Vinegar Hill 2009 Point of Pride
October 2009 VHNA Point of Pride
Springfield Trolley Company
Chris Riess receives Small Business Award
Chris Riess receives Small Busi-ness Achievement Award from the Springfield Business Journal and United Community Bank for his commitment to enhancing the quality of life in Springfield through his Trolley business.
Chris has a very welcoming de-meanor that makes visitors to Springfield feel like a member of the community. If you haven’t taken a tour on this special vehicle you should not wait. Even if you are from Springfield you will learn some-thing new about your town as Chris gives a running informa-tive presentation with all sorts of interesting tid bits about the buildings and goings on. Con-gratulations to Chris for a well deserved thank you for adding a special piece of culture to Lincoln’s City.
September 2009 VHNA Point of Pride
Garden Volunteers
Dee Nelson receives a Plaque and a 2nd Place Award Sign from Mayor Davlin, and a check for $125 from Dean Garver and Linda Ellis of Springfield in Bloom. Dee says the money will go towards more plantings for next year.
Great thanks go out to Dee, Betty Green, Bill Castor and all the others who were able to spend some of their valuable time in an effort to make Vinegar Hill a more attractive place to live.
August 2009 VHNA Point of Pride
450 W. Williams
This fine home has wonderful preserved architectural details on the porch columns and above the front upstairs window. They are painted in complimentary colors showing off the craftsmanship that went into it back when they could afford the immigrant craftsman’s art.
This story and a half style home is typical of many in the south VHNA area. It also has a back upstairs sleeping porch, an addition from before air conditioning.
It sets on a double lot with a side yard “to die for” if you have kids. If you don’t, you could garden it and truck your produce to the farmer’s market downtown.
I’m just jealous they found it before I did. “Nice job” to the owners for the care they are showing to this prize.
July 2009 VHNA Point of Pride
450 W. Williams
This classic “four-square” home is such a fine example of what our territory has to offer in quality homes that are affordable and architecturally valuable.
Typical of homes built in the 1920s the four square refers to the upper floor with four bedrooms in each corner sporting two windows and directional views each.
The proud owners for over twenty years, Mike and Judy Parrish, clearly recognize its value and are meticulous in its upkeep as is evidenced by the photo of this month’s Point of Pride.
Congratulations and thank you from your neighbors in Vinegar Hill.
Photo by Dennis Rogers
June 2009 VHNA Point of Pride
1873 North Vinegar Hill
In honor of our Prairie Heritage, I submit this view of the northern part of VHNA territory showing Walnut as the farthest street stopping at Edwards. On the right is the Passfield farm where the SHS track field is now. Cook Street doesn’t go further than Passfield and Lawrence seems to take that little jog that it still has. I think last months POP shows on Edwards with Evan and Marilyn Britten’s 1857 home further west. The full view is on display in at the Lincoln Library on the third floor southwest corner with thanks to the Sangamon Valley Collection .
May 2009 VHNA Point of Pride
426 & 428 West Edwards
This Civil War Era building was the worst one on the block with disruptive tenants who were driving away good tenants from this and neighboring apartments.
VHNA took action and called every time there was a disturbance. The elderly owner was notified and a new property manager was hired who evicted the problem tenants, cleaned up the property, fixed the broken windows and doors and is in the process of finishing up the new paint job.
It has now regained the status it once held as a desirable place to live. The building is again attractive to State workers who can walk to work and downtown entertainment.
Our thanks go out to the owner and new building manager who have put much effort into this fine building that can once again stand proudly with its extended family of Springfield’s fine historic buildings. If you know someone looking for a classy place, give them a call, the sign is in the front yard. There are two units left.
April 2009 VHNA Point of Pride
Third Planet
March 2009 VHNA Point of Pride
John and Pam Jones are lucky enough to live in this classic Queen Ann style house at 620 W. Edwards. It sports original details like the wrap-around porch with original porch railing balustrades, fancy gable woodwork and oval leaded glass window. It was built by a Mr. Sutherland in the late 1800's. He had stables with horses and carriages for rent. In about 1930 Albert New bought the house. He was an Engineer for the City and New Street was named after him. The New's had two daughters and he finished the 3rd floor of the house so that the girls could have a place to play. The door knobs were placed low so that the girls could reach them and he also added 2 extra bathrooms to the house so the girls would have their own.
Howard and Bea Jones bought the house from the New's in 1958. For a number of years Bea rented out the upstairs rooms as sleeping rooms. It served as her own Social Security income. When Bea's husband died in about 1980, her mother came to live with her. Later in the 1980's, Bea bought a smaller more manageable house across the street for them to live in which allowed her son John and his family to live in a larger home.
Bea still maintains the family garden in the back yard tirelessly growing vegetables and flowers alike as well as attending to the complimentary landscaping around the home.
Thanks to Bea, John and Pam for keeping up such a fine example of the homes that made this neighborhood a very desirable place to live. Thanks to Nancy Januswesky for photo and story.
February 2009 VHNA Point of Pride
Is there any more appropriate choice for this month’s Point of Pride than Abraham and Mary Todd Lincoln’s home? Springfield’s most famous home has drawn many thousands of visitors from around the world to see and experience the place where this great visionary formed many of his thoughts.
Even though it is not directly in the VHNA territory it’s influence greatly envelops our area. This is not a wealthy mansion, but rather a modest prairie home of a size and function close to the needs of its inhabitants, much like our own homes. It’s federal style architecture is evident in many homes in our territory, demonstrating the fact that our area was growing up along side of Lincoln’s neighborhood.
This architecture, as well as the later Italianate, Queen Ann and Craftsman Styles, make interesting pieces of our historical quilt that are well worth preserving for our domestic and international visitors to enjoy.