2016 Fall Homes Tour

On Saturday, October 15, 2016, from 10AM to 4PM, Quincy Preserves will present its annual “Behind Closed Doors” historic homes tour. This year will feature many homes, including a few in the so-called “Dick’s Brewery” neighborhood. Guests will be entertained by strolling musicians in the Park Place neighborhood while docents will narrate some of the history of the area. This year, Quincy Preserves is proud to be partnered with the Historical Society of Quincy and Adams County to make this possible. Other homes feature unique styles & eras of architecture.

Tickets for the fall tour may be purchased the day of the tour at any of the homes for $15. Advance tickets sales are now closed.

Luther Memorial Church (12th & Jersey): Built in 1894 by architect Harvey Chatten, this Victorian Gothic Revival Church is known for its magnificent stained glass windows and stunning stonework. The roots of this church date back to 1891 and was the first English speaking Lutheran Church in Quincy – others were German-speaking only.

1269 Park Place: Previously known as the “Pink Lady”, the home was built in 1890 and has weathered many changes. Through its 125-year history, various owners altered its original beauty and craftsmanship. Now, with the love, time and money invested by recent owners, she is beginning to emerge again as an architectural treasure. Stunning stained glass windows, beaded banisters with hand spun spindles and hand carved accents are just a few of her remarkable items of note in her interior.

1224 Park Place: With six bedrooms, a gentleman’s parlor and room after room of detailed architectural finery, including a stained glass window above the dining room mantle, it is easy to see why the August and Anna Dorkenwald house was at one time the most expensive house on the block. The exterior offers special features such as the Greek Revival columns, massive lathe-turned balustrade, brick detailing around windows, decorative mullions on the upper story windows and zippered corners on the angular bay.

1254 Park Place: George Behrensmeyer designed this magnificent Craftsman/Prairie, tile-roofed home for the Frank Dick family, of Quincy’s Dick’s Brewery. The massive home is graced by battered piers at the entry, copper decorative gutters and dressed limestone lintels. Only three families have lived in this home and it still sports its hand painted walls and original light fixtures and well-preserved oak and birch trim and unique stained glass windows.

1253 Park Place: John Batchey put his mark on all aspects of this elegant High Queen Anne home built in 1894 for John and Emelie Meyer. Inside and out, every surface offers the special touch of an architect designed home. The entry area offers one-of-a-kind staircase and a lavish spandrel leading to the parlor. Meyer was with Halbrich Schroeder Dry Goods when he built this brick home. In 1910 he started his own highly successful store .

1269 Kentucky: This 1891 High Queen Ann style home reflects the wealth of the owner of the Gunther Hardware Company, Robert Gunther. Stained glass, carved oak doors, oak, maple, walnut, cherry and butternut woods throughout and a grand display of special door and window hardware

2409 Country Club Drive South: This jewel of a mid-century modern home was built in 1947 by Quincy’s architect John Benya. The original cost of $35,000 included innovative features of glass support walls, heated cork, quarry tile floors and partition-less office space. The desire to bring the “outdoors in” is reflected in multiple sites for growing plants out of the floor. The patio and yard house stone that was salvaged from the tornado ravished St. Peters Church from the 1940’s.

1431 Spring: An 1879 cottage that “hugs you from the moment you step inside”. Built as the owners’ Victorian suburban haven, there are porches, bays, gables adorned with decorative vergeboards, ornamental ironwork from roof deck to ridges and so much more. And the rear building to the east that was a shoe factory…..it’s a real tour surprise!

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

2016 Behind the Garden Gate Tour

Quincy Preserves “Behind the Garden Gate” Garden Tour – Saturday, June 25

You are invited to join Quincy Preserves “Behind the Garden Gate” on Saturday, June 25 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Attendees will enjoy the little pieces of heaven found in so many residential yards in Quincy. The 2016 tour is being held in conjunction with the Midsummer Arts Faire – www.artsfaire.org. Gourmet pastries and refreshments will be available in the garden at 1680 Maine during the tour.

Advance ticket sales are now closed. Tickets are $12 the day of the tour and may be purchased at any of the garden locations.

The addresses of the gardens are 205 South 16th, 307 South 16th, 327 South 16th, 1801 Maine, 1680 Maine and 1440 Kentucky. This is an ideal self-guided walking tour as the gardens are within a 4 square block area. Proceeds from the tour will benefit the Quincy Preserves Scholarship Fund and Façade Program.

Most of the gardens are located in the backyards and are not visible to the public which creates a “secret garden” tour experience. This up close and personal tour features a wide variety of plants.

This year’s tour will feature exquisite pastries and beverages for sale at 1680 Maine Street, created by Sweet Dreams Bakery’s Cordon Blue School trained pastry chef. Another new feature will be ‘Ask the Pro” featuring University of Illinois Extension personnel at 1440 Kentucky, Carol Rakers of Creative Garden Designs at 1680 Maine, and Brent Bergman of Bergman Landscape Architecture at 307 South 16th.

Many gardens have water elements that provide the soothing noise that also gives a cooling effect on a summer afternoon. Music and wind chimes are featured in other gardens. A few of the gardens are professionally planned and maintained while others are the owner’s creations. Some homes have beautiful decks, others have patios that provide a tranquil outdoor space during the spring, summer and fall. Patio furniture, lighting and decorations give these outdoor living areas an inviting and peaceful appeal perfect for entertaining or just relaxing on a beautiful day.

Make plans to visit these beautiful treasures of Quincy! Those purchasing tickets with a credit/debit card will need to begin the tour at 1680 Maine. For additional information please contact Deb Davis at 217-223-3306.

2016 Spring Homes Tour

The 2016 Dogwood weekend culminates with Quincy Preserves Spring Tour on May 1 from 1:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. Homes and buildings on the tour are located at 2040 Prairie Avenue , 2024 Prairie Avenue, 2315 York, 230 S. 24^th, Dick’s Brewery Stock House at 925 York and Washington Theater at 425 Hampshire. Advance tickets are $12 and on the day of the tour they are $15. Proceeds from the tour benefit the Quincy Preserves Scholarship Program and the Façade Program of Quincy Preserves.

Those attending the tour can visit the homes/buildings in any order. Sometimes there is a line to visit one home and there is another in the same vicinity without a line. Each home offers a glimpse into the past while enjoying the beauty of Quincy in the spring.

The house at 2024 Prairie Avenue was constructed by Ida Sanftleben in 1914 for her mother, Mrs. John Sanftleben and her sisters. Ida’s father, John, died in 1909, but is well-known today for his photos of early Quincy. The house is a Four-Square with Prairie Style features. Ida was an independent business woman and owned real estate in Quincy and a hair-dressing and wig business at 608 Maine Street.

The house at 230 S. 24th was constructed in 1913 for Ray and Kate Oakley, owners of the Quincy Herald-Whig, and the house remained in the Oakley family until 1993. The house is Prairie Style house with Arts and Crafts details such as geometric leaded glass windows and built-in window seats and bookshelves. The architecture is attributed to Martin Geise.

2040 Prairie Avenue is the honeymoon cottage built for Newcomb Stillwell and his new bride Lillian in 1921. Stillwell was the grandson of Richard F. Newcomb, builder of the Newcomb-Stillwell Mansion, also known as the Quincy Museum at 1600 Maine St. It is a Dutch Colonial on the exterior and has Craftsmen style interior. The spacious family room at the rear of the home was added on by previous owners.

The house at 2315 York was constructed for Frank and Dr. Hildegard Germann Sinnock in 1935. Dr. Sinnock practiced medicine with her mother, Dr. Melinda Knapheide Germann and brother Dr. Aldo German. Mr. Sinnock was a civil engineer. The home is of the Georgian Revival style and has been tastefully modified and expanded over the years.

Dick Brothers Brewery’s Stock House at 925 York was built in the 1870s. Tour goers will start at the original Stock House building moving through the York Street Tunnel and exit out the Bottling House at 910 York. Dick Brothers Brewery was one of 12 breweries in the City of Quincy during the mid to late 1800s. Dick Brothers Brewery was started in 1857 by John, Jacob and Matthew Dick and remained in business until 1951.

Washington Theater at 425 Hampshire opened June 16, 1924, at a cost of $425,000, which was $200,000 over the original projected cost. The Mediterranean Revival movie palace was a creation of Chicago architect, E. P. Rupert. Theaters of the 1920’s were important venues and featured vaudeville acts and musical performances, along with movies of the day.

Advance tickets may be purchased online by [online ticket sales closed]. They are also available after April 15 at Kirlin’s Hallmark, 534 Maine and Quincy Mall, Emerald City Jewelers, 3236 Broadway, Adam Florist, 522 South 8th, Sullivan’s Antiques, 9th and Hampshire, 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. Credit cards will be accepted at 230 S. 24th on the day of the tour. Advance tickets purchased online may be picked up at the 230 S. 24th location the day of the tour.

For questions or additional information call tour chairperson, Gina Druffel at 217.653.0649.

2015 Fall Homes Tour

On Saturday, October 17, 2015 from 10 am to 4 pm, Quincy Preserves will present its annual “Behind Closed Doors” historic homes tour. This year will feature five homes that have survived many decades of Quincy storms, including July 13th’s horrific winds. The varied architectural styles range from Greek Revival, Shingle/Romanesque, Italianate and Prairie Style.

Tickets for the fall tour can be purchased the day of the tour at any of the homes for $15. Online advance tickets sales are now closed. Advance tickets can also be purchased at either Kirlin’s location, Adams Florist, Emerald City Jewelers, the office of the Quincy Society of Fine Arts, and also in Hannibal at the law office of Dempsey, Dempsey & Moellring.

At 415 Jersey, one will view the oldest two-story brick house in Quincy, the 1835 Dr. Richard Eells’ home. It has the distinction of being one of the few documented connections to the Underground Railroad in Illinois. The lovingly restored Federal/Greek Revival antebellum structure features period furnishings and one can learn the story of Charlie the runaway slave who Dr. Eells was taking by buggy to the Mission Institute when they were caught.

Seventeen blocks away and nine decades later, Quincy architect, George Behrensmeyer built a Prairie Style home for Ione Ellis and Maurice Vasen in 1920. Located at 2107 Jersey, one will see classic quarter sawn oak woodwork, and a recently renovated kitchen.

At 228 S. 18th Street, tour-goers will enjoy the 1889 (or 1892?) Romanesque/Shingle style home built by architect Harvey Chatten for John Willis and Helen Gardner. This 7000 square foot mansion has many curved, sweeping walls and Tiffany windows.

The Monckton Mansion at 1419 Locust is also featured with its stories of ghosts and Al Capone connections. Built in 1865 by Charles Savage, the manager of the Quincy-Toledo Railroad, it still sits on 4.25 acres. Bought by Leo & Mildred Monckton in the 1930’s, they resided there for 45 years and rumors abounded of their involvement with Prohibition, illegal gambling and the mafia. The dining room features a Venetian glass chandelier.

The “German Villlage” at 1839 North 8^th will also be included. The hall has been lovingly restored and is used for a variety of functions including reunions, meetings, showers, etc.

For additional information, please contact co-chair person Barb McClain at 228-7936.

2015 Behind the Garden Gate Tour

The beauty of Quincy in early summer will be easily seen on Quincy Preserves “Behind the Garden Gate” tour taking place Saturday, June 27 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. The tour is being held in conjunction with the MidSummer Arts Faire. Refreshments will be available in one of the gardens during the tour.

Tickets are $10 and will be for sale Friday, June 26 at the Midsummer Arts Faire information tent in Washington Park, by clicking on the link below and at each of the homes the day of the tour. Those addresses are: 1501 Kentucky, 1505 Kentucky, 1461 Maine, 224 South 24^th Street, 230 S. 24^th Street and 2000 Jersey. Proceeds from the tour will benefit the Quincy Preserves Scholarship Fund along with the Façade Program.

2015 Spring Homes Tour

Quincy Preserves presented the 2015 Spring Homes Tour on Sunday, May 3rd, from 1 p.m. – 5 p.m.