For 2011: I resolve to work to ensure the survival of the Historic West Side Neighborhood's Residences

Some years ago, a dear friend gave me the photograph  (because I love cats) shown below of a home at 834 College St.  The young girl in the photograph is 9 years old.  I assume the photograph was taken in the autumn because of the leaves on the ground but both mother and daughter are wearing summer dresses.

"Mama and Linda Howden" Clicking on photograph will enlarge it.

I drove by the site today and saw a huge parking lot that covered the lots of two homes. Sadly this home, built around 1896, does not exist anymore.

Happy New Year - Wishing you 365 days of good luck!

A hundred years ago, the post office was busy delivering hoilday postcards. Here are two examples: (Clicking on images will enlarge them)

This postcard has applied paste jewels and a complete calendar pad.

The owners of our west side house moved in January 1916 so this card has special meaning to me.

This card "wishes all the historic west side neighborhood residents 365 days of good luck!"

Merry Christmas to The Historic Westside Neighborhood

Automobile Registration from Secretary of State 1910

Remember when Gas Stations gave out Calendars? Canterbury Texaco Service

This 1947 Calendar was given to customers of the Canterbury Texaco Service Station that was at Glenwood and South Grand.  I believe that a Credit Union now occupies the site.

Cool graphics!

Timeless Designs by Carl T. Meyer, Residential and Commercial Architect

Carl T. Meyer, was a Springfield architect who designed many homes and commercial buildings in the Westside Springfield  area in the 1920s and 1930s. One of these homes is at 1231 West Vine St. Amazingly, although the house was built in the 1930's it's design would fit in a new subdivision. It has been soextremely well maintained that it is almost as if time as stood still for this house.





This photograph was taken by Herbert Georg when the house was built

An impressive entrance

The house at 1231 West Vine today


Carl Meyer also designed many commercial buildings including the Kerasoted Building. For an excellent website and to see the past and present of the Kerasotes building, please use the link below.
 
http://www.springfieldrewind.com/kerasotes-building-1928


Mr. Meyer also renewed a major Springfield landmark, the South Town Theater. The original theater was built in 1915 and in 1936 a new facade was designed by Carl Meyer. The theater building today is the home of the Walch Studio.  The exterior of the theater was recently restored through grant money provided by the city of Springfield.

The theater marquee is stunning at night and is lighted from dusk until 1:00 AM.

Christmas Cards circa 1910

Here are two penny postcards sent in the very early part of the 20th Century.  Santa had just discovered the automobile so the reindeer must have gotten the December 24th and 25th off. I sure Sanata enjoyed motoring around the streets of the west side neighborhood delivering his presents.(Clicking on the image will enlarge it)

An Historic Home at 318 S. Glenwood Avenue

There is a remarkable Craftsman Bungalow at 318 S. Glenwood. It is important for several things - it was designed by Samuel Alexander Bullard, an 1878 graduate from the University of Illinois College of Engineering with a degree in architecture and  a former mayor of Springfield. This historic westside neighborhood home was built in 1886 as a two-story Queen Anne with Eastlake trim. Mr. Bullard lived there with his wife Elsie and four children Nellie, Edwin, Clark and Elsie. In 1888 Mr. Bullard was elected a trustee of University of Illinois and he had a thriving architectural practice under the firm name of Bullard and Bullard with his brother George.  Among the Springfield buildings designed by Mr. Bullard include many buildings that no longer exist such as the state arsenal and city hall, the Methodist Episcopal church, Christ church, Grace Lutheran church, the Enos school and the Young Men's Christian Association building.

In 1906, the firm of Bullard and Bullard designed an apartment building in the Enos Park Neighborhood.
The design of this building is quite interesting:

513 East Miller Street (Enos Park)

"Barker Flats"

The Barker Flats, is a large brick structure in  Classical revival style with Colonial Revival and Praire style touches. Bullard and Bullard designed the building in  1906 and it is typical of the multiple family buildings then  being built.
The Enos Park Neighborhood 2007 House tour included this infomration on its web site:
"Because people were not yet used to living in apartments, designers had to make them appear as much like houses as possible. Here Bullard made an effort to appear that units were merely private houses stacked one over another, each floor with its own front and rear porches, modern plate-glass windows, fireplaces and large rooms. Barker's building has been excellently maintained since its completion over 100 years ago. Currently there are three original flats, front to back of the building. The rest are one bedroom and studios and still retain the old world charm of hardwood floors and woodwork, pocket doors, mantelpieces and stem heat radiators.


The second and third floors have received the black iron railings, with a flair of New Orleans."



In 1910, a fire destroyed a large portion of the Bullard Residence at 318 S. Glenwood. The home been in the Queen Anne style but with their children grown the Bullards decided a single story home would be more suitable.  Mr. Bullard redesigned the home into a Craftsman Bungalow, an extremely popular house style at that time.

In 1923 Samuel Bullard was elected Mayor of Springfield. Three years later, when he was 73 he died at the home he loved so much.  His son, Clark bought the house from the Bullard estate and raised his family there. The family included 6 children so the large attic was converted into three bedrooms and a bath.

Four generations of Bullards have resided in the house. Outside the home you can still see the stone hitching posts, the original carraige step and the lilac bush planted on the wedding day of the original architect Samuel and his wife ( April 19, 1882.)

1900 Real Estate Ads Bakers' Real Estate Agency, Myers Building

In 1900 the Bakers' Real Estate Agency placed this page of ads in the State Manual. The desciptions of the property  are great, and the prices are wonderful!  The real estate was probably late Victorian cottages as bungalows and four squares. 
(Please click on the image to enlarge for reading).  Alternatively, printing it will give a good copy to read.

Getting ready for winter!

Lots of West side neighbors were out getting their houses ready for winter....We have a lot of pride in out neighborhood.

Last week Mike and I "power washed" out front porch floor tiles. They were set in a bed of concrete 90 years ago and probably just had their first bath!

Instead of rushing through the intersection at Lawrence and MacArthur, think about "Hands Across America"!

When I moved to Springfield, I moved into an upper flat near the corner of Lawrence and MacArthur. The sounds of squealing brakes were all too common but I loved the area. The flat has spacious rooms and wonderful architectural details. Coming from living in small apartments that were part of large complexes, I loved the charms and convenience of the building. But the landscape was much different then --

What started out in 1900 as stores with living quarters above became all residential - for me it was a unique place to live ----

                                                   Here is what it looked like in 1985 -



But the corner looked far different in 1967 -

The corner lot that is now a garden appeared like this:

On May 25, 1986 - this traffic- troubled area played a part in the national effort "Hands Across America."   People from NYC to California formed a human chain to show support for the unfortunate of America. The route went through Springfield  on Lawrence.  Illinois had the longest unbroken chain and 50 Lincoln impersonators participated in Springfield. At 2:00 PM all radios stations played the theme song "Hands Across America" simultaneously.

Then (1967)

And now (2010)



Here on the West Side we live with our history -- Buildings don't have expiration dates on them!

Home with Naturalist History on 705 W. Vine St.

Built in 1924, This sturdy bungalow was the home base for Virginia Eifert as she traveled in the Midwest writing about our abundant nature. Mrs. Eifert produced eighteen volumes of nature writing, cultural history, and biography, along with hundreds of articles on natural history subjects.

Virginia at the Illinois State Museum

For more information on Virginia's legacy to nature, please be sure to visit this link:

http://virginia.larryeifert.com/




 The 2 to 3 bedroom home has wonderful details in the brick and substantial porch pillars. Her son, Larry Eifert ( http://larryeifert.com/ ) has shared the following photographs of the interior home as it was when he grew up there:




Gracious Dining table in 1942





Fireplace in 1942

The Dining table reflects Virginia's travels

The House appearance has evolved since it was built. Here is a 1940's photograph:

A most wonderful front door.

This ad appears to be from the 1950's and I believe the porch must have been enclosed by this time:

1967 photograph

It's Glorious in Washington Park right now~

While Washington Park is a delightful place to visit during all seasons and this year the fall the colors are especially intoxicating. We are having fabulous weather to wander through the Park and feast our eyes on nature's best combinations  of colors.



While there please, why not visit the Iron Spring Restoration Project?

The Development of ground allotment for entrance to Washington Park

Part of the abstract of our house in the Historic West Side Neighborhood describes how the land for Washington Park was conveyed.
In 1893 an Illinois Statute was inacted titled "An Act to Provide for the Creation of Pleasure Driveways and Park Districts." A pleasure driveway was a place for pleasant rides with horse and buggy or carriage and ladies in long stylish dresses and striking hats. It was a destination for a relaxing drive while admiring the scenery and having casual conversation (although a few couples did get engaged at the park!).

Part of the land was provided by Louisa Black, an heir to the John Williams estate.  Here is where it is mentioned in the abstract of our house (please excuse the poor photo copy)----
Click on images to enlarge them.

A further description appears lower on the page--

Breaking Ground for Restoration of Iron Spring in Washington Park today!

By October, we should have the construction of the iron spring and a log pergola done according to the State-Journal Register!

Great pictures and information on reconstruction of the Spring


Back in 1901, people we able to drink from the iron spring in Washington Park. The water was valued as a cure of rheumatism, gout and indigestion. Eventually, in the 1950's the state decided the water was no longer safe to drink.

Where was the spring? Here in this drawing you will see the location of the iron spring in the white area.

The  tin cups used to drink from the spring had holes in them so water would not collect and rust them. You held your finger over the hole to drink water that tasted like iron.

Information for this blog came from "Washington Park in Springfield, Illiniois - From its Beginnings to Present Time by John Huther

A Special Day in Carlinville

I was invited to join a tour of Carlinville hosted by Laurie Flori. Laurie is an author, freelance writer and Standard Addition advocate living in a Sears, Roebuck home built in Carlinville. Sears, Roebuck homes and especially the Standard Addition are her passion. Periodically she offers tours of the Macoupin County Courthouse and 1869 Jail, her Sears model home (after an illustrated presentation on the history of the Standard Addition) and ends the day with the Macoupin County Historical Society which is housed in a fabulous Victorian house. What a wonderful day! (All photographs can be enlarged by clicking on them.)

We started out at the Macoupin Courthouse. The best adjective I can say to describe it is majestic. The exterior is so striking. The interior is full of symbolism and inspires tremendous respect for the business conducted in the Courthouse.

The Macoupin County Courthouse

Stair rail symbols of "Dog" protecting "People" from "Wolf"

Pelicans symbolizing county of "plenty"

Majesty of the Courtroom

For more information on the Macoupin County Courthouse:

http://www.carlinvillechamber.com/courthouse.html

Next

Our next stop was the  historic 1869  Macoupin County Jail. I guess I now know the meaning of the phrase "being in the click". Wow, This is primitive living at it's worst.  The jail was retired in 1988. The last execution to take place in Macoupin County occurred in 1924 and was held behind the jail.  An example of one of the 100 tickets sold to see the hanging in on display:

 

For more information on the jail:

http://www.carlinvillechamber.com/jail.html

On to our presentation on the Standard Addition in Carlinville which was made up of Sears, Roebuck homes.Laurie illustrates her talk with resources from the period and shares her information in a very relaxing manner.

Laurie presenting on the Standard Addition on Sears Homes

For more information on the Standard Addition of Sears homes, view this web page:

Sears Homes in Carlinville

Next on to Laurie's home:

It is just fabulous to see a Sears home in person!

Our last stop was to the Macoupin County Historical Society. There is a wealth of historical items in a stunnning Victorian house. Here are just a few photographs of the riches of history there:

For more information on the Macoupin County Historical Society:

http://www.macsociety.org/