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/

Brainerd House - 107 S. Douglas

 In a previous entry I wrote about the Sangamon County Farigrounds.  In 1865, 2 lots of the fair grounds were sold to Gideon R. Brainerd by the Sangamon County Agricultural Society.  On those lots Mr. Brainerd built a lavish home soon after. Mr. Brainerd was an early officer of Marine Bank.

In 1932, a group of Civil War Veterans met in the dining room of the house.

The home has passed through many hands and now is made up of several apartments.

Washington Park Bandstand

A much loved and much photographed site at Washington Park is the Louis L. Lehman Memorial Bandstand. One of the benefits of living in the Westside Neighborhood is seeing this beautful structure on a daily basis. It is beautiful Spring, Summer, Fall or Winter!

The Bandstand was built in 1926 and was funded mostly by donations.

Lehman had directed the Illinois Watch Company band for over forty years and selected this park site  for the bandstand  near the pond where it awaits wedding ceremonies and memorable photographs today. When the Memorial was built  19 small ducks were purchased for the pond and their descendants have populated the pond all the years since!

In 1974 a fountain was installed in the duck pond to oxygenate the water.

                                  Group of children playing at the Bandstand - late 1920's

Restoration of Bungalow in West Side Neighborhood

The Miracle on Fayette Avenue

About 12 years ago my husband I saw a fabulous bungalow on Fayette and Douglas that unfortunately was in a great state of disrepair. We attempted to purchase it but the current owner had subdivided it and wanted to continue to rent it.  Sadly we moved on and purchased another property. The hsitory of the home was interesting. It was built in about 1906 for a physician.  As the years passed we saw more deterioration to the little house and even noted that it was vacant. Water was coming in via a leaky roof and the porch was rotting.

Stair detail

Unique stair detail

Woeful Window seat

Where would you ever find pocket doors like this?

Last Fall I was driving down Fayette and was so excited to see a "For Sale" sign in front of the bungalow. I rushed home and called a realtor friend only to find out it had sold right away.

Last weekend we happened to walk by again...What a difference - Kudos to those restoring it! Can't wait to see the inside!

Today June 4th I was returning from a walk in Washington Park by way of Fayette. The owner doing all the restoration of the bungalow was outside mowing the grass. I got my wish from yesterday and got to see the inside of the house. Here are some photos that show the back breaking work the new owner is doing.

The NEW dining room ceiling!

Fabulous panelling well cared for!

Front room going into dining room shows the gem this house is!

The window seat on the stairwell landing.

Going up the stairs to the second floor. What detail!

It is experiences like this that make me want to write this blog. Where else but in the West Side Neighborhood Association could you find such a beautiful house and such care labored upon it?  This is a treasure that is not obtainable in a new house. The restoration of one home on a street leads to others putting much more care and attention into theirs. That is evident on Fayette Avenue.