Re: Miles and Joseph Conway, Rock Island Illinois, 1830's
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In reply to:
Re: Miles and Joseph Conway, Rock Island Illinois, 1830's
Harold Benedict 6/23/09
Hi Thanks for the information. Do you have anymore? I am sending more stuff bits at a time.
This is the html version of the file http://www2.rigov.org/pdf/CED/landmarks/robinsonhardwarestore.pdfhttp://www2.rigov.org/pdf/CED/landmarks/robinsonhardwarestore.pdf.
Google automatically generates html versions of documents as we crawl the web.
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NOMINATION FOR LANDMARK DESIGNATIONROBINSON HARDWARE STORE1706 Third AvenueRock Island, IllinoisLEGAL DESCRD7TIONLot 2, Block 11 in Spencer and Case's Addition to the City of Rock IslandNOMINATION CRITERIA(3) Representative of the distinguishing characteristics of an architectural type inherentlyvaluable for the study of a style, Early 20th Century Commercial with Prairie Influences,and which retains a high degree of integrity.(KJ
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TABLE OF CONTENTSHistory of Property 1-4Plat Map, Second Addition, Town of Stephenson, 1836 5Plat Map, Lot 2, Block 11, Spencer and Case's Addition, 1836 6Sanborn Insurance Map, 1886 7Sanborn Insurance Map, 1892 8Sanborn Insurance Map, 1898 9Sanborn Insurance Map, 1906 10History of Structure 1-12City of Rock Island Map, 1857 13"Birds Eye View" Map, ca. 1875 14"Birds Eye View" Map, ca. 1875 15"Birds Eye View" Map, 1887, 1888, 1889 16Occupants of 1706 Third Avenue 7Occupants of 1706 1/2 and 1706 1/3 Third Avenue 18James B. Ellis 19R. B. Ellis Advertisement, 1878/1881 20J. B. Ellis Advertisement, 1885/1888 21Robinson & Miller Hardware Company 22ArchitectureExteriorPhotograph Store Front, ca. 1930'sPhotograph of Third Avenue, 1936Photographs, 1996Similar Buildings in Rock Island, 1915InteriorPhotographs, 1996Bibliography 4123-272829-32-35--3637--40
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HISTORY OF PROPERTYThe United States of America gave a Certified Copy of Patent, dated 10 May 1841 and filed 10January 1895, to Jonah H. Case, for the North East Fractional Quarter of Section 35 in Township18 North, Range Two West in the District of Lands subject to sale at Galena, Illinois, containing83 acres and one hundredth of an acre (83.1) according to the official plat of a survey of saidlands returned to the General Land Office by the Surveyor General."I do hereby certify the above is a correct diagram of a survey which I executed for John W.Spencer and Jonah H. Case of an addition of the town of Stephenson situated on the North EastFractional Quarter of Section 35, Township 18 North of the Base Line Range 2 West of theFourth Principal Meridian. And beginning at the North West corner of Lot One Block Two at astone. The lots are laid out 60 feet front and running back 150 deep, each street 80 feet wideexcept Water or Front Street which at the North West corner Lot No. 1 124 feet wide and at theNorth East Corner of Block No. 4 -63 feet and the North East corner of Block No. 5 is 55 feetwide, each and every alley 20 feet wide." Miles W. Conway, County Surveyor, Rock IslandCounty.At a special term the County Commissioners Court of Rock Island County on 17 May 1836ordered that the plat be recorded in the Recorder's Office of Rock Island County as the plat of theSecond Addition of the Town of Stephenson.On 8 December 1837, Benjamin McKay was given a Warranty Deed to 83.1 acres of the NorthEast Quarter of Section 35, Town of Stephenson, for $3,000. by Eliza and John W. Spencer andJulia and Jonah H. Case. In turn, on 12 September 1838, Sarah and Benjamin McKay, gave aWarranty Deed for Lot 2 to Samuel W. Twining and Joseph Trege for $400. Two years later,1840, Trege sold his half to Twining for $200.There was a petition for dower by Martha W. Twining vs. Henry C. Twining, infant, heir at law ofSamuel Twining filed 12 June 1848. George R. McMurphy, for $285. received a Warranty Deedfrom M. T. Twining, guardian of Henry C. on 30 January 1850. It was stated the "land isunproductive" on 17 September 1849 and on 24 November 1849 there was a sale at the door ofthe Court House. A Quit Claim Deed for $100. was given to Martha Twining by Amanda andGeorge R. McMurphy on 6 February 1850.The next change of owners occurred on 13 July 1852 with a Warranty Deed given by M. T.Twining to Thomas B. Ellis for $160.On 5 June 1854, Eliza and Thomas B. Ellis gave a Warranty Deed to James B. Ellis for $200. Onemonth less than two years later, George Hillier, for $1,500., received a Warranty Deed fromSarah and James B. Ellis. For "consideration, mutual love and affection which we bear unto ourdaughter, Sarah B. Ellis" and $1.00, Sarah and George Hillier gave a Warranty Deed to Sarah B.Ellis. Attached were ten cents in U.S. revenue stamps.
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HISTORY OF PROPERTY (Cont )Sarah and James Ellis mortgaged the property on 27 October 1873 to Joseph Hardy for $1,000.The east 38 feet of Lot 2 was mortgaged again on 13 June 1874 for $859.55 to Sarah E.Robinson. On 17 September 1876 another mortgage was taken out for all of Lot 2 for $1,200from Nathaniel Folsom.On 4 October 1876, Joseph Hardy assigned $1,043.32 of the mortgage he held to NathanielFolsom and Sarah E. Robinson assigned $600. of her mortgage to Folsom on 29 May 1878.Nathaniel Folsom died 7 August 1872 leaving the bulk of his estate to Julia Ann Folsom, his wife,including the notes of Sarah B. Ellis amounting to $2,200. Julia Folsom released the mortgages of$3,120. to Sarah and James Ellis on 3 February 1887. She died 14 July 1887 and letters ofadministration were given to Henry D. Folsom on 26 July 1887.The Rock Island Mutual & Building Loan and Savings Association issued a mortgage to Sarahand James B. Ellis for $4,000 on 2 February 1887. It was released 12 April 1893. Also on 12April 1893, Sarah B. Ellis, widow, sold the property to Eli Mosenfelder and Louis Kohn for$10,000. The alleys were paved in 1895 and Mosenfelder's and Kohn's assessment was $106.78.The west 22 feet of Lot 2 was sold by Amelia and Eli Mosenfelder and Regina and Louis Kohn toLouis Weckel on 18 May 1899 for $5,650. U. S. Revenue Stamps were $6.00. Augusta andLouis Weckel mortgaged the west 22 feet to the Mosenfelders and Kohns on 18 May 1899 for$4, 150. On 22 December 1900, a Warranty Deed was given for the east 4 feet of the west 26feet of Lot 2 to Louis Weckel for $500. There were fifty cents in revenue stamps.Louis Weckel, a veteran grocer for over 30 years, died 3 October 1922. He was survived by hiswidow, Augusta, three sons, J. Arthur, Ralph and Walter H., and a grandson, Richard, son ofWalter H.. The three sons lived on Rural Free Delivery 1, Moline, and the grandson resided at1206 21st Street, Rock Island, with his grandmother. The business at 1706 Third Avenue was leftto Augusta and to Walter H. if he desired to continue. The estate was closed on 14 March and 7April 1924. Augusta Weckel died on 23 May 1945. Her sole heirs were Walter H., J. Arthur andRalph Weckel, her sons.On 15 January 1946 a Statutory Form Warranty Deed for $1.00 was given by Lena Koester,widow, Scott County, to Zelda Schmitt for the East 34 feet of Lot 2, Block 11 and Sublots 1, 2, 3and 4 with the respective addresses of 1708, 1710, 1712, 1714 and 1716 Third Avenue.On 23 August 1954, Mabel and J. Arthur Weckel, Sadie and Ralph Weckel gave a Statutory FormWarranty Deed to Emma T. and Walter H. Weckel for two-thirds of the east 26* of Lot 2. In1920, a $ 1.00 revenue stamp equaled $ 1,000. U.S. Revenue Stamps attached to the documentwere for $22.00.
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HISTORY OF PROPERTY (Cont )A Quit Claim Deed, right of survivorship, by Walter H. and Emma T. Weckel to each other wasfiled 5 February 1955. Mr. Weckel died on 3 March 1965 at 84 years of age. He was survived bya son, Alan, and his widow, Emma T.On 5 May 1966 the People of the State of Illinois as the plaintiff filed a Complaint for Injunctionversus Betty Mason, also known as Belva Mason, a.k.a. Helen Frances Cohen, a.k.a. BelvaRégnier, a.k.a. Helen Mason, and Emma Weckel, defendants.The complaint was that "Betty Mason had exercised control over the use of a certain buildinglocated on the west 26 feet of Lot 2, Block 11, in Spencer and Case's Addition to the City ofRock Island, commonly known as 1706 1/2 Third Avenue and other places in said city, and asrecently as 8 March 1966 did exercise control over the use of 1706 1/2 Third Avenue, whichplace could offer seclusion or shelter for the practice of prostitution, and knowingly did grant orpermit the use of said place for said purpose and under such circumstances from which she couldreasonably know that the place was then used for purposes of prostitution."On 8 March 1966, Betty Mason was found guilty and fined $500. and costs. At the same timeBetty Williams, also known as Betty Nelson was found guilty of prostitution and fined $200. andcosts were paid and judgement still in force. Betty Mason had been arrested and charged manytimes over a period of years for being the keeper of a house of prostitution or operating a houseof prostitution at the same location and other locations in the city.Emma Weckel, apparent owner of record, was charged with knowing the premises weremaintained as a public nuisance.As of 16 May 1966, Betty Mason could not be found in the county. Emma Weckel had control ofthe property since the death of her husband, 3 May 1965, and they were joint owners since 1954.The upstairs had been operated by a Helen Skeer as a house of prostitution for a number of years.Emma Weckel had had no actual knowledge of the operation, "but under the law she was chargedwith having legal knowledge of said premises for said use." The court entered a decreerestraining all persons from maintaining and permitting such nuisance and from using the upstairsportion of the building for a period of one year.The owner, lessee or other occupant could use the upstairs if the owner gave bond with securityor surety approved by the court in an amount of $1,000 payable to the People of the State ofIllinois. The principal obligor and surety will assume responsibility for any fines, costs or damagesresulting from any offenses specified in Section 37-1 of Chapter 38 of the Illinois RevisedStatutes.
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HISTORY OF PROPERTY (Cont )Contained in All About Old Buildings. The Whole Preservation Catalog, there is a small pieceabout brothels. "Traditionally, Americans have chosen to preserve buildings with positivehistorical connotations. Only recently has this practice been challenged by a new breed ofpreservationists, who feel it's worthwhile preserving structures that may symbolize aspects ofhistory we might like to forget." Under a photo of small wood cabins is the caption "Wooden"cribs" in the old red-light district of Telluride, Colorado., that have been rehabilitated with aNational Trust loan."A Statutory Warranty Deed was given by Emma T. Weckel, widow of Walter H. Weckel, a.ka.Walter Henry Weckel, a.k.a. Walter Harry Weckel, to Estella M. and Walter A. Robinson andWilliam F. Robinson on 12 September 1968 for the west 26 feet of Lot 2. U. S. Revenue Stampswere in the amount of $29.50.
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? -~-a&...; ï>-Mftf«lsi'ÎKABSTRACT OP TITLE. , ^«ffljTo lot 2 in blk 11 Spencer A Canea Addn to the City of RocktlliWIsland. • , ?£ l.$|j|KMADE POR SARAH B. EILES.PLAT.i-okiA a «.H ASirei1 0-1-ê - A A4 /) »/-e,lii?.: A.23Plat of part of Spencersand cas* addition toRock Island.Plat.Dated May 17, 1836.Piled May 17, 1836Surveyors certificate!that the foregoing is a correct •;#• "^Bdiagram of a survey made for John W Spencer, and Jonah H Case^of^an^^íaddition to the town of Stephenson $now Rock Island) situataduou,th9-^^N E fri 1/4 sec 35 twp 18 N R 2 W. . W&>$fa^ «*#^igiThe lots are laid out 6 o ft froat and 150 ft deep 'eachH||t|ÍÍfÉí'street 80 ft wide except Water or pront street etc. .vi/fif j"^4^!^Miles W Conway Co. Surveyor.Approved by the county commissioners court of R• 6 m%
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HISTORY OF STRUCTUREA map of the City of Rock Island, drawn and published by Thomas Doran and dated 1857 showsLot 2, Block 11 with a small structure located several feet south of the lot's north boundary. Thescale of the map is given as one inch equaling 450 feet. Converting this to the footprint size, thebuilding is approximately 28 feet on each side. It was the residence of James B. and Sarah B.Ellis. We believe the current structure was built circa 1875. The Rock Island City Directoriesfirst list 1706 Third Avenue as a business in the 1878/81 issue. Prior to this it was noted as aresidence.The following circumstantial evidence led to our estimated building date of circa 1875.We began with an undated "bird's eye view" map of the city. To date this map we used knowndates of other "bird's eye view" maps, Sanborn Maps, dated and recognizable Rock Islandstructures, abstract financial figures and the city directories.The first building used was the Philemon L. Mitchell House, 1131 Second Avenue. A newspaperphotograph circa 1867 shows no tower. The undated map also shows no tower. The SanbornMap of 1886 shows the tower.Augustana College research indicates that "in 1873 a large brick building, big enough to house allstudents, professors and their families and classroom space was partly finished when classes began22 September 1875 in the college and seminary." On the undated map, there are only twostructures - one with a small dome (colored red) and the second building (shown as white)with aflat roof adjacent and set back on the west. Neither building is Old Main which was completed in1894.Abstract financial information gives mortgages on 1706 Third Avenue beginning in October of1873 for $1,000, 1874 for $859.55 and 1876 for $1,200. The 1886 Sanborn Map shows thefootprint of the present three storey building.The 1887, 1888 or 1889 "bird's eye view" map, the years of Blanding's term of office as mayor,shows the subject property as three storeys.Considering the evidence, it is assumable the present structure, without the one storey eastsection, is circa 1875. In the basement there is a herringbone patterned brick floor extendingapproximately 35 feet from the north to the south. The balance of the basement floor is concrete.An interesting feature of the brick floored area is that it has a definite incline, about 6 inches to afoot, up towards the north (Third Avenue). The floor joists are level. It is likely that this brickfloor is from the original residence which was demolished when this structure was constructed.11
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HISTORY OF STRUCTURE (Cont )Louis Weckel purchased the building and the west 22 feet of Lot 2 in 1899. An additional fourfeet to the east was purchased in December 1900. It is this narrow piece of land which providedroom for the east section of the structure which contains an interior staircase to the second floor.There had been an exterior staircase to the second floor located on the south side until at least1906.12
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£k ROCK ISLANDBICENTENNIALCELEBRATION©CIurcra i/* etOF THE CITY OFLANDROCK ISLAND COJLlÍ857Population 9,300Scale-r-450'Partial Map of 1857 reprintedByROCK ISLAND HISTORICAL SOCIETY1976T HSSIteMNÎaaILLINOISP^^f] ÏFBffii. I |ï SQUAREORLEANSHK.DCTOT Ri. R>- fo-? STREETSZü&MHR »STREET „„_.i). Warren
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OCCUPANTS OF 1706 THIRD AVENUE18561867187618771878/811882/851882/851885/881888/911892/9318951897/981899/190019161917192219241925192619271954196819871995*EUis, James B. (Sarah B.), Orleans south side third building east of Eagle,masonsamesame, DeWitt D., boards, residence 6 East Orleans, contractorsame,Ellis, S. B. & DeWitt D., retail dealers in flour, feed, baled hay and strawof the best qualityFolsom, Edgar D., flour, feed, etc., residence 314 - 17th StreetZiegler, Emil E. boards, compositorZiegler, Emil E., flour and feed store, dealer in baled hay and straw, flour,grain and feed for all stock, manufacturer of picture frames in gilt,plush and walnut mouldings, regilding a specialty, residence oversameEvans, John, wholesale and retail dealer in flour, feed, retail groceryWeckel, Louis, wholesale fruitsRock Island Stained Glass Co., William A. Fischer, Prop.Edward D. Kohn & Co., wholesale liquors with Mayer Levi, Em-El FamilyLiquor Store*Weckel, Louis, grocersameBattles & Clevenstine Co., grocerysameBattles, Harry R., grocerBattles moved across the avenue 1707-09vacantRobinson & Miller Hardware CompanyRobinson Hardware*Robinson HardwaresameOld Hat AntiquesNote: asterisk signifies property owner17
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OCCUPANTS OF 1706 1/2 and 1706 1/31892/9318951897/18981899/19001901/021909191119161919192619271929193519451955Giles, Wilton A., bookkeeperKing Solomon Lodge (col) [as listed in directory]King Solomon Lodge (col) 'Tri-City BandWillhite, Noda (Catherine), teamster with Dart's SonsKinsel, Mrs. Ida L.Heverling Peter J. (Ollie), barber at 423 - 17th St.Ronneberg, Dr. Wesley G.Wilson, Mrs. JaneBain, George T.Beck, Mrs. LoisJohnson, Martin LGordon, Louis (Elizabeth S), furnished roomssameThies, Mrs. MinnieTaylor, Mrs. Naomi E. (George F.), furnished roomsSavoy HotelAnnetta Hotel18
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JAMES B. ELLISJames B. Ellis was bora in England, and stopped in Maine before coming to Rock Island on 12May 1848 (one year before the city was incorporated). The city directories of 1856 and 1857 listhim as a mason and living at Orleans south side third building east of Eagle (Orleans now ThirdAvenue and Eagle now Seventeenth Street). Among his works were the Sears' flour mills inMilan and the Harper House foundations. The 1876 directory gives his occupation as contractorand residence at 6 East Orleans. In 1876 DeWitt D., a son, also boards at that address. The1877 city directory lists James Ellis as living on Third Avenue between Seventeenth andEighteenth Streets. James Ellis rather drastically changed his vocation by the 1878/81 directoryissue. He became a coal merchant handling the product from his brother Richard B. Ellis's mines.Richard B. Ellis came to this vicinity 1 March 1851. For several years he was a stone dealer andbuilder. In 1854 he moved to Cable and began a fruit raising business with some 3000 fruit treesincluding apples, pears, peaches and plums.The coal fields contributed to the success and prominence of the community for many years.When the Cables built the Coal Valley Mining Company's railroad and the Rock Island andMercer County railroad were completed, mining was developed to its full capacity. Thefields/banks of Richard B. Ellis, located at Cable Station on the railroad, had been worked startingin 1865. The mine was over fifty acres underlaid with a rich solid coal deposit. It was reported theveins average in thickness was four feet. By 1882, there were fifty to sixty-five hands and theyhad the capacity for mining one hundred tons of coal per day.James Ellis was manager of the firm's principal office in Rock Island located at the corner of FirstAvenue and Fifteenth Street. The 1885/88 directory gives James B. as residing at 1706 ThirdAvenue and his firm as Park & Ellis, Coal Dealers, First Avenue at Fifteenth Street.Going back to the 1878/81 issue, SB. and DeWitt D. Ellis are listed as "retail dealers in flour andfeed, baled hay and straw of the best quality".The residence of the Ellis family was 1706 until the 1888/91 issue directory. Then it is given as1028 Fourth Avenue. Sarah B. Ellis is listed as a widow living with DeWitt D. Ellis on MilanRoad in the 1891/92 city directory.19
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•Unsm—rf. I. — ? r,- ? - ? ? ? ?? ?268 Holland's Rock Island City Directory.Best facilities for supplying large or smallorders of this excellent Coal on short notice.JAS. B. ELLIS, Manager,Cor. First Ave. and ißtk St.,ROCK ISLAND,ILLINOIS.c20
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iolland's Rock Island City DirectoryJ. B. ELLIS,WHOLESALE AND RETAIL DEALER INercer County Coal.OF THIS EXCELLENT CO AliOl*" SHORT NOTICE.Cof. $tiß Sve. kqd loth 0tROCK ISLAND, ILLS
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ROBINSON & MILLER HARDWARE COMPANYWalter A. Robinson and Charles C. Miller had a formal opening of the Robinson & MillerHardware Company, 1706 Third Avenue, on Saturday, 3 September 1927.Mr. Robinson and Mr. Miller had been connected with the Rock Island Hardware Company,1802-1804 Second Avenue, Mr. Robinson for 17 years and Mr. Miller for 8 years. Prior to thehardware business, Charles Miller was the owner of Owatonna Flour and Feed Company on ThirdAvenue for 12 years.The partners spent considerable time and effort remodeling and redecorating the premises, whichpreviously had been a grocery store. Both new and used equipment were used inside the store.Most of the walnut shelving was purchased from the M & K Company's shoe department(Mosenfelder & Kohn Co., proprietors) "Tip to Toe Outfitters for all Mankind", 1723-1727Second Avenue, when the company retired from business. The Mill Store, 300-302 FourthAvenue, supplied other used equipment such as three display cases with egg and dart mouldingunder the glass tops, a fine brass cash register with its own two-sided drawered table, longcounters refitted with nail bins and a roll paper holder and cutter. They had been dealers ingroceries, dry goods, clothing, hardware and shoes, first appearing in the city directory of1885/1888.Messrs. Robinson and Miller used innovative displays for the merchandise. One was havingdoored cabinets with the stock in the cabinet and samples of the items displayed on the door.Tools were also done in this manner. Open table top displays were used for promoting the generallines of the company's merchandise.A sampling of the store's inventory consisted of building supplies, nationally advertised paints,varnishes, garden needs, oils, painter's supplies, household utensils, mortar hods, washboards,chimney lamps, bulk nails priced by weight, toys, wagons, wash boards, clothes dashers, sleds,and galvanized steel contraptions for hanging outside on a window to keep food cold in the wintertime. Many of the older homes in Rock Island have hardware furnished by the company due totheir work with the area's architects.During the 1930's the business grew enough so that Walter Robinson's father, John A., gave uphis job at the Velie automobile factory to drive the daily delivery truck for the hardware store.The store became Robinson Hardware in 1954. Walter Robinson died 3 November 1975.Walter's son /William "Bill" Robinson, began working in the store in 1936 and continued until itclosed in June 1987 except for a five year Army tour of duty during World War II.22
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ARCHITECTUREEXTERIORThe things known about the first structure on Lot 2, Block 11, are that it was built as a residencefor James B. Ellis circa 1856 and that it had a herringbone brick basement which still exists todayThe current structure, circa 1875, began as a two-part commercial block, an organizational stylewhich was prevalent from the 1850's to the 1950's. The description is usually confined tostructures of two to four storeys and characterized by a horizontal division of two zonesdetermined by the interior's use. The upper zone is more private in nature. The upper zone of thisstructure has contained four typical uses: a residence, offices, meeting hall and hotel rooms. Thestreet level zone is public in nature such as a hotel lobby, an office or a retail store. 1706 ThirdAvenue has always been a retail store.Victorian versions of the two-part block were most popular in the 1850's through the 1880's.They are usually more ornate than their predecessors, the shop-house tracked to the earlyRomans. The shop-house combination was standard during the late Middle Ages in Europe andexamples could probably be found in the American colonies by the late 17th and early 18thcenturies. The shop-house form of commercial architecture was abandoned gradually because ofincreasing demands for trade as well as for professional services and because of the relatedincrease of land values.The subject property began with the simplified Italianate (1840-1885) feature oftall narrowsegmentally arched windows with two courses of brick. What other features there may have beencannot currently be determined.Dating the narrow east two storey addition has been an unmet challenge. It does not show on the1906 Sanborn Map, however, it is present in a photograph of the block dated circa 1930's.Whenever the addition was done, the facade was given a face lift which removed the narrowwindows that are depicted as three on the third floor and four on the second floor on the "bird'seye view" map of 1887/1888/1889. Several feet under the parapet there is an uncomplicatedlimestone cornice with brackets. Between the top of the third storey windows and the bottom ofthe parapet, there is an inset where the brick courses are laid diagonally. The new windows arepaired with three lights over three lights over one light and ranked two over two. Between thesecond storey windows and the ground floor windows, three brick diamonds are evenly spacedacross the facade. The single window on the east section (stairway addition) repeats those on themain building.The first storey windows have copper mullions and imitate with prism glass transoms the threelights over one light of the upper floors.23
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EXTERIOR (ContTypical storefronts of the 18th and early 19th centuries used small panes of glass set in woodmuntins for their windows because of the technology and expense of making crown glass, theglass of the day. Since the merchant usually had his shop on the first floor and hisresidence above, the stores were residential in appearance.In the 19th century, cylinder glass became popular and the industrial revolution caused the citystore to become a retail shop for the goods produced in the factories. By the mid-1800's, panesof glass used in storefronts increased in size and became two over two lights or three over threeon either side of the entrance.During the decade of 1870, the setting of the display windows towards the recessed entrancebecame popular and continued beyond the 1920's. Commercial front design had changed little bythe turn of the century. Two over two lights were being phased out in favor of single sheet glass.Contained in City of Rock Island, issued 1915 by the Business Men's Association of Rock Island,are photographs of storefronts identically glassed as 1706 Third Avenue. These buildings havemulti-glass transoms above a large single light window. This structure has three transoms overone. None of the buildings used for comparison are still standing.A reasonably accurate assumption is that the first floor windows on the storefront are original(though perhaps not the sheet glass) to the circa 1875 building which contribute greatly to theintegrity of this commercial structure.The building's Early 20th Century Commercial style facade has incorporated some influences ofthe Prairie architectural style (1900-1920). Between the second and third storey windows arectangular area has been defined by insetting about thirteen courses of brick under and over thewindows. Each of the inserts have a brick diamond pattern in their center. The rectangularwindows themselves have been emphasized by limestone squares used at the upper corners. Thecornice with its three brackets is a higher horizontal focus point and just before the parapet, onelarge center limestone square and a smaller one at each side have been turned for a diamondshape. To serve as delineation of the first and second floors, limestone is used at both corners ofthe main section of the building in yet a third pattern . A single stone has been used at the parapetof the addition.The use of decoratively laid brick and limestone contribute to the horizontal bands while the insetwindow areas add a strong vertical line enforced by the limestone pattern at the top of thestorefront on the west and east sides.Sanborn maps of 1886, 1892, 1898 and 1906 show two exterior staircases. One is set back fromthe facade going up the east wall of the building leading to a second storey porch. The otherstaircase is also on the east wall, facing north to the southeast corner where it leads to a porch on24
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EXTERIOR (Cont )the west wall, second floor. This staircase is shown on the 1898 and 1906 maps as havingchanged direction to the north, probably to make way for an outbuilding shown on both of thesemaps but now gone. Both of these staircases and the porches they led to have been removed.On the east side of the building, there remains an Italianate window and a door which has beenmodified across the top to accept a fire escape door. Both are on the third storey level. At thesecond storey, there is a door with a wood lintel and there are no signs of its having been archedThe stairway addition, on the south side, has an arched window with a stone sill on the secondfloor. Underneath, on the first storey, there is an arched window or door that has been coveredwith a board.The south side retains the Italianate details oftall narrow arched windows and three rankedopenings of windows and doors. The windows have limestone sills and are two lights over twolights over two lights. Starting at the third storey level, the east window of the three windows hasbeen shortened. On the second storey, the east opening was originally a door but has beenbricked in to match the window above. The first floor openings are windows on the east and westwith a pair of doors in the center.There are no openings on the west side. But the building does have a light shaft on the west sideabout in the center between north and south. Three rooms on the second and third floors eachhave a window opening on to it. Also, towards the west side there is a skylight for the interiorstairwell.The owner of the property believes the concrete block structure was built in the late 1930's. Itspurpose was for the storage of items such as fertilizer, concrete, nails, fencing, rebar, fence postsand related things.The building at 1706 Third Avenue had a facade change to Early 20th Century Commercial styleafter 1906 and before 1927. These dates are verified by the Sanborn Insurance Map of 1906 and aphotograph (circa 1930's) of the building as Robinson & Miller Hardware Co. whichopened in 1927. It seems most likely that the face lift took place during the dates of 1899 and1916 when Louis Weckel owned the building and had a grocery store on the first floor. The factthat the Robinson & Miller Hardware Co. sign covers up some of the detailing on the building (ca1936 photo) points to the renovation occurring before 1927. However, this supposition cannotbe verified. Using the date of 1927, the current facade is 69 years old and the storefront mucholder, circa 1875.25
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EXTERIOR (Cont )Many commercial structures still standing along 16th, 17th, 18th and 19th Streets between Firstand Fourth Avenues have been radically changed over the years with great loss of integrity. Someof these buildings in downtown have retained original features on the upper storeys while thestorefronts have been ruined with "bring-it-up-to-date" stuff.The Early 20th Century Commercial style with Prairie influences facade remodeling of 1706 ThirdAvenue is singular in Rock Island. One of the reasons this structure is of importance todowntown Rock Island is because other than THE Rock Island Bank- remodeled, it is the onlybuilding left on either side of the block that has retained it wholeness.26
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ARCHITECTUREINTERIORStarting at the top, the second and third floors have basically the same floor plan There are tworooms across the north and south ends. The east wall of both floors is a corridor Offthiscorridor on the second floor is the staircase to the avenue entrance. The south facing two roomson each floor are a bathroom on the east which contains two sections - one for the water closetand basin, the other for a claw footed bath tub. The kitchen is on the west and has a capped offlighting fixture gas line. rThe present room arrangement on the upper floors is not one of living quarters for a family Mostdefinitely it has been changed for a hotel - room after room down a long corridor.The staircase is Italianate with a simple walnut newel post and balusters which appear to be handlathed. They are not identical in their turned pattern. There are two very similar shapes which arerandomly intermingled on the treads. The staircase seems to be the only original woodwork, circa1875, remaining on the upper floors.Doors along the hallway except for under the stairs, have large transoms and are paneled two longvertically over one horizontal over two short vertically on the bottom. The wood used is pinewhich has a minimum of trim.Two sets of stairs, one in front for entering the foyer, parlors, etc. of the residence and the rearstairs for household deliveries to the kitchen and for possible hired domestics were appropriate atthe time the three storey structure was built. The rear (exterior) stairs have been removed.Considering some of the occupants of 1706 1/2, the Tri City Band and the King Solomon Lodge,for example, the current room arrangement would not have been feasible. Over the years, muchremodeling has been done on the upper two floors.In order to go to or from the first floor, it is necessary to use the east staircase addition.Upon entering the retail zone of the approximately 24 feet by 100 feet building, it is difficult todetermine where to look first, even excluding the merchandise.Original features of the circa 1875 building are the ornately patterned tin 15 foot ceiling andcrown moulding, the ladders and their ceiling tracks on the east, west and south sides of theceiling, the hand operated elevator built by Moline Elevator (No. 1780) which goes to thebasement at the southeast part of the room, the radiators and likely the wallpaper. On the southside there is a pair of doors in the center with a window on each side. These openings are nolonger in use.35
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INTERIOR (Coni.)The walnut shelving along the east and west walls was recycled by Walter Robinson and hispartner, Charles Miller, in 1927 from the shoe department of M & K Company when they openedthe hardware store. Three of the free-standing display cases came from the Mill Store(1885/1888-1928) along with several long counters which underneath were converted to nail binsThe cash register and its double facing stand also came from the Mill Store.The original pine floors have had almost continuous use since the day they were laid from peoplebuying flour, hay, straw, feed, stained glass, wholesale fruits, picture mouldings, liquor, groceries,hardware and most recently antiques.36
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E evator - hand operatedElevator mechanismBasement herringbone brickfloor40
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BIBLIOGRAPHYBlumenson, John J. -G. Identifying American Architecture. New York: W. W. Norton &Company.City of Rock Island. Rock Island: Business Men's Association of Rock Island, 1915Eisner, Bj, ed. Rock Island: Yesterday, Today & Tomorrow. Rock Island: Rock Island HistoryBook Committee, 1988.Fire Insurance Maps for Rock Island. Illinois New York: Sanborn Map Company, 1886, 1892,1898, 1906.Longstreth, Richard. The Buildings of Main Street Washington DC: The Preservation Press,1987.Maddex, Diane, ed. All About Old Buildings: The Whole Preservation Catalog. Washington DC:The Preservation Press, 1985McAlester, Virginia and Lee. A Field Guide to American Houses. New York: Alfred A. Knopf,1984.Phillips, Steven J. Old- House Dictionary. An Illustrated Guide to American Architecture 1600 -1940. Lakewood, Colorado: American Source Books, 1989.Rock Island City Directories. 1856-1955The Rock Island Argus"Will open new hardware store", 7 October 1927"Walter Robinson, hardware store owner, succumbs", 3 November 1975"Things haven't changed much in 52 years...", 7 October 1979,"Robinson's has had it all since 1927", 4 October 1984,"Robinson Hardware, ...going out of business", 10 April 1987,41