
416 East Chicago roof framing consists of heavy oak trusses. The recessed entrance is
8 framed by pilasters which support a frieze decorated with a raised an-
Moses H.Thompson,a civil engineer,was employed in the Galena and themion ornament. This may not have been an original part of the
Dubuque lead mines,on government surveys,and on the early railroad house. It is also found on a home at 162 North College.The door opens
lines west of the Mississippi. He later engaged in map publishing, a into a square hall from which rises a graceful spiral staircase.Note the
business which extended over several Midwestern states. His fan-shaped ventilator under the gable.
18 19
452 and 456 East Chicago cement, gravel and water and compacted into a mold, made a hard
Elaborate sawn wood brackets, such as those supporting the entrance block. The sides of the mold could be designed in a variety of patterns.
overhead at No. 452, and intricate scrollwork, like that in the gable The surface was often textured, as in this example, to imitate stone.
angle on No. 456,were produced ready-made by factories. Locally this This double residence was built in 1903.
gingerbread was turned out by Emanuel Rinehimer, his son Charles,
and his son-in-law, James R. Broyles. RETURN TO CHICAGO STREET, TURN RIGHT
467 East Chicago I 470 East Chicago
Erected in the seventies,this home was remodeled in 1903 for Mr.and Built in 1886-87,this was the home of Arwin E. Price,six times elected
Mrs. Walter P. Hemmens, who lived here until 1912. Mrs. Hemmens, Mayor of the City of Elgin. A tall,muscular champion of the"peepul"
the former Hattie Pease,was the heiress of a local distiller who helped in a period when class lines were becoming more obvious, his stormy
establish the First National Bank. She bequeathed the funds used for career in local politics spanned more than half a century.
the construction of the Hemmens Auditorium in the Civic Center. A atone cutter by trade, he installed and ornamented two
Note the spiral decoration between the bay windows;it also appears on fireplace%one upstairs and one down, and laid the marble flooring in
the home at No. 477 in the next block. the vestibule. The poly-sided front porch was crowded with• TURN RIGHT AT SOUTH CHANNING well-
wishers and serenaders on election nights.The steeply pitched project-
15HT-17 South Channing ing gable, projecting bay, and diagonal decoration are typical of the
Stick Style.
John C. Henderson was the first local manufacturer of hollow concrete The mayor had a weakness for the bottle. Returning in a
blocks, advertised as cheaper than brick and more durable than wood
They were abuilding Elgin disheveled condition on the trolley from Dundee one night, he was up-
siding. popular material for homes in El n after
the turn of the century. Hammond Torpedo sand from pits in the braided by a prominent Elgin church woman. Mayor Price,a man in
southwest corner of Hanover Township,when combined with portland your position ought to be ashamed to be seen in such a condition!"
Raising his blearied eyes, the mayor replied, "It is true that I am
drunk, but tomorrow morning I'll be sober. On the other hand, you,
Cf. Madam, are a damn fool now, and tomorrow morning you'll still be a
'r •'I I'` • 1 damn fool!"
•r 1'ti~ ii
• Y 00
�': 1 V� During the 1907 campaign, �—
r .. i 'a , �r ' ') •'" the Courier asked voters, "Do
"' k •
, i • you want to be represented by a ►
...... ,'. ., .. L..�.,. man who hangs around cheap ,", � ':..
� saloons and who caters to th �.
M' ..-n % .. . .J�.ti • .^.•i.:•' MVA,• ,
*; ;� . '. depraved in the community?" �1
,.1 • • ..:.J. "''; ' Apparently that's what the .
1 \ �. ,'L + voters wanted; Price swept ' '
into his fourth term. Later 0
• ---w'� • '""~' that year the mayor thrashed
(t j': •
• •— - a realtor, mistaking him for
• -t - , • r•--I• -- '`:: •'`3',l a newspaper editor. Defending
��"d : , ' ' ;�:• : .. R• 1.".. - � ;�;: this action,a supporter explained:
�'j, v,►I '.' . I ' ' er.. ic•.•."'-',.• .IIS I )-•yr- "Mayor Price, drunk, is a better
"" == ws'' 1 f ` �' '; " . ......4 , man than most of his enemies �•'
•,-.�. ' ;ci I i>I• r„F'� '.'"'".1 _v•I:II i31 .... . sober. . . . If he takes a nip i'
-� r ' too much occasionally, he is as '�.
N :�. �. ,,. - �.. ,
honest as the day ie long. Elgin
•
would rather have a drunkard for
, 15.17 South Channing under construction a mayor than a thief.” Arwin E. Price .
20 21
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ii 4 i :;#_4.'r""' '6, 7t: . 'I .1. A /. ice W; ♦�;14 • :
•
477 and 481 East Chicago
These two houses were built from the same plan, although No. 477
more closely retains the original design. Both have a circular attic ven-
tilator under the gable. They exhibit elements of the ITALIANATE
• style, which made its appearance locally after 1860. These include
hoods over the tall, round arched windows in the bays.
I 485 East Chicago
In contrast to its twin neighbors to the west,this house has triangular
hoods over the windows and side entrance. The eaves brackets are
decorated with pendants.
TURN RIGHT AT RUGBY
Rugby and Warwick are names reminiscent of England, birthplace of
John Webb. He was a foreman of the dial department at the watch
factory who platted the lots along these streets. Coventry, in the
county of Warwickshire, was a center of the English hand-finished
watch industry which suffered from competition with cheaper
American machine-made movements. Many of the displaced crafts-
. • men migrated to jobs in Elgin. For a time the city had a cricket club,
and the little church on Chapel Street was built by members of a
yv dissenting English sect.
A'V
. 24 Rugby
.. kr. The two-story mansard was built in 1890.
'� 'f 4 ��° 16 Rugby
•
k ;f� The COLONIAL REVIVAL or NEO-COLONIAL style, which
' .,, ' � / appeared during the years 1890 to 1920 is illustrated by the home at
�'! ,'�� " ' �? a, - No. 16. It has a rectangular plan, dormers, classic cornices, columns
r r
'!` and pilasters (wide trim) at the corners. It was erected in 1905 for
�'" s Charles W.Glover,one of the founders of a firm which evolved into the
;r ,:..r.,:;,t,,::: _ j . Elgin Metal Casket Company. President Calvin Coolidge was laid to
„ +<+•+ �,.. •�—�_ _ • t. ,o.� rest in an Elgin-made casket.John F. Kennedy was carried in an Elgin
r,.is
V CI 1.:_.1.„11 7,1,01:-1—..:;;I:1,-� ;, >,�:°!��[ , ;1.� ;:` casket from Dallas to Washington, D.C., but is not buried in one.
" ""� !{''`r'� ``'` ' TURN RIGHT AT DUPAGE, THEN TURN RIGHT AT WARWICK
II
.... Y;rJ�:m• ..„
• 18 Warwick
Er P
�, M�w;, ��. Henry Jensen was born,in what is now Denmark and came to this
�zr___ N
,��,.; ;;f�; ., P country and Elgin as a young man in the spring of 1871. He was
/' +�:��.....,tti li ;://4employed as a carpenter for a time, and then became a successful con-
tractor.i' .�'w1��lk�k '� """` tractor. This home he erected for himself in the QUEEN ANNE style
I � ® .� , in 1887-88.
I! 1l,•'
i� 101,,,7•„ii....111"
�- This"tossed salad"or"bric-a-brac"style is also called Eclectic or
+...,��.• Late Picturesque. It was the creation of an English architect In-
troduced at the Philadelphia centennial exposition of 1876, it was
470 East Chicago popular in America in the last quarter of the nineteenth century.
26
Irregularity was the rule. Wings foreman of the plate department, 1868-1909. It was also erected it
and gables protruded in all direc- 1890. No. 570, completed in 1891, was later occupied by William A
tions. Balconies, overhanging Gabriel,chief designer for more than forty years.
gables, and bay windows dotted
the facade. Towers and turrets 600 East Chicago
•
were common. Small garret win- Erected in 1892, this is an example of the SHINGLE style.The walls
dows crop out of the roof. Roofs have a uniform covering of shingles which contrast with the sweeping
were usually steeped, giving the • rough stone veranda railing. The round tower and round arched aids
house a tall proportion.Trim and windows were common features. The effect is simpler and more sub
ornament were lavish. Note the dued than the Queen Anne style. The peak on the tower was called a
finial on the turret here. JJJflfJ_ witch's ca
Although Queen Anne houses A�SjJJI f s s .4111%p P•
are now often painted white, ( ill l�� /� + I •. _ •��" ;4
when new they were adorned iniP -- 1','•. 4„1 r A. ..:,� • 1 • r " .
two or three deepcolors red- s. \\ �• '". ''. - e
brown, deep green, mber, ochre, \ • ' �.!•-•&:....t • ' , ; .' .'..,'' • `i
maroon, and burnt orange—to • 4,. ! '�.r• :YIP'''. '•t
emphasize the decoration. The \ � ' ;4��;;, > 1
restoration of No. 18 Warwick is a ��\ • �' t 4
n,-. °\ .tea
good example of this use of color. I��DnDp4Y I • ,'
TURN RIGHT AT E. CHICAGO � '
503 East Chicago C � (fr.'Erected in 1883, this was the \
home of Charles Marckhoff, one T •�
of four brothers who came from i \ F .
Germany to form a brick and c I V
stone work contracting firm. . . �\ •— /r - •'' ,�' ' '
Intersection with Porter I f Q rn[j _ •J 410 . Z
Porter Street was named after �"" - ✓'. �� A
Aaron Porter, a Gifford brother- '�./
in-law, who once had a claim in `�
this vicinity. 18.Warwick The Richardsons' electric, 1900
552 East Chicago The home was built for George B. Richardson, production
There is a north European look to this house, perhaps because it was superintendent for the David C. Cook Publishing Co., who bought
built in 1891 for Christian Wuestenfeld, a German-born electrical ex- Elgin's first individually owned automobile in 1900. It was a.Waverly
pert. While working for Thomas A. Edison,he is said to have trimmed electric that could be driven thirty miles after a charge.
the first electrically lighted Christmas tree. He came to Elgin to install • Across the street is a modern apartment complex that was once
the power plant and distribution system for the streetcar line. the site of the home of William Hintze, president of the Elgin Butter
Co. Its huge barn,erected in 1887, is still standing and can be viewed
558, 564 and 570 East Chicago ' from Porter Street.
Leading officials of the Elgin National Watch Co., each born in New
England,once lived in these three houses.No.558 was built in 1890 for TURN LEFT AT NORTH LIBERTY
E. F. Gooding, foreman of the balance department, 1868-1913. Smith Liberty Street may refer to the Liberty party, which opposed the
Hoag designed the Queen Anne at No. 564 for Hiram S. Thomas, extension of slavery into the territories. Local elections in 1847 gave
26 27
the party one of its first victories in Illinois, and the next year the curvature,this house was built for Frank B.Cornell in 1892.The eaves
Liberty candidate for President carried Elgin Township. Once on the of the roof are close to the walls to emphasize the uniform covering of
far eastern edge of the city,Liberty Street was so void of traffic as late shingles from the roof to the foundation. It was designed by W.
as 1882 that horse fanciers proposed using it as a pacing track. Wright Abell. The contractor was Henry Jensen. One of Abell's
largest existing productions is the five-story commercial structure
3 North Liberty
A cornice with prominent brackets and a paneled frieze tops this two- built in 1892-93 at 164 DuPage Street. Its framework is of structural
iron and steel.
story double residence designed by Turnbull & Postle and erected in ,
1892. Stone trim is more abundant than usually found on Elgin flats, 34 North Porter
and the original cresting remains above the oriel on the south side. A Designed by D. E. Postle,this large home was built in 1899 at a cost of
neighborhood grocery occupied the store on Chicago Street for many about$7,000.The dentils(rectangular toothlike projections)under the
years. eaves,pilasters at the corners,and the porch columns are typical of the
Neo-Colonial style.
11 North Liberty
William A. Drew established the first business college in Elgin in 0 1� •
1886.Gilbert M.Turnbull designed and built this residence for him in _.....,
1891.
al
III
is
64.66 North Liberty s
Georgia Richardson,whose parents lived at 600 East Chicago,married e!.• """"'"""" w ^^^ ^"
w"�wwwww�r"".�wu-wNr /
David E. Postle, the architect. He designed this double house, com- • lig Pq9 r�9 r�,`1
pleted in 1903, as their residence. Mrs. Postle led aroused women i4 I
voters in a 1914 local option referendum that closed all the 37 saloons = ; .,
in Elgin Township. _ -- -:!1117, 7:4,41 --- -
V:
55 North Liberty Built in the early eighties for H. Walter Pixley, a watch worker this % %,f�� %�home was expanded and remodeled in 1891. This may explain why it / ! 1 %"I-%''" i
has a little bit of eve _ ' ,; A � �%4;,srything—columns Palladian windows an ornate / j��j';;)
balconybelow the overhanging =_a — --
gable,and two patterns of shingles. D.
E. Postle designed the attractive double residence to the east of this -��'� �.11131111111,, �
house for Pixley. It was erected in 1899.
41Mak illirM1
TURN LEFT AT DIVISION Charles W. Cornell, whose brother lived across the street, was the
Division Street was the dividing line between the claims of James first owner. The Cornelis were creamery operators.
T. Gifford and Phineas Kimball, who emigrated from New Hamp- The first floor provided space for a large reception hall, library,
shire and was a member of the Kimball family who settled on the west • parlor,dining room,and kitchen.The parlor was finished in mahogany,
side' and the balance of the first floor in quarter sawed oak. Four bedrooms
• were located on the second floor; three of them were in white oak, and
507 Division the fourth was decorated in white and gold.
The front yard of this modern house is an attractive museum of
yesteryear. Directly across the street is a small barn with a decorative CONTINUE ON DIVISION
cupola built in 1903. ,
TURN RIGHT AT HILL
Houses at Intersection with Porter 105 Hill
'' 33 North Porter Gilbert M. Turnbull erected this house with its peaked roof over the
An excellent example .of the Shingle Style, notable for the wall projecting ibay groceryin,18and
The first occupant was Benjamin S. Parker, a
partner and bakery.
28 29
•
•
109 and 110 Hill
Many of Elgin's German immigrants came from the former Kingdom
of Hanover,annexed by Prussia in 1866. Among them was William D.
Ackemann,the son of an innkeeper in the little village of Winzlar,who
arrived in 1873 to clerk in a store. Four brothers and two sisters
followed him to America. "W. D." and his brothers opened a big new
department store in 1896.The Ackemanns would later recall in a store
advertisement in 1912 that "those who left their native land, their .
high spirits resenting the Prussian influence,were naturally the most 1\\\11,..., ,%i,hardy, courageous and determined." ':` ,/../''//jLike the Kohn family, the Ackemanns lived in the same �!�f //neighborhood. W. D. Fred Conrad August and their sister Minnie y' //�� ��;////iwere on North Porter. Henry F. Ackemann lived at 110 Hill and hie '' )/////�//// // '''�.;///i/sister, Lena, who married William Bultmann, resided at 109 Hill. ./i///,/77�jj` '' /ii/Bultmann, who was trained as an organ maker before leaving / /��` " /Hanover,was the production superintendent of a local piano and organ •• •; r �.//,iiiiui�iv/, .l/viii,. / p///factory. The Bultmanns home is set off by a porch with spindled /./.r ,,vi ,/,,,,/ q,%//decoration and a scrollwork gable. '',.,!/�CONTINUE WEST ON DIVISION *' ..."4 ii�iii�
Intersection with Hilton Place %,,, ////
IPf///
Not everyone lived in big houses. Look to the north at a cottage at the ��//
end of the street. It is one of thirteen identical homes clustered on L_
narrow lots west of Hill on North and Park Streets.They were built as i •
rental units in 1881 for Peter Burritt,a Hanover Township farmer. At I I '
his death at the age of 76,he left behind large holdings of stock in the
Elgin National Watch Co. and other local firms, valuable business """""•""•"'"'"4' � ;4../ ,'•'
district and residential property, and a 31-year old widow. /% /////////� %//////.? r/-;;;ie:;:.;//�/i'%..•, %///
.ii. ilii i �� ////r/
• 472 Division / /i%/,a//a///, ' /. :/j
A projecting gable and a row of rosettes which separate the two stories ,#7, //r 1 %� �i�
are distinctive features of this house,once the residence of Mayor Carl %�% 1� ' ;0�
E. Botsford. It was built In 1890 from a designby Smith Hoag. An // Or_ %% I/ :ii
attorney,Botsford was a graduate of ElginAcademyand Yale Univer• � � ;ji�':%
city.Unlike ArwinPrice,who enjoyed his romps in ity Hall,Botsford I .`I I �
was disillusioned. "When I became mayor of this city last spring,"he / . ,ii r
remarked in 1906, "I was given to understand that this office I now %i. / %i
Ell
occupy was one of honor.Since my election I have found it is an office
somfor complaints." i /
'Intersection with Channing % '%
The southeast corner of Channing and North Streets,one block to the
north, was the site of Elgin's first general hospital. Henry Sherman 126 HIM
gave the Woman's Club a two-story house for that purpose,but home Most houses in the Historic District do not fit into a particular architectural style
owners in,the area protested,and the City Council passed a resolution classification. Sometimes referred to as"nondescripts,"many are soundly con-
prohibiting the project. Mayor Lovell in hie veto message reasoned • strutted,attractive dwellings that have stood up well through the years.This is
that the"objections to the present location could be made against any a good example.
' 30 31
site likely to be proposed.... I certainly trust that we shall not commit of his son, Will. A telegrapher, he became manager of Elgin's first
the grave error of putting ourselves on record in opposition to the telephone exchange in 1881. The original rate was $50 per year, and
establishment of an institution so much needed." The house was there were only thirteen numbers that could be called.
remodeled, club members themselves scrubbing the floors and paint-
ing the walls, and Sherman Hospital opened its dors in July, 1888. TURN LEFT AT PARK
433 Division The origin of Park as the name of this street referred not to Lord's
Atty. Charles Wayne, later elected mayor of Elgin, Park but to Colby's grove to the east of the Academy grounds,site of
y lived here. •
picnics and Fourth of July celebrations.Colby's daughter,Myra,was a
Characteristic of the ITALIAN VILLA style are the square tower, student and then a teacher at the Elgin Seminary. Later married to
standing off center and an elaborate treatment of the porch (piazza). James Bradwell of Palatine, in 1869 she was the first woman to pass
Not typical is the gabled roof. Both the east and west sides have the Illinois bar examination. Denied an opportunity to practice
slanted bays, and there is delicate carving around the squared front because of her sex until 1892, Myra Bradwell through her weekly law
bay. review helped to mold legal opinion and drafted bills removing
Division
legal disabilities.
403Once the parsonage of the First Congregational Church, this house •
373 Park
was built in 1892. "Directly opposite the Academy,"y. pointed out the Chicago
TURN RIGHT AT NORTH GIFFORD Republican, March 16, 1867, "is the residence of Mr.L. H. Yarwood,I
105 North Gifford tasty Gothic cottage. . . . The hand of an artist, you readily suspect,
has had to do with the landscape here." Louis H. Yarwood was not
Erected in 1885 at a cost of about $10,000, this was the second Elgin only an artist, he was Elgin's first public librarian.
home of David C.Cook,"Friend of the Sunday School,"and founder of
the nation's largest interdenominational publishing house.The twelve
room mansion was occupied by members of the Cook family until it
was sold in 1945.
The David C.Cook Publishing Co.moved to Elgin from Chicago in •
May, 1882. Its presses were soon running day and night, starting a \J�•. ', �y+�`�;;;, `,• \�.''\
stream of Sunday school literature to every quarter of the globe. In one `rill �. I �� \� .
four-day period in 1883 the company received 6,425 letters and Bent ° `�\. Lr \ �out 68,400 second class packages weighing 21'/t tons.At the end of the ��' . •. \ l .'decade, the regular publications—four weekly papers, one semi- a j�; \�\� l__ .���'
a
monthly, ten monthlies, and eighteen quarterlies—requi5ed a work 111IIII.`I •, ':
force of 350. -1
iTII
'1
140 North Gifford `(:!:,' \\ ' `\The block bounded by Gifford, Division, North and College Streets _ '` "' _ j
was once owned b William G.Hubbard a ioneer merchant and aboli- r -i1tionist. Used as a cow pasture, it was oginally covered by hazel �,..,I.., '!��I•:I;�; 1 �,:.11.111 j:�j=�l���j I:ji�I:
bushes and frog ponds. Hubbard arrived in Elgin in January, 1843 to I' I�d Illi .* \ i 11
manage B. W. Raymond's store.The next year he purchased the 22 by �•... ? li 1,0 . _
132 foot lot at the northeast corner of what is now Chicago and �_____
Douglas for $200. Because his views on slavery were at first un-
popular,Hubbard once found a full-sized coffin placed on his porch one •
• This is one of the best examples in the Elgin area of the GOTHIC
night.A note pinned to it warned that if he didn't stop talking so much REVIVAL in residential architecture. This style was in vogue from
agaipst slavery he would need the coffin. Hubbard used it for kindling about 1830 to 1870.Gothic homes had steep gables with a wooden edg-
and Adept on talking. ing, called bargeboard. This was decorated. as here, with fretwork.
Hubbard built this home in the seventies.It was also the residence Under the gable are pointed arch windows.The house is sheathed with
32 33 •
vertical siding instead of horizontal clapboard. This "board and One provision of the amended charter was unusual for its day.
batten,"combined with the steep gable and arched windows,enhance It opened the school "to all religious denominations, and the profes-
the upward tendency of the design. Note how the flattened arches cion of no particular religious faiths shall be required, either of offi-
connecting the porch pillars add to the effect. cers or pupils." The east wing of the first floor was occupied by the
l3 principal and his family. The west wing was used as a dormitory
3ti3 and 359 Park for boarding students. Classes were held on the second floor, and the
These homes were built for the eons of David F. Barclay, hardware third floor remained unfinished. Students labored over their
merchant and manufacturer of dairy apparatus. A native of Scotland, books at night by candles or fluid lamps. Water was drawn from a
he was Elgin's first foreign-born mayor and is said to have made the deep well outside, and heat was supplied by stoves connected to four
can in which the first Elgin are4milk was shipped to Chicago in 1852. chimneys.
Hie home, on the southeast corner of Park Street and the road to Students came to the Academy from a wide radius around Elgin
Dundee, was the nucleus for the mortuary which now stands on the by horse and train.Others lodged with relatives or friendly families. If
site. these rules from the 1863 catalog were followed, they were closely
Fred Barclay's home at 363 was built at the time of his marriage in regimented:
1882. Ed's, next door at 359, was designed by Smith Hoag and com- The hours of study shall be the hours during which school
pleted in 1887.The attic is fifteen feet high.The two homes are a con- is in session,and in the evening, from the ringing of the bell '
treat in simplicity and complexity. at six or seven o'clock until the hour of retiring.
Ladies and gentlemen are not allowed to associate
"Old Main" together, except by permission.
North aide of Park Street at College
No student shall play at games of chance,chew tobacco in
The Free Will Baptists laid the foundation of a Northern Illinois the academy building,use spiritous liquors,or smoke on the
College (hence the name, College Street) on this hill site in 1848, but premises, employ immodest or profane language of any
lack of funds dissolved the project.The foundation was the scene of a description; nor may students visit saloons or taverns, nor
secret meeting between Allan Pinkerton, a Dundee cooper who would attend public shows or parties, without express permission
become a famous private detective, and a member of a counterfeiting from parent,guardian or teacher.Teachers shall at all times I
gang. Pinkerton bought 1500 of the bogus money for 25% cash to have access to the rooms of students.
gather evidence against the ring. The leader, Craig, was arrested in
Chicago in 1861. illi
Before public high schools were generally established in the
United States, secondary education was provided by private fl
academies. Elgin was a raw western settlement when its Academy was U
chartered by the state legislature in.1839. The school was a dream far
in advance of the community's ability to make a reality. Fifteen years
passed before a reorganized board of trustees began raising funds for a
building by selling stock at 150 per share. The site of the defunct col-
lege was purchased in 1855,and Joshua Wilber and Edwin F. Reeves, ...-. mosimmill1111111•1111111111111
local craftsmen,completed the Academy's "Old Main" in 1856. IR 111 ti I i�i iii; ,II. ;I '�
The plans were originally drawn for the collegebyJ. Quigley, a II! °i i ... ...1.: 1. _
-_- -
Buffalo, New York, architect. The three-story structure of brick and n
stone, surmounted by a domed bell tower, is in the GREEK • oil iiii ,,, s1,�,I�111 „� 13 4
REVIVAL style popular in the United States between 1820 and 1860. " ���,1 ms ;: ,�!' ( ,4
The low-pitched gable roof and triangulari.iiii'p pediments;entrance portico;free standing columns with capitals; pilasters, the wide corner trim e •131
",sal�i 'llli � . •� iw
resembling columns; symmetry; and heavy entablature or cornice are _ :.,,
all common features of Greek Revival.Thea appearanceof
PPS the building ut I,
is similar to that of the first Iowa state capitol at Iowa City and the I _ I I�IVIIIiltMl11111lllll_IIM LIBIllllllllll_ _1 iii I UWII III1VIIIIIIIUPI'll piiClllU Illlllll�J��Illlll iii i IIP
-� _ I. I_ _. _I_
third Illinois state capitol at Vandalia. Old Main when it had chimneys
• 34 35
—„tea'--
•
TURN LEFT AT TENNYSON COURT
Former students at Old Main include Kate L. Sharp ('80►, who This is one of Elgin's narrowest streets. It was opened in 1896 by
directed the University of Illinois library toward its national
eminence; Herbert McCornack ('81), inventor of the Sharples cream Reuben Tuck,an English-born dealer in coal and wood,who may have
separator and Surge milking machine; and Alice Stauffer ('33) named it after the poet laureate.
Thurston,president of Los Angeles Valley College,one of the nation's •
largest junior colleges. 118 Tennyson
David Whitney Bangs said he "built the house of cement (sic) that
Lightning struck the bell tower in 1911, and within minutes the Tuck lives in 1850 and finished it In 1852.” It was purchased In 1864
familiar dome was in flames. The roof was destroyed in the fire and by Reuben Tuck and occupied by him until his death in 1902. Two of
replaced by a flat roof. The damaged bell is displayed on the campus.
The building was abandoned for classroom purposes in 1969. A fund his grandsons raised in this home, Fred and Roy Baumann, became
raising drive to preserve Old Main was launched in 1976, the year the college professors listed in the prestigious Who's Who in America
building was placed on the National Register of Historic Places.Called Roy,who changed the spelling of his name to Bowman during the First
the "Buck a Brick"campaign because contributors symbolically pur- World War,was a pioneer in the sociological analysis of the American
chased bricks used to surface the new Fountain Square Mall,it became way of death.
the community's American Revolution Bicentennial project.Mall,it b • •of the exterior took place in 1979-80. Although the original • '�`
chimneys were not included,a like-original gabled roof was built and a }"� " '," 'op ,M T'°
cupola lifted into place. Paint was removed to reveal the original brick, . ••• . .''k• N; .
and new windows were installed. Af111 111 I. f, y� ; .
To the east•of Old Main is the Academy's Civil War memorial •' "„ �' ,
dedicated in 1909. It was designed by Frank B. Perkins, one of the _ -.;s' •�••�:”"•.•.. ., r err.' r
school's original students. Two brass twelve-pound rifled Napoleon '� -- .,. . ..-.__:_4
guns, one facing north and the other south, are mounted on a monu- + ••
ment of granite boulders taken from the cellar of a pioneer home con- '
structed west of town in 1842. . - --- ti + .. - .. .
The Laura Davidson Sears Academy of Fine Arts,named in honor '.` ‘,' ; ,•. ' - f •
of a granddaughter of James T. Gifford, stands to the west of Old .:r. l• : . t
I AL„
Main. It is in the Neo-classic style of public building architecture and ���' �;,°
was opened in 1924. w ► " �' 1
TURN LEFT AT NORTH COLLEGE
162 North College • ,•' r•. �•
Patrick Jones and his wife emigrated from Burlington, Vermont, .r�. •
in 1857. He was a merchant tailor in Elgin for more than forty -. • '• - woir,
years. Their house was erected in the sixties. It was purchased by
the Academy in 1937 and remodeled for use as the headmaster's An earlier appearance of 11$Tennyson Court.
residence.
The present south side of the house was originally the front and
150 North College • faced Division Street. Removing later additions would reveal Its
original design in the Greek Revival Style.
Note the decorative work under the gable and the pendant hanging
from the north side. 117 Tennyson
TURN RIGHT AT NORTH STREET 117 Tennyson Court was built in the early fifties for Edmund Gifford,
.,, who came from Massachusetts about 1846 and brought the first good
Look back at Old Main before turning the corner. The,view explains law library ever owned in Elgin. When the schools were placed under
why the Academy was often called the "School on the Hill." the control of the city In 1864, Gifford was appointed the first .
36 37
superintendent. He opposed the opening of the Academy, believing it cypress,cherry,and Georgia pine.
would weaken the public school system.
The house was later remodeled by Smith Hoag, who added a man- There were fourteen rooms and
sard roof.S.S.Mann,cattle dealer and member of the state legislature ;' eighttfed a billiard. The third floor
active in securing the state mental hospital for Elgin, lived here. A ` contained a room and ser
huge stock barn to the north of the residence once accommodated his • ti• vents quarters.The mansion was
‘:•;•,.•
Holsteins. 4 ` ,. :e , fitted with electric bells and
. speaking tubes.The stables in the
TURN LEFT AT DIVISION ,, . ., rear housed some of the trotting
364 Division •
; - horses Newman admired and bred
on his Newgrove farm.
Erected in 1886-87 for Alfred B. Church, a real estate subdivider, this The building was heavily van-
mansion was converted into a funeral home in 1939-40. The walls ofo, in 1973.Restored as much
cream pressed brick with brown stone trim have been painted,but the as possible to its original condi-
original interior has been carefully preserved. tion, it opened as "The Butter-
Alfred
utterAlfred and Samuel Church were the stepsons of Gail Borden, in- man's" restaurant in 1976.
ventor of the condensed milk process.They bought the Scofield house •
in 1894 and presented it to the township for a library. Borden = 304 Division
established a local plant for canning milk in 1865. He never lived in .t'"�r • •• A printer's devil for the Elgin
Elgin, but had purchased a home on Division Street with that inten- - f Daily News, Edward Justus
tion prior to his death in 114.Mrs.Church donated a house and lot at i • '+ ' ' Parker became a convert when a
' •, , ' militant Salvation.Army came to
220 East Chicago Street for a building site to help the YWCA get . '"+�•�';•" '>• ,,�,•�.� . :.-.•
started in 1901.The Churches left Elgin in 1903 because of what they town in 1885 with a "blood and
regarded as excessive property tax assessments. Across the street is fire attack"on the forces of sin in
John Newman, the Butter Man Elgin. He was one of the Salva-
366 Division tionists arrested and jailed for disturbing the peace by holding open
At this point in the tour, the observer should be able to identify the air meetings near Fountain Square. His 58-year career in the Army in-
architectural style of this house. It was built in 1903 for Dr. James cluded his service as National Commander of the Salvation Army in
Campbell.
the United States.
RETURN TO Commander Parker was raised in this house, which was occupied
321 Division by his aunt from 1865 to 1913.The original design and construction is
John Newman, born in England, was among the leading butter men credited to David Bangs.
whose operations were based in Elgin. Starting with the Springbrook TURN LEFT AT GENEVA,.
creamery about six miles southwest of the city in 1876, his interests THEN RIGHT AT E. HIGHLAND AND LEFT AT CENTER
expanded until he owned or controlled the output of more than fifty The tour continues with three churches built in the Romanesque
factories scattered around northern Illinois, eastern Iowa, and Revival style, adapted from European churches of the early Middle
southern Wisconsin. Newman was president of the Elgin Board of Age. All three make extensive use of the semicircular arch and rough
Trade, 1894-1911. stone abutments.
In 1887 John Newman, then a widower, married Laura Borden,
who had divorced a son of Gail Borden.Their home,erected in 1889-90 • 19 Center
at a cost of about$25,000,was considered the finest in Elgin. Ira three Elgin in the nineties had a distinctly German flavor.A mayor,William
stories were built of white pressed brick with brown stone trimmings.
•a slate roof capped a galvanized iron cornice.Queen Anne features in-
Grote,a fire chief,and a president of the library board were natives of
clude the mixture of brick and stone, high roof, polygonal turret, the Fatherland. There were four German-language newspapers: the
prominent chimney of modeled brick, the onion dome, a jerkin head Deutsche-Zeitung, the Herold the Germania,and for a brief period,the
roof or.Ithe front dormer, and full scale spindled veranda. Uhr. The immigrants sought refuge in seven churches where services
The'interior was'finished in white and red oak, birch, sycamore, were conducted in German; three of these ran schools where lessons
were combined in English and German. There were organizations'of
,• 38 39
-------------
struct'ton.
lg. Durutg who_fine ho..--
raised in _ trip•
rater• ding
society; architect wharro was •door. Ma foT extend �d because
formincludr ing thean soldiers; a mutual benefit Turn-Verein.the Plattdeutsch Gui the Walhallaand several ,and Chicagoubs. George p• Lord m heel street.. the church would �d Jamb
across th
the Schwaben-Verein. once stoodags claimed� � away• way• Jane Ad�rt'h°e aumteri
The city's residents listened to the music of Tetzner s band,drank and local k the Carpe John have uesd
Adler Brau from Althen'e brewery, and shopped in the Ackemann • the Lord to TT Washingtobe lecturers wh°
brothers'big new department store. Germans were the major building B°°ker ng the nota
contractors. They dominated the cigar-making shops and ran more Rue were
saloons than the Irish.The city's largest butter factory and butter tub •..
plant were owned by German natives, and Germans comprised the I'/ / • . k
largest single group of foreign-born workers at the Elgin National •
Watch Co.
The Faith United Methodist Church was established by German N / a •
Evangelicals in 1855. This building, their third, was designed by , •. �4. -
Gilbert M. Turnbull and David E. Postle and erected in 1892-93. The •
facade of red pressed brick, relieved by brownstone trim. rests upon t / l• 1 ';'
rough boulders. The round arches, foliated capitals on short columns, Id, 1•*4,',T - s •• s
square tower with a pyramid roof, and gabled entrance are
characteristic of the ROMANESQUE REVIVAL.About a third of the - • .;•:i , /'•• 1,,7, , '4. . c�
construction cost was donated by Mayor Grote. One of the folders 0.� 1
published for the dedication of the building contained these words of 0' ' :,••8..%., , ► ' } w ,.•-•
John Ruskin: •' ,i $ r•°' ,w 1 , 1��1,r 14'14:.S 1 �..
"When we build let us think that we build forever.Let it ';‘......1k:-
( --
not be for present delight nor for our use alone. Let it be „ ,,...6, •,. 1
such work as our descendants will look upon with praise and • • • • V. " y4•: • .
thanksgiving in their hearts." • � - • .w
v
The German presence in Elgin became lees noticeable in the .• _ :- •
Becond and third generation. This church began holding Sunday alter the tornado s oust —
evening services in English in 1906 to keep younger members from t1Onal Church of a bu►ldu'g .rhe
drifting to other denominations. First Cor'Breea al Church wacnoneado of Maw portion the
aW°r to end up
CONTINUE SOUTH ON CENTER CongTug Sunday servicse tearing sin
The First by the Palm utas after a ceiling. The
Northeast corner of Center and East Chicago damaged minutes h the stn' the
severely about ten ed throng a roof dO ugh
Elgin's Old World traditions were mixed with the earlier heritage of hit able crash of the led thro debris
New England. Germans and Yankees shared a Protestant faith, a he tower au wet_its. and brin d ss were h Ong bprne.
belief in the work ethic,and a penchant for thrift and cleanliness. The balcony and side _lent•Br►ck•s were killed Y s left t 0°r°-
arrival of skilled craftsmen from Massachusetts to start up the watch floor sank to the base en end a gvrl of the worse se+�°n that
we
factory established a pattern of Yankee leadership in the company auditorium• Two
women before many The�,stOr
that endured for more than half a century. The Chicago Republican Had the tArnado ave n greater' a►waye p
• the loos of Ufa mal► have bee ..we roust
noted in 1867 that "elegant residences, charming views, and thriving Artionition. ••
manufactories are all suggestive of New England.'As late as 1964 the he included theons t':n •e rs coag. TN
Chicago Daily News had the same impression: It s a piece of New know not when VE SOU urtl
England that got lost, but it knows what time it ie." CONTIN es Villa CO page meetinge
The Co tional Church, brought to America by the Puritans. Center beCOm Villa . pas ved their
was the first two bye organized in Elgin.With he influx of watch workers So�bepet co he VDiVereahsts.mw
from'the East, its membershiprose until ft became the fourth largest d sect
of ite'•denomination in the coutry.Erected in 1888-89,this building of piaother New Engles' 41
red brick and brownstone trim was designed by Clarence Stiles, a
with the coming of the watch factory and in 1866 erected the building APPENDIX
Researching the Age and History of an Older Elgin Home
now standing at 263 DuPage Street. It was moved to make way fora ,
new church on this corner built in 1891-92. GeorgeHunter, chairman Tracing a building's roots, especially in a city with a rlch and vari
e
ast, is attracting interest among property owners• Some are suppdly
of the building committee, was the superintendent of the Elgin p is some are working on a restora-
National Watch Co., 1872-1903. He and hie nephew, W. Wright Abell, curious about former oc cupan
planned the building to resemble—looking from above—a pocket tion project, and others may believe information about an older home
watch enclosed in a huntingcase. The rotunda is the snapof the case, adds to its re-sale value. Information based on oral tradition or
, memory is frequently mistaken or distorted. Here are some more
the tower outlines the stem wind ring,the auditorium is the face or dial
and the choir loft the hinge. The design was admirably suited to the reliable sources:
the locations of buildings are a good starting
shape of the lot. lt. Maws! these, reproduced in this gwde, was published by
Pews were arranged In the shape of an amphitheater, and the po
tower afforded space for the stairwayleadingto the balcony. In keep, Matthews,Crane&Co.of Philadelphia in 1860. Another is in included
89�bY
ilk
ing with the liberal traditions of the hurch, incoln Steffens, Francis an Atlas of Kane County, Illinois, published in Chica+o'I'h 18 maps
W. Parker, Samuel (Golden Rule) Jones, and Norman Thomas were D. W. Ensign&Co. It is the source of the map on page
among the dissenters who once used the auditorium. The church was have been reproduced by the Elgin Area Historical Society.
The City of Elgin building inspection department has two detailed
entered on the National Register of Historic Places in 1980. stand
maps dated March, 1897 and February• 1903• known as the San
CONTINUE ON VILLA, TURN LEFT AT FULTON Fire Insurance Co. maps, they show the outlines of structures
G.A.R. Hall ing at the time of ublication and are color coded for stone, wood,or
Duringthe Civil War men from Elginbrick construction Information is verycomplete and accuratethe
fought at Fort Donelson,Shiloh, the shape
Perryville, Stones River, Chickamauga, Vicksburg, and Missionary insurance risks were based on them. By comparing Me deters
Ridge.They battled their way south to Atlanta and then marched with present building with the map outline,it may be possible ine
Sherman to the sea. When they returned they joined the Grand Army later additions.
of the Republic to honor the memory of fallen comrades,press for pen- The researcher should remember that a house shown on a map
sions and benefits for widows and disabled survivors,and inform a ria- may have been razed or moved and replaced by subsequent cCoo
onnstruue-
ing generation about the Union cause.This building,erected in 1896 as tion. A Chicago Street residence was removed to a new site at
a United Evangelical Church,was purchased in 1917 for a G.A.R. Hall. and Elgin Avenues in 1946, for instance, and two houses whi
stood on Division Street ended up on May Street in 1962.
It contained relics of the war and records tofo Veterans Post No. 49 and rinit records are available without an Index system for
was turned over to the township for maintenance. Across the street is Building follows until 1926,when tney are indexed by
the G.A.R. Memorial Park. the years 191&20. At gap
streets.
302Y* Fulton las ,
The first house on the tour was James T. Gifford's Stone Cotta this not the date of construction, but it may provide clues. Look
2. An abstract of title records transfers of ownership of the for in
ie alittle painted cobblestone.
�• creases in the "consideration" or in the taxes or for mortgagee• pOs-
sibly indicating construction. Note the names of owners. useful when
304-310 Fulton referring to the city directories.
Opinion is divided over the merits of removing dirt and grime from old i If no abstract is available, a visit to the office of the county
brick, but the results here is impressive. This four-unit brick flat was recorder of deeds may provide the information. Bring the exact legae
built in 1892. The scroll p
have shaped brackets. or corbels, under the eaves description of the property,obtainable from the deed by the assessor�
a tulip motif on the sides. office.Older records at Geneva are on cards,
name of the subdivision. Later changes are found in books.
Much of the story c District.
Elgin can no told a through the livestheir of 3. Compare city directories available in the reference department
residents of the Historic District.They are longer with us,but If a residence is listed in one
dwellings.stand as reminders of the community's rich architectural of the Gail Borden Public Library. the search may be
heritage.and issue an invitation for theirvolume. but is missing in a preceding year. alpha
preservation and restoration. occupants by bet
narrowed to the interval. Early directories list,,% only. Beginigg with the Evans directory of 1900, names are also
- indexed by street and house number.