February 2013
UPCOMING MEETINGS
Tuesday, February 19, 7 PM -The Ardo Mitchell House, 1718 21st Street, Hosts Linda Anderson and Bruce Ohrlund Agenda – Regular business m eting to include Election of Officers, Committee Appointments, and discussion of Historic Preservation Awards.
Tuesday, March 19, 7 PM – Gas & Electric Credit Union, 2300 4th Avenue, Host Daryl Empen Agenda – Presentation of nominations and voting for the 2011 Historic Preservation Awards
Tuesday, April 16, 7 PM – The Phil Mitchell House, 720 20th Street, Hosts Home of Mark and Deb Holmes Agenda – Regular business meeting – planning for the presentation of Historic Preservation Awards in May – and tour of the historic Mitchell House.
Remember to keep the third Tuesday of each month marked on your calendar for monthly RIPS meetings and activities
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
PRESERVATION AWARDS
The February meeting is the last opportunity to suggest candidates for our annual awards, which will be reviewed at the March meeting and presented this May. If you do not make the meeting, you can still make suggestions by contacting Diane Oestreich, 788-1845 or [email protected] Plan on attending the March 19h meeting to view & discuss the nominees.
Each year in celebration of National Historic Preservation Month in May, the Rock Island Preservation Society presents Historic Preservation Awards and Certificates of Recognition. This recognition is to honor the individuals, groups or businesses who have made special efforts to preserve or restore historic structures in our community or whose actions have served to support historic preservation in Rock Island. We understand that to undertake the task of genuine preservation is indeed a challenge and those who accept that challenge and perform the task well should be heartily and publicly commended.
To qualify for an award or recognition, a structure may be:
- A residential, commercial, religious or public building
- In the city limits of Rock Island
- 50 years old or more
The Society shall consider for recognition a person or persons who have saved a historic structure from being destroyed or defaced, accomplished a major restoration or renovation of a historic structure, or by example or by special efforts furthered the ideals of historic preservation in Rock Island.
For more information about the Awards and to see past winners go to www.RockIslandPreservation.org and link to Preservation Awards.
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
THE PHIL MITCHELL HOUSE
Mark and Deb Holmes, our hosts for the April RIPS meeting, have taken a home scheduled for demolition and made it ito one of Rock Island’s most recognized structures. For some years, it was known around the Broadway neighborhood as the “dollar house,” a reference to its initial cost to the Holmes family and before they invested many dollars and much time into its restoration.
For many years this stately home on Rock Island’s 20th Street just south of 7th Avenue was known as the Mitchell House, one of three “Mitchel Houses” in Rock Island. This one is named for Phil Mitchell, a scion of the most prominent banking family in Rock Island, who entered the banking field in 1861, when he was only 15 years old. By the time he died in 1928, he had been president of two banks, as well as the president of Rock Island Plow Company and Director and Vice President of the Rock Island Stove Company. And he lived in this house for nearly forty years.
Postcard Circa 1910
The home actually was built 20 years before it was purchased by the Mitchell family. In 1868, newspapers reported that 54-year-old Charles Harrison Case was constructing his 30 x 40 foot home on Madison Street “in one of the most desirable sections of the city for private residences.” His immediate area was reportedly “filling up rapidly with a good class of buildings.” Case was one of the earliest settlers of Rock Island, having come here at age 15 in 1829. His parents, Sarah (Sally) and Louden Case, Sr., and his two brothers, Jonah and Louden, Jr., settled on land near the Rock River. Charles’ father died in August 1830 and his mother in February, 1836. Two months later, Charles married Margaret Hartzell.
Charles continued to farm near the Rock River bluff, even after moving into this new house “in town.” But only three years later after building it, he died, leaving the home, valued at $11,000, as well as the family farm, to Margaret, their two daughters, and a son. Margaret remained in the home until selling in 1885 to Ben Harper, who then sold to Homer J. Lowery. Lowery, who would go on to build what is now known as the Victorian Inn just north of the Case house, sold the Case home in 1886, to Phil Mitchell’s wife, Ella, for $9,000. In that era, homes were often registered in a wife’s name, rather than the husband’s.
The home that Charles Case built was a classic Italianate style cube, with a shallow hipped roof. Paired brackets supported the roof eaves, and framed small attic windows. While many Italianates were being built in this era, the Case home was special because of its belvedere, an outstanding feature that remains today. Belvedere, which translates as “beautiful view,” is an apt name for this picturesque rooftop room with windows on all four sides. This is the only belvedere in Rock Island.
The Mitchells, who had wed in 1877, enlarged and changed the house. In 1892, the home had a small front porch and a modest sized two story wing at the south rear of the rectangular house. This wing may have been original or added by the Mitchells. Between 1892 and 1898 the rear wing was doubled in size, nearly equaling the size of the front of the house. The front porch was expanded to its current size and configuration, and a two-story semicircular bay was added on the south side. About 1908, a sunroom or conservatory was added to the main house directly behind the bay.
In one of the early constructions periods, the interior was “updated” to incorporate classical motifs such as the swags that can be seen on the postcard on the bay frieze band. This work may have been the creation of architect George Stauduhar, as several exterior and interior photographs of the remodeled interior are included in his archives at the University of Illinois. However Stauduhar took photographs of buildings other than those of his own design.
From Rock Island County Artwork 1893
The postcard view shows the home as it appeared around 1910. The rear addition is visible, while the curved bay is partially hidden behind the foreground. Both the large sunroom and the enlarged front porch are topped by graceful railings. Although the postcard depicts the home as a cream colored brick, in this era it was probably still natural red brick. Many such vintage homes have been painted to protect their soft porous brick.
After Phil’s death in 1928, Ella remained for a few years. But by 1935, the home had been converted to three apartments with an absentee owner. A tea room also operated here for a few years. By 1940, this once magnificent home and its large barn and stables had been converted to 14 apartments. Decades later, nearby residents recounted seeing piles of walnut paneling tossed out on the front lawn during the conversion.
Forty years later, it was scheduled for demolition as an acknowledged long term eyesore and dangerous building. The Broadway Historic District Association asked the city of Rock Island to delay demolition, then provided some financial help to install a large tarp on the leaking roof and to advertise the home. Thanks to the full cooperation of the city, new owners were finally found.
Some twenty years ago, Mark and Deb Holmes agreed to assume the difficult task of rescuing this historic home and their efforts continue today. Working carefully with what remained and reproducing many components, they have revitalized the Case-Mitchell House. Because of the extensive rebuilding needed they have been able to incorporate high tech insulation and a state-of- the-art geothermal climate system. Thanks to new structural underpinnings and detailed restoration of decorative elements, including the once missing front porch, the home has a new future. The Cases and the Mitchells would certainly be proud of this latest family to enjoy their former home.
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
THE ARDO MITCHELL HOUSE
Our February meeting will be hosted by Linda Anderson and Bruce Ohrlund, who live in a brick home at 1718 21st Street in the Highland Park Historic District. It is known as the Ardo Mitchell House for the man who built it in 1918. He was the grandson of Philemon Mitchell, an early and prominent citizen of Rock Island and founder of the Mitchell & Lynde Bank.
Philemon’s home, one of Rock Island’s oldest remaining Second Avenue mansions and a designated Rock Island Landmark stands at 1131 2nd Avenue. Philemon’s son and Ardo’s father, Phil, is associated with the restored brick mansion at 720 20th Street, where our April meeting will be held.
Ardo’s brick home is in the Colonial Revival style which, in this case, reflects the Federal style homes popular between 1765 to 1820. After the turn of the 20th century, a return to simplicity and form evoking our nation’s birth was very much in vogue. Here, the strict symmetry along a central axis has been maintained and the traditional red brick has been used. The semi-circular porch roof with the traditional elliptical fanlight over the front door with sidelights and pilasters is faithful to its Federal model.
This home is relatively unchanged from the day Ardo Mitchell had it built. Ardo was associated with Federal Bakeries and his family remained in the house until the mid-1940s. The second owners, the Dr. R. Bruce Collins family, lived in the house into the early 1980s.
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
MEMBERSHIP RENEWAL
Annual RIPS membership ends in February. To continue your support of the Rock Island Preservation Society please renew your membership today. A renewal form is enclosed or you may go to the membership link at www.RockIslandPreservation.org.
Our dues of $10 per person have remained the same for many years and are fully tax deductible, as are other financial donations. Your newsletter label tells you the current expiration date of your membership. Your prompt response will ensure that you continue to receive the RIPS NEWS newsletter and emails.
If you have any questions, please contact Diane Oestreich at 309 / 788-1845 or email [email protected]
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
AUDUBON SCHOOL
The Rock Island School Board has entered into an sales agreement with Fareway Food Stores. The agreement gave Fareway 90 days to secure needed permits or zoning changes. Audubon School is on Rock Island’s most significant unprotected structures list. It would appear at this time, that Fareway would propose demolishing the building in favor of constructing a new grocery store on the site.
Neighbors north of the school have begun organizing and several Rock Island citizens have added postings to Fareway’s Facebook page. Please consider visiting Fareway Food Stores‘ Facebook page and sharing your opinion on any proposed demolition. Or write to them directly through the “Contact Us’ link at www.fareway.com
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
RIPS OFFICERS
March marks the beginning of the new business year for RIPS. The election of new officers and assignment of committee chairs for the upcoming year occurs at the February 19th meeting. Please consider serving as an officer or on a committee. For more information about the duties and scope of the positions, contact Linda Anderson at [email protected] or -786-7917.
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
The Anderson House Tea Party Was A Great Success!
The tea party held on the evening of January 15, 2012 at 917 19th Street, had to be Netta Bartholomew Anderson’s largest ever. Nearly 100 people attended the standing room only event. Netta, brought to life by Ann Boaden, told her story as one of the first women to graduate from Augustana College, her efforts to bring equal educational opportunities to women at the college, and her lifelong interest in documenting the important role women played in our early history. After the program, guests toured the beautiful home and lingered over tea, sandwiches and sweets, engaging in “intellectual conversation” just as guests had done decades ago at Netta’s famous tea parties.
RIPS wishes to thank everyone who worked to make this event a success. Special thanks to Paul Fessler, Kristi Ramirez and GROWTH for their decision to restore this beautiful home and for making it available for our event. We know you really pushed to get the house closer to the finish line. Sinks and bathrooms were much appreciated!
Thanks to Ann Boaden for her engaging portrayal of Netta Bartholomew Anderson.
Thanks to Diane for the great publicity and for the extra effort required to get an empty home ready for an event. You thought of everything from paper towels to the coat rack and hangers! Also compliments on your Facebook posts…not bad for someone who does not Facebook! Thanks to Clayton for providing the chairs, setting up the furniture, devising a make-shift refrigerator room, brewing tea, and making sure sandwich plates were full. You have such a great way of making sure everything gets done!
Thanks to Leslie for all the wonderful tea sandwiches, Jamie and Sarah for the great scones, and Anne, Pam, Clayton and Diane for the tea breads and sweet treats. Thanks to Anne for pouring tea, to Walter for helping with the tour logistics, and to Carla for help with clean-up.
And thank you to each of you for your dedication to RIPS and for your willingness to step up and “make it happen”. It is such an honor to work with each of you!
Linda Anderson, President, Rock Island Preservation Society
Editor’s Note: Linda merits our praise and thanks for conceiving of this event, writing a story for the Dispatch/Argus, and coordination of all of the contributors listed above.
