Lincoln Home, Blocks 6 and 11: Historic Structure Report

Bearss, Edwin

This report has been prepared to satisfy the research needs as enumerated by Superintendent Albert Banton and his staff of Lincoln Home National Historic Site, Historical Architect George Thorson of the Denver Service Center, and Contract Architect Earl Henderson of the firm of Ferry and Henderson. At Superintendent Banton's request, the study was expanded to include Lots Nos. 1-8, Block 11, Elijah lIes' Addition, and Lots Nos. 7-16, Block 6. This study is designed to be both a historic structure report and a historic resource study. As such, it is a structural history of the houses and outbuildings that stood on these eighteen lots during the Lincoln years. To implement the proposed interpretive prospectus, which calls for a tour of the Lincoln neighborhood with stops at each house or house site, information concerning the people associated with these properties has been compiled. In researching this report, all published materials focusing on the eighteen lots, on their owners and residents, were reviewed. On field trips to Springfield in April and May 1975, records involving these properties and the individuals and families were studied at the Illinois State Historical Library, Illinois State Archives, Springfield City Hall, Sangamon County Courthouse, local insurance companies, and the Lincoln Library. Local persons familiar with the properties were interviewed. Unfortunately, few historical photographs were found. Many persons assisted with the preparation of this report. Particular thanks are due Superintendent Albert Banton, Chester liamilton, Ruthanne Heriott, and other members of the staff of Lincoln Home NHS for their assistance on-site and for doing my Springfield legwork after my return to Washington. During the seventeen years I have been associated with Al Banton, he has been a personal friend, a capable historian and administrator, and a champion of historic preservation. As usual, I am indebted to those two distinguished Lincoln scholars--Dr. James T. Hickey, Curator of the Lincoln Collection, Illinois State Historical Library, and Dr. Wayne Temple, Special Projects Curator, Illinois State Archives. These men, who are familiar with every move Lincoln made, cheerfully shared their encyclopedic knowledge of Lincolniana. Local historians--Ross Wright, R. R. Morrison, and George Cushman--provided interesting details and guided me to descendents of Lincoln neighbors and subsequent property owners. Mrs. Mildred Shultz, Librarian of the Illinois State Historical Library, and her staff, as always, were a pleasure to work with, going out of their way to be helpful. Personnel at the Springfield City Hall and at the Sangamon County courthouse, especially the staffs of the Recorder of Deeds and of the County Probate Clerk, in whose offices I spent many hours, were cooperative, patient, and helpful. Mr. G. Greeley Wells of Sanborn Map Company, Inc., kindly gave his firm's permission for reproduction of the maps of Blocks 6 and 11 that document certain physical changes in the structures.

Lincoln Home, Blocks 6 and 11: Historic Structure Report

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