The Street to the Fairgrounds

Has passing by an old house ever piqued your interest? Have you ever wondered who built it? Or even who lived there? Were they new immigrants with hopes and dreams of a better future for their families? Or were they descendants of the early families? How did they provide for their family? What churches did they attend? Were they members of fraternal or service organizations?How much did a lot cost? How was it sold? Follow a "lot" for 150 plus years from the original land patent issued by the Federal Government in the 1840's to a lot that a house now occupies. See how owners financed their "American Dream" from the simple handshake, to using third parties to back the loan, to more formal agreements with capitalists to the modern banking era.-Who was the dentist that went missing in California?-Where was the horse race track?-Which shoe company official's wife committed suicide?-Who was the star baseball pitcher for the Elgin High School team of 1913?-Who was the Mayflower descendant?-Whose husband was the circus aerialist?-Who was the "sand and gravel" man?-What roofing company started as a home based business?-Who built the first concrete block manufactory?-Who was the well-known plasterer?-Which is probably the oldest house on the street?-Who was the Civil War veteran?-Who made the limestone window ledges for many of the churches?-Who earned a patent for an improved ball bearing?-Who was the famous auctioneer that fell to his death from a train platform?-What famous abolitionist owned the Schoonhoven mansion?This work brings the two together to give an impression of a small piece of a larger urban area. Come explore a block of Elgin's east side!
show more