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Thanks for Giving Your Regards to Broadway! Tour of Homes 2008 The 2008 Tour of Homes was a huge success. Thanks to all who turned out for our largest tour ever. Your generosity will help support our efforts to continue the incredible progress we've made these last 20 years to restore our older homes, to educate the public about historic preservation and the Broadway District, and to beautify the neighborhood. A huge thank you goes out to all the homeowners and volunteers for making the Tour a success. In addition, thank you to the following sponsors for your generous support:
To download the 2008 Tour Booklet, simply Click Here for a .pdf version.
1. Broadway Presbyterian Church 710 23rd Street
The cornerstone for this new Presbyterian church at the corner of Broadway and Spencer Streets, which was built to accommodate a city expanding to the east, was laid on May 2, 1876. Broadway, as 23rd Street was then known, gave the enduring name to the congregation and was adopted by the new Broadway Historic District over a century later. The first services were held in February 1877, but formal dedication was deferred until November 3, 1878. In 1895 the church was expanded at the rear to create Sunday school rooms. Yet another expansion at the southwest corner occurred in 1920. In the early hours of March 17, 1947, a fire engulfed the church, leaving only the lower portions of the exterior walls intact. A local architect, William Stuhr, designed the reconstruction of the church and in the process reversed the interior orientation of the sanctuary. The original main entrance on 7th Avenue was eliminated, and the primary access was changed to 23rd Street. Another expansion in 2000, designed by Shive-Hattery, added an elevator and improved access. The Gothic style of the church is characterized by the pointed arches of its window tops and the small, stone-capped minibuttresses. Decorative chimneys and chimney pots are a finishing touch. The original stone of the church is not identified but appears to be Joliet limestone, a dolomitic stone mined from quarries along the Des Plaines River. The rectangular cut stones are laid in a random ashlar pattern, which means that the walls have no long continuous vertical or horizontal mortar lines. The recent elevator addition is of Anamosa limestone, a close match to the original stone and laid in the same random ashlar pattern. The church offers Sunday worship services in three styles: traditional, contemporary, and meditative. The congregation has been a resource for the community over the years by offering outreach ministries and by opening the doors to provide a meeting spot for many groups. The congregation will sponsor docent tours and, to celebrate the last 20 years, a special display in the vestibule. At 4 p.m. on Sunday only, there will be a Taize (rhymes with sashay) service. Everyone is invited to this short meditative, reflective, candlelight service that ends one week and prepares for the next.
2. Anastasia Murphy House 2203 7th Avenue
The Murphy House was originally constructed in 1876 as a double house for Mrs. Anastasia Murphy. Architect Isaac Holmes may have designed it. Anastasia (Ciolina) Murphy, though married, held title to the house in her own name. She married Michael Murphy in 1874 when she was 27 years old, and they moved into this house about 1899. He dealt in pianos, and she taught music. Her 1921 obituary listed her as “one of the best known women in this community” and “gifted with considerable talent as an artist, pianist and vocalist.” The Murphys’ daughter, Naomi, lived on the west side with her husband until 1984, while the east side was converted to apartments. Second Empire homes, which are defined by their Mansard roof, are rare in Rock Island. Here, the patterned cedar shingles of the Mansard roof have been restored, and repairs were made to the cornice and the unusual triangular windows. The front porch was restored, guided by the outlines of the original porch that showed on the brick walls when a deteriorated Colonial Revival style porch was removed. Although the house was vacant and little maintenance was done after Naomi left, it was reborn in 2005 as upscale loft-style dwellings. A new eight-stall carriage house–styled garage was built at the north end of the property in the spot where a carriage barn once stood. Porches at the rear of the house were also reconstructed. The loft that is open for today’s tour displays a new kitchen with cherry cabinets holding stained-glass inlays. A granite-topped island and modern stained concrete floors complete the room. Original windows were restored and new wood storm windows were added, but the exterior walls have been left exposed to show off the original stone and brick work. An industrial railing and exposed ductwork lead to the two-story Chicago-style loft. The lower level has new bamboo flooring, a sustainable material that is as beautiful as oak, and the upstairs hallway floor was restored to the original wood. Although the space was finished when purchased by Rob Frew, he and his fiancée Mallory Jenkins have incorporated their own special style and mementos into the historic spaces.
The Murphy House is a designated Rock Island Landmark.
3. The C.T. Foster House 2208 7th Avenue
Charles Swanson, whose occupation was “supervisor and carpenter,” was the first resident of this home, which was built about 1883. After his death, Mrs. Caroline Swanson remained. James R. Johnston, who may have been her son-in-law, and his second wife, Mary, lived with her. After coming to Rock Island in 1884, James was a bookkeeper with Biddeson, Gilmore & Biddeson, lumber dealers and also surveyor of customs. Others lived here briefly, but the best known was Dr. Cyrus T. Foster, physician and surgeon, and his wife, Josephine, who moved here in 1907. Dr. Foster was appointed physician to the poor in 1902, and also served as city health commissioner and physician for Rock Island On August 14, 1918, Dr. Foster declared that it was unsafe for the citizens of Rock Island to use cistern water. He said that only city water was safe to use to escape the typhoid fever that had attacked Moline. This circumstance was likely true, because nearby outhouses could contaminate outdoor in-ground cisterns. The Spanish influenza epidemic was a concurrent problem. Three months later, when questions arose about the fumigation of Franklin School, which had been used as a Red Cross emergency hospital, Dr. Foster promised that formaldehyde fumigators would be burned before the school was reopened. The death toll in Rock Island from influenza reached 61 out of the 1,579 who contracted the disease. A month later, Dr. Foster declared that dancing was no longer taboo, rescinding the ruling that prohibited the recreation during the epidemic. On October 10, 1924, Dr. Foster was murdered by two assassins as he walked near his home. A reward totaling $1,500 was raised to capture his assailants. In December a Peoria gunman, “Peaches” Kinney, was arrested in connection with the crime. Mrs. Foster remained here until 1966, when she sold the home to her daughter, Madeline, who had been 10 at the time of her father’s death, and Madeline’s husband William Bourell. The house remained in that family well into the 1980s. Dr. Francy Ricketts bought the vernacular Italianate-style home in July 2003. After restoring it, she opened her professional office, Adolescent Child and Couples Psychology, on the first floor that same year. The upstairs was remodeled as a private residence. An outstanding feature of the home is the original combination gas–electrical fixtures. To the east is a peaceful garden designed in the 1970s by Chris Larson. The design, which captures water runoff from the east side of the home into a fishpond, was well ahead of its time.
4. The Schenebricker House 740 22nd Street
In 1914 Charles A. Schenebricker, an auditor at Modern Woodmen of America, and his wife, Ethel, built the charming Arts and Crafts bungalow at 740 22nd Street. Although Charles died in 1958, his wife remained here for another decade. Early fire insurance maps indicate that the house was stucco, which is consistent with the rounded tops of the porch openings. But because the shingles were present during the Schenebrickers’ ownership, it remains a mystery why anyone would replace the generally maintenance free stucco with shingles. This is the second Broadway house for Jason and Lori Wheeler, who purchased it in 2006 and began a renovation to accommodate their three children, the first youngsters to live here in decades. Garage repair and back yard revitalization that included a new fence, tree removal, and grading created a fun-filled yet safe childrens’ space. An unexpected benefit of the grading was the discovery of a huge patio made of Purington pavers on two sides of the house. Other landscaping improvements included two retaining walls, new sidewalks, and a variety of plantings. On the inside, the Wheelers completely gutted the kitchen and rebuilt it, incorporating both a new dishwasher and a large pantry cabinet. A radiator that was removed from the kitchen was relocated upstairs to the former sleeping porch, which is now the “Army camp” bedroom for their two sons. The entire inside and outside of the home was repainted, relying on Lori’s eye for historic color. The Wheelers’ work, which included remodeling of the second-floor bathroom, refinishing of hardwood floors, installing new lighting and plumbing fixtures, and finally eradicating a small colony of bats in the attic, has resulted in a home that serves as an excellent example of the smaller treasures found in the Broadway District.
5. The Brinkerhoff House 902 22nd Street
Michael Higgins, a local developer, built the house in 1894. It was purchased by Sherman and Nina Brinkerhoff on August 6, 1894. They would live there for the next 50 years, raising their children Vern and Nina Belle. Sherman Brinkerhoff was born in 1857, in Milton, Illinois, and came to Rock Island when he was in his 20s. He worked as a traveling salesman for Harkert Cigar Company in Davenport. He met his wife, Nina, while staying at a boarding house operated by her mother, Mrs. Olivia Grover. Mrs. Grover moved into this home with them in the 1920s. To accommodate her, a two-story addition was built at the rear of the home. The current kitchen, downstairs bathroom, and upstairs sitting room are all part of that addition. One of the unusual features of this home is that its footprint is backward. Nearly all Broadway houses were built with the main stairway on the north wall; here the stairway is on the south side. The orientation of this home is undoubtedly because it sits on a corner lot, resulting in an extra-wide side yard on the north. When the Brinkerhoff family sold the home to Egnazio and Virginia Miller in 1944, they left it completely furnished. The Millers later enlarged the front porch and, over the years, added two layers of siding. In the early 1990s Rock Island Economic Growth bought and restored the house. The artificial siding was removed, revealing hidden beauty. Missing wood trim, chopped off when the house was sided, was reconstructed, and the original porch was restored. A period paint scheme with contrasting trim was the final creative touch. Before the restored home was offered for sale, it was a Victorian Decorators Show Home, with each room interpreted by a different decorator. Today, Ed and Mary Littig use the gracious rooms to display their eclectic collection of art.
6. The West House 1036 21st Street
Around 1900 Russell West, a clerk at the Rock Island Arsenal, and his wife, Marie M., built this Queen Anne home with Craftsman detailing. In 1908 Fred Pollard, a bookkeeper for Blake & Murphy and later a salesman for the D.C. Murphy Company, moved into the home with his wife, also named Marie. Fred’s brother, Richard, a student, moved in with the couple in 1926. A decade later, Richard, a police magistrate for General Insurance Company, married. He and his new wife, Evelyn, remained here with his sister-in-law, Marie, even after Fred’s death in 1936. Marie Pollard remained in the house until 1945. In 1946 Rollin G. (Sonny) Engman moved into the home, where his new bride, Gladys, joined him four years later. At this time he was the president and treasurer of Dahlen’s Drug Store, located at 26th Street and 18th Avenue in Rock Island. This later became Engman’s Drug Store, under the ownership Sonny Engman and his son Jim. The style of this house is sometimes called Princess Anne style because it is a more restrained version of the highly ornate Queen Anne style. Here the front gable is highly ornamented and appears to be double, with two sizes of windows in the gables. The smaller gable has decorative modillions, bracketlike structures that support it. A sun porch was added at the south in the 1940s, which is when the front porch was altered. Although it has been rebuilt, today’s Craftsman porch is authentic from that earlier alteration. The exceptionally narrow clapboard siding is typical of that used at the turn-of-the-century. The rich, deep tones of the décor and the beautiful woodwork are typical of the Victorian style. Owners Ken and Amy Bratsch’s choice of contemporary furnishings demonstrate how a Broadway home can accommodate different living styles while retaining the original architecture. The home provides a perfect setting to display the Bratsch’s collection of Hull Pottery. Since 2001 the owners have added their touch to the history of the home by restoring the woodwork, adding a period-appropriate garage, and converting the 1940s era sun porch into a three-season room. They also removed a newer brick fireplace in the parlor and created a more era-friendly one in its place. Most recently, additional modern touches—a complete remodel and extension of the kitchen area, a new walk-in closet and fireplace in the master bedroom, and a remodel of the main bathroom—were incorporated into the home. Throughout this work, special care was taken to maintain the original style and integrity of the home.
7. The Russ House 1929 9th Avenue
In 1918 Walter A. Russ, manager of Greenfield Brokerage Company in Rock Island and later president of the Fort Armstrong Real Estate Agency, and his wife, Anna, built this Arts and Crafts style bungalow. In 1935 Mr. Russ became president of Rose Lawn Memorial Estate in Moline, a cemetery that consisted of a 33-acre tract of land overlooking the Rock River on Coaltown Road (currently John Deere Road, Route 5) directly south of the East Moline business district. In 1935 the Moline Dispatch noted that the cemetery was intended to be different from others. It would have no monuments, and graves would be designated by flat markers. It was hoped at that time that a pergola, chime tower, and chapel would later be built. In 1945 the Russes moved a few blocks to the east on 9th Avenue but still owned the little house, probably renting it. Paul and Deb Magnuson bought the house in 2004. The charming 1,800-square-foot house was in need of maintenance at the time, but the woodwork and flooring throughout the home is original. The upstairs dormer, which now houses Deb’s office, was not heated in the past, so new ductwork was required. The fireplace, a living-room focal point, had two bookcases on each side, some made of pine and some oak. Because these were not original to the house, the couple refurbished the oak pieces and used them to trim out the windows on each side of the fireplace. A new oak mantle frames the fireplace surround that was retiled, incorporating a new center tile that depicts a willow tree. This tile was commissioned by the owners. The ceiling and crown molding, which had water damage, were refinished. The house boasts new ceilings, a renovated kitchen, wooden storm windows, a new roof, a rebuilt front porch, and a new driveway and sidewalks. The downstairs is currently occupied by Deb’s sister. It has served as a guest house for the last three years, much to the delight of her 11 brothers and sisters. The house is decorated in a tropical theme, and local artists did most of the artwork. Paul’s library incorporates photographs of Key West, Cuba, and Jamaica; hence the couple named it Havana House. We’re told that the house comes with a cat named Fidel. The garden continues to the couple’s main home at 842 20th Street, the A.D. Huesing House.
8. The Sweeney House 816 20th Street
On April 3, 1874, the Rock Island Daily Union announced that local architect Isaac N. Holmes was designing a new house for Edward D. Sweeney. Mr. Sweeney came to Rock Island in 1857 as a grade school principal. In 1860 he passed the bar exam and became an attorney in a firm with William Jackson, who would become his next-door neighbor as well. Sweeney and his first wife, Harriet, had five children. One son, William, joined his father’s law firm and remained in the family home after his father’s death. This home is an excellent example of the classic front-gabled Italianate style house. The gables on three sides of the main structure have an uncommon saw-tooth applied wood trim. This painted overlay area, which holds an oval or round window, creates a striking contrast to the brick walls, which were not originally painted. Most windows hold their original, rippled glass and two-paned upper and lower sashes, and most have a top shaped in a circular segment. Windows in the protruding ells under the side gables and the large south bay have a slightly modified configuration and are original. The contrasting drapery appearance around the window tops is original to the house and was created simply by painting the brick in this area a contrasting color. This decorative effect typifies other examples of architect Holmes’ work. The center keystone, the windowsills, and the foundation are real stone. When first built, the front-gabled Italianate-style house had a small porch at the front door, similar to that on the red brick house several doors to the south. Today’s huge wraparound porch was added about 1900, when big front porches were a typical stylistic feature on new homes. A 1901 photo of the home with family members on the porch shows it looking as it does today. The photo also shows ornate finials extended above each gable. These were likely removed during some early reroofing. Sweeney family members, who still lived here, converted the upstairs to apartments in the mid 1930s. After passing from Sweeney ownership circa 1960, the home continued as a rental. In 1970, it became an office for Catholic Social Services, who maintained the historic architecture and sought official Landmark designation. It was returned to single-family use in 2005, and has undergone restoration by owners Bryan Pattschull and David Cordes. Among the improvements are new, properly shaped wooden storm windows and a recently reopened rear porch. Be sure to notice the new garage, which was designed to complement the house and which sits in the spot once occupied by a vintage barn and carriage house. The original brick driveway was also reconstructed. Besides restoring this home to its original beauty, David and Bryan are restoring the home to the south as well.
9. The A.D Huesing House 842 20th Street
This local landmark was home to the founder of the A.D. Huesing Bottling Company, which was founded in 1899 and is still in operation today. Albert D. and Charlotte Huesing built this home in 1885 at a cost reported as $1,200. This was shortly after their marriage and during the time that he was an alderman for the Fourth Ward. In 1899 Mr. Huesing established a new bottling works at 1822 1st Avenue. The line of drinks for the A.D. Huesing Company included lemon, cream, strawberry, birch and root beers, sparkling water, ginger ale, and sarsaparilla. In 1902 the company also became the sole distributor in the Tri-Cities for the Anheuser Busch Brewing Association. In 1914 Mr. Huesing built a 2,000-ton ice plant, the first in the area, managed by his sons Albert Jr. and Arthur. The A.D. Huesing Company added the Pepsi-Cola franchise in 1935. The home is an example of the front-gabled Italianate architectural style, which is rare nationally but seen frequently in our city. The applied board trim in the front gable shows the Eastlake influence, which was popular in the 1880s. A striking hexagonal window completes the gable in this wood-framed house. Be sure to notice the magnificent double entry doors. These are often an early casualty of “modernization.” The comfortable, large wraparound front porch was added between 1906 and 1922. Supported by massive brick columns with simple trim at the top that frames two levels of vertical balusters, the porch evokes the Prairie style. Although it once held three apartments, the home has been carefully restored during the past decade by its handy do-it-yourself owners, Deb and Paul Magnuson, who purchased it in 1998. Beginning with a Great Unveiling, they managed to complete their work, both inside and out, in less than four years. An appropriate paint scheme adds to the overall vintage appearance. Be sure to notice the unusual garage, which was designed by Rock Island architect George P. Stauduhar in 1912. Constructed of rock-faced concrete block, it has stepped parapet walls on two sides and an unusual rolled eave that extends over the main door.
The Huesing House is a designated Rock Island Landmark
10. The Wagner House 904 23rd Street
In 1902 Robert Wagner, president of the Rock Island Brewing Company and founding member of the Tri-City Symphony, and his wife, Thekla, commissioned renowned Davenport architect Frederick Claussen to design and build a mansion at 904 23rd Street at the cost of $55,000. The result was a rare Neoclassical-style home that relied on Greek and Roman temples as inspiration. The wide galleries and balconies are reminiscent of antebellum southern mansions. The main entrance has full-length double doors with beveled glass, and the inside entrance door still has the original “W” etched on the glass. The home features a unique doorbell system, still in working order, emergency lighting in each room (because city electricity was believed to be unreliable), and speaking tubes that run from the basement to the first and second floor. The front-parlor fireplace mantel and surround is of Italian marble. The library fireplace cover was commissioned by the Wagners and shipped from Germany. The front-parlor frieze is an original painting on canvas and dates from 1904. The upstairs bath boasts beautiful marble wainscoting and original plaster work on canvas. Robert passed away of a massive heart attack on Christmas morning 1937, after having brought his beloved Thekla breakfast in bed. Mrs. Wagner remained in the home until her death in 1956. In the 1960s the home became a dress shop owned by Anne Potter. It was during this era that some of the oak woodwork, beams, and bookcases were painted white. Later owners would laboriously strip the added paint. Each of the owners of this beautiful home has left a mark in the restoration, but when the Shafers purchased the home in December 2005, it had been empty for a year as part of an estate. Many of the balcony railings were missing, the exterior paint was peeling, and the soffits had large holes. Since that time, most exterior repairs have been made and the house was painted three soft shades of yellow. New sidewalks were also poured. An unanticipated need for a critical repair was discovered when the foundation was tuckpointed. During that work, it was found that the massive front columns had lost over half of their foundation support. In 2007 the Shafers relocated the deteriorated back patio of Purington pavers to the south side and installed an in-ground pool and fence. Wayne and Lori continue to polish the rooms to their original splendor, doing most of the work themselves. Like most owners of historical homes, the Shafers consider their work a labor of love. They hope to finish the interior soon and repair and restore the railings and balustrades. A crowning touch, both literally and figuratively, will be the restoration of the original widow's walk, which has been missing for decades.
The Wagner House is a designated Rock Island Landmark and listed on the National Register of Historic Places
Mother's Day Tour of Homes 2001 Mother's Day Tour of Homes 2002 Mother's Day Tour of Homes 2003
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