2018 Christmas Altar Crawl

Quincy Preserves invites you to attend a special extra tour this holiday season – a Christmas Altar Crawl – on Sunday, December 2, 2018, from 1:00 to 5:00 pm. This holiday tour will feature six of Quincy’s magnificent churches located in The District.

St. Boniface Catholic Church, 7^th & Maine
Vermont Street United Methodist Church, 818 Vermont
Salem Evangelical United Church of Christ, 435 S 9^th
Central Baptist Church, 321 N 7^th
St. John’s Anglican Church, 701 Hampshire
Luther Memorial Church, 1210 Jersey

In addition, the History Museum on the square will be open for tours of their incredible collection of stained-glass windows. Two talented stained-glass artists will be available throughout the afternoon to demonstrate techniques and answer questions.

Each sanctuary and chapel seem to present a grander vision of the architects’ goal of “reaching toward the heavens” and to immerse their congregations in holy light through the use of color in magnificent stained-glass windows. You will see two original Tiffany windows, Quincy’s only Carillon, a chapel where the windows represent the Lord’s Prayer, and a German Bible gifted from Kaiser Wilhelm in the 19th Century. Two other churches will present you with nearly wall-size panels of stained glass; one of Martin Luther at Wurtemburg and the other in a Neo-Gothic sanctuary. The only modern structure on the tour is of Benya design and creates the feeling of a very large expanse with a certain closeness to the Altar.

Tickets are $12 in advance and $15 the day of the tour. Tickets may be purchased in advance at Kirlin’s Hallmark in the Quincy Mall, Adam’s Florist at 522 S. 8th Street, Domestics Etc. at 119 N. 6th Street, and Emerald City Jewelers at 3236 Broadway or online. Tickets may also be purchased on the day of the tour at any location or via credit card at Central Baptist Church.

The mission of the Quincy Preserves, Inc., is to foster awareness of and to promote appreciation of the historic architecture of Quincy, Illinois, and Adams County and to encourage active membership involvement in the recognizing, protecting, maintaining, and displaying of these structures.

Your attendance at these events gives you the opportunity to see inside some of Quincy’s finest places and support the Preserves programs of plaque recognition, scholarships, and residential and commercial facade programs.

Tours — St. Boniface Catholic Church, 7th & Maine

2018 Fall Homes Tour

The 43rd annual Quincy Preserves “Operation Restoration” Fall Home Tour will take place on Saturday, October 20th, from 10 am to 4 pm.

Two of the must-see homes will soon be restored to their original majesty and grandeur. These mansions that are “under transformation” have been recently purchased by dedicated historical architecture enthusiasts. They are investing their money, time, and talents to restore these treasures to the condition they deserve. This is your chance to witness the beginning stages of these historic flips.

The remaining three “renovated and restored” homes are wonderful examples of preserved, architectural treasures. These homes are perfect illustrations of how you can lead a comfortable, modern life in a historical landmark.

Not only will you get see the historic gems up close, but you will also get the chance to view classic cars on location at two of the selected homes.

See the architecture that embodies Quincy’s charm. Come to the Quincy Preserves Fall Home Tour!

Tickets are $20 the day of the tour and may be purchased at any of the tour locations (credit cards sales will take place at the 605 North 14th location only). Advance ticket sales are now closed. Patrons who have already purchased their online advance tickets may pick them up Saturday beginning at 9:30 am at the 605 North 14th location.

Tour proceeds give Quincy Preserves the funds needed to support The District Façade Program, Scholarships, and other sister preservation organization needs.

2018 Spring Homes Tour & Garden Party

Quincy Preserves cordially invites you to our 2018 spring home tour and garden tour. This year’s spring home tour takes place on Saturday, May 5th, from 1-5 p.m. and will be a little different from years past. The tour features just one impressive home and garden at 1617 Hampshire Street.

Tour guides will share historical information and point out architectural details about the home. Decorative pots from various nurseries and florists will be on display and available for sale following the tour.

After touring the home, guests are invited to enjoy a backyard garden party featuring entertainment, light hors-d’oeuvres, refreshments, and a cash bar.

Tickets may be purchased in advance for $12 online or at one of the following locations. Tickets are available on the day of the tour for $15.

Purchase Tickets

Advance tickets are available at the following locations:
Arts Quincy – 300 Civic Center Plaza
Adam Florist – 522 S. 8th
Emerald City Jewelers – 3236 Broadway
History Museum – 332 Maine
Kirlin’s Hallmark – Mall

In Hannibal:
Dempsey and Dempsey – 716 Broadway
Java Jive – 211 N. Main Street

Proceeds from the tour provide funding for Quincy Preserves philanthropic activities including scholarships, internships, and its Façade renovation fund for Commercial, Residential, and Non-Profit organizations for historic structures in Quincy.

2017 Fall Homes Tour

On Saturday, October 14, 2017, from 10 AM to 4 PM, Quincy Preserves will present its annual “Behind Closed Doors” historic homes tour. This year’s tour will feature six homes, including a bungalow with neoclassical details, a modified Cape Cod, a vernacular two-thirds double pile house, the Colonel Edward Prince House, an American Foursquare Style house, and the Walter and Rose Heidbreder House.

Tickets for the fall tour may be purchased in advance for $12 at the following locations: in Quincy: Arts Quincy (300 Civic Center Plaza), Kirlin’s Hallmark (Quincy Mall), Emerald City Jewelers (3236 Broadway), Quincy History Museum (332 Maine), and Adam Florist (522 S 8th) and in Hannibal: Dempsey and Dempsey (716 Broadway) and Java Jive (211 N Main). Tickets are available at each home the day of the tour for $15 each (credit cards accepted at 2332 York only).

319 Spruce Street: This bungalow with neoclassical details was built for R.M. Walter and Lillian Heidbreder in 1908. Its construction used “Quincy Dimension (or Quincy bed) Stone, known around the country and valued for its special roughness and its ability to be cut into irregular shapes. Few stone cutters today can hand drill the rock from its base and cut it freestyle. Thus, this house is irreplaceable.

432 North 20th Street: This two story variation of a Cape Code house is much later than the other on the Tour. The interior, however, is filled with primitive antiques and includes a reconstructed
log cabin as the breakfast room.

2531 Prentiss Avenue: Benjamin and Electa moved to the Quincy area in 1835, leaving behind their Connecticut jobs in the clock making business. Benjamin was a machinist who developed advanced clockwork mechanisms. Electa added ornamental painting to clock dials. At one time, Benjamin worked for Seth Thomas Clock Company.

1680 Maine Street: The Colonel Prince house is a rarity in construction, designed in one style, rebuilt in another, reconfigured at one time and restored in another. Harvey Chatten, the architect, designed the original Queen Anne style house and is thought also to be the designer of the Tudor Revival seen today.

2160 Maine Street: The Thomas and Anna Johnson House was built circa 1913 in the American Foursquare Style, popular from the mid-1890s to the late 1930s. This style incorporates elements of the Prairie Style.

2332 York Street: The Walter and Rose Heidbreder House was designed by George Behrensmeyer, a noted Quincy architect, who was greatly influenced by Frank Lloyd Wright’s habit of designing a house close to the ground to make it appear as part of its surroundings. This design typified much of Behrensmeyer’s work in many ways.

Online ticket sales are now closed. You may purchase tickets at any of the tour locations for $15.

For more information, contact Quincy Preserves at [email protected].

2018 Behind the Garden Gate Tour

Quincy Preserves “Behind the Garden Gate” Garden Tour – Saturday, June 9

The beauty of Quincy is blooming at every corner and your Quincy Preserves is ready to showcase 5 fascinating gardens during the annual “Behind the Garden Gate” tour. Saturday, June 9 is the day, rain or shine, to view gardens of all varieties! Whimsical, freeform, formal, koi ponds, waterfalls and Williamsburg inspired gardens will delight you. A very special opportunity will be the Four Winds Farm that features flowers, organic veggie, and herb gardening – this will be educational AND a beautiful experience so allow a bit more time at this location.

The addresses of this year’s gardens are:

413 Kentucky Road West
2421 Kentucky
2105 Curved Creek
1900 SE Wilmar Dr
3729 North 36th – Four Winds Farm

Tickets are $12 the day of the tour and may be purchased at any of the tour locations. $10 advance tickets may be purchased online and at select businesses beginning May 9th. Patrons may claim online advance ticket purchases and credit card sales at the Four Winds Farm location.

Advance tickets are available at the following Quincy locations:
Adam Florist – 522 S. 8th
Emerald City Jewelers – 3236 Broadway
Kirlin’s Hallmark – Quincy Mall

In Hannibal:
Java Jive – 211 N. Main Street

Added attractions are “ASK THE PRO” your gardening questions, expertly designed flower pot arrangements by Creative Gardens (Carol Rakers) for purchase, and tasty pastries and beverages for your enjoyment and purchase.

Tour proceeds provide Quincy Preserves the funds needed to support our Façade Programs, Scholarships, and other sister preservation organization needs.

2017 Spring Homes Tour

On Sunday, May 7, 2017, from 1PM to 5PM, Quincy Preserves will present its annual Spring Architectural Tour. As with the Fall Home Tour in 2016, Quincy Preserves is continuing its partnership with the Historical Society of Quincy and Adams County to bring history to life with an extended tour of the John Wood Mansion. The architecture of the Spring Tour will span the time frame from the inception of Quincy’s history at the John Wood Mansion to the mid-century modernistic John Benya homes; along with all the different eras in between. Not only will residential architecture be on display, but the old Emerson School (now apartments) will be opened to tour participants. The goal of the tour is to put Quincy’s rich architectural history on display and to show how it has developed through the ages.

Advance tickets are $12 and may be purchased online by clicking here. Tickets are available on the day of the tour for $15. You may also buy tickets in advance at Kirlin’s Hallmark, 534 Maine and Quincy Mall; Emerald City Jewelers, 3236 Broadway; Adam Florist, 522 South 8^th; Quincy Society of Fine Arts, 300 Civic Center Plaza; and the History Museum, 332 Maine St. in Quincy. In Hannibal tickets will be available at Dempsey and Dempsey, 716 Broadway.

Debit cards will be accepted at the John Wood Mansion at 12th and State on the day of the tour. Online advance tickets may also be picked up at the John Wood Mansion. Proceeds from the tour benefit Quincy Preserves Scholarship Program and the Façade Program of Quincy Preserves.