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The Elijah Iles
House was built about 1837 and is Springfield’s oldest
house. There is evidence that it was designed by the
same architect who designed the Old State Capitol. It
is one of Illinois’ earliest residences in the Greek
Revival style of architecture. Two of Springfield’s
most famous citizens, Abraham Lincoln and poet Nicholas
Vachel Lindsay, are known to have visited the house.
Lincoln spent time in the house as a guest of Robert
Irwin and he enjoyed many a card game in the front
parlor. Because of the house’s impressive architecture
and rich history, it was placed on the National Register
of Historic Places in 1978.
The house is a
classic example of early Greek Revival residential
architecture that flourished in early Springfield. The
1837 Old State Capitol is asserted to be one of the most
important American public examples of this style west of
the Alleghenies. Most Springfield residential examples
of the period have vanished, but the house remains as
the best example of very early Greek Revival residential
architecture in Springfield. The Greek Revival design
is exhibited in the house’s timber-frame construction
with a raised cottage form and its low roofing with
gable end pediments, banded trim, and full galley porch
supported by pillars with Doric capitals. The front
entryway is recessed, surrounded by pilasters, small
side and transom lights (windows) and a massive, two
panel, walnut door. The historic main floor of the
house has three of its four original fireplaces and
walnut mantles. The interior doors, window moldings and
central hall stair railing and most of the exterior
walnut clapboarding and woodwork are original.
The house first
stood on the southeast corner of Sixth and Cook streets
facing west. Its back yard sloped down to a nearby
creek, the Town Branch. The slope allowed for a
walk-out lower level that contained a kitchen, dining
room, servant quarters and storage space. In 1910, the
upper wood frame portion of the house was cut in half
and moved from that first site to 1825 South Fifth
Street. The lower brick level was left behind and
probably destroyed with the construction of the First
Christian Church on the site.
The Elijah House
Foundation, a not-for-profit volunteer organization, now
owns the house and with financial assistance from many
private citizens and groups and public grants has moved
and restored the house. Open for tours and public
rental for special events. Telephone number
217-492-5929. This house is listed on the National
Register of Historic Places. |
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