PRESERVATION AND' CONSERVATION ASSOCIATIONVolume 17

Preservation Begins at Home

The 1997 Preservation Week theme,Preservation Begins at Home, celebrates therole of historic preservation in saving andenhancing the buildings where we live.

For many people, tours of restoredhomes offer a first introduction to the

very concept of historic preservation. Forothers, renovating or maintaining theirown older home-whether an apartmentbuilding or farm house, an urban row-house or a suburban bungalow-repre-sents the first step towards hands-on in-volvement in preservation. And for stillothers, the preservation of older residen-tial buildings, particularly in inner-dtyareas blighted by disinvestment and im-pacted by sprawl, is a remarkably effec-tive tool for providing affordable housingand bringing new life to historic areas.

PreseruationBeginsat Home is also a callto activism. Implicit in the theme is thenotion that our communities-the placeswhere we live and work-are extensions

of our homes and are worthy of our bestefforts to fight threats that can destroythem or diminish their livability. Everycommunity, whether its history ismeasured in centuries or decades, haslandmark buildings and neighborhoodsthat help to define its character. If we areto be successful in saving these special ,

places, we must be vigilant in identifyingthreats to their continued existence and

imaginative in developing strategies tokeep them alive. We must also take an ac~tive,'informed role in the discussions anddecisions that shape the future of the com-munities that we call home.

The real work of preservation happensat the grassroots level, our hometownsprovide the best setting for celebratingour accomplishments. The theme, Preser-vation Begins at Home, is an opportunity tohighlight preservation's role in enhancingthe appearance and livability of residen-tial areas in your own community and tolay the foundation for an even greaterrole in the future.

Richard Moe, President, National Trust

March-April, 1997

PreservationWeekMay 11-17,1997National Trust for Histone Preservation

Ricker House ReceivesPreservation Grant

The Landmarks Preservation Council ofIllinois has awarded PACA an En-

dangered BUIlding Grant of $2500 forrebuilding the two chimneys on the Rick-er House. This grant will be matched byPACA and used to repair severe struc-tural deficiencies in the chimneys. Thework needs to be finished for safetyreasons before the roof is reshingled andbefore other exterior work can be done.

Pankau Masonry is presently completingthe work and generously donated someof their labor; Art Zangerl and DavidGarner, Ricker House Committee mem-bers, further reduced project costs by tear-ing down the old chimneys and haulingup the new bricks. Hart and SChroederMechanical Contractors also generouslyfabricated the needed copper flashing.Once the chimneys are rebuilt, roofrepairs can proceed if funding can bearranged.

Number 2

Ater-Jaques House on "Most En-dangered" Historic Property List

At a state-wide press conference held inSpringfield at the State Capitol on March20, the Landmarks Preservation Councilof Illinois (LPG) announced the 1997"Ten Most Endangered" Historic Proper-ties. Unfortunately, due to its uncertain fu-ture, Urbana's Ater-Jaques House madethe list.

Every year, LPG selects the ten mostendangered historic properties in Illinois,focusing attention on sites threatened dueto negligence, deterioration, lack of main-tenance, insufficient funds, inappropriatedevelopment or insensitive public policy.Each of the sites is architecturally, histori-cally or archaeologically significant, eachenjoys community or statewide supportfor its protection, and there are optionsfor each to be preserved.

"When a historic property is lost, thedamage is permanent," according toLPCI President David Keene. "Althoughmany historic properties in Illinois are indanger, these are the ten we feel are,mostthreatened right now. We hope that by an-nouncing this 'top ten' list, preservationsolutions can be found for thesethreatened sites."

Besides the Ater-Jaques House, whichneeds to be removed to make way for theUrbana Free Library's westward expan-sion, the following nine properties are onthe endangered list.

.Cahokia Archaeological site,Madison County. Cahokia NationalHistoric Landmark encompasses mostof the known prehistoric urban area ofa past civilization flourishing from BOO-1500 A.D. The landmark boundarycontains more than 4,000 acres, includ-ing more than 100 dramatic moundconstructions. While 2,200 acres of thelandmark are currently owned by thestate, a great dea1 is under privateownership and threatened withdevelopment pressures due to thearea's proximity to St. Louis.

. Ferguson Mansion, Springfield. A dis-tinctive Queen Anne style residencewith hints of Richardsonian Roman-

esque elements, the house was built in1880 for Benjamin H. Ferguson, a CivilWar battle officer, and his wife AliceEdwards, whose family had ties toAbraham Lincoln. The Ferguson Man-sion was one of Springfield's fewmasonry Queen Anne residences. Un-fortunately, the Springfield Art As-sociation did not realize its sig-nificance, and recently demolished thehouse for a parking lot.. Glasner Residence, Glencoe.Designed by Frank Lloyd Wright, thishouse was built in 1905 with most

views overlooking an adjacent ravine.It is a prime example of the PrairieStyle of architecture and has 54 price-less original art glass windows. Sincethe residence is situated on an acre ofland in the highly sought after area ofEast Glencoe, it is susceptible todemolition for the land or losing itsdefining character through insensitivesubdivision.

. Hettler House, Chicago. Built in 1880for a successful Chicago lumbennan,this house is a fine example of the .Queen Anne style of architecture.Designed by Joseph ,Lyman Silsbee,the Hettler House is part of a rare ex-ample of lakefront single family homehistoric district. This district still main-tains its 19th century residential char-acter. The Hettler House is presentlyowned by the Chicago Day School,which wants to demolish it.. Loop Elevated Train Stations: State &Lake, Randolph & Wabash, Madison& Wabash, LaseUe & Van Buren,Chicago. Part of the Union LoopElevatedStructure, these four stationsincorporate classical ornamentation as-sociated with late 19th centuryfunctionalism. Built between 1895 and1897, the Union Loop is the lastremaining elevated downtown rail-road in the United States. The four

loop stations in question are at theheart of the Loop's retail district, anarea most frequented by visitors. TheChicago Transit Authority has drasti-cally altered the original stations andhas no plans for their restoration orpreservation..Marseilles Hydro Plant, Marseilles.An electric generatIng plant built be-tween 1906 and 1911, the MarseillesHydro Plant was designed in the Oas-sical Revival style. The buildingremains intact and contains electric

generating equipment and turbines. A

stately building with an enormousterra cotta roof, the plant played an in-tegral part in the history of the lllinoisand Michigan Canal National Herit-age Corridor. It was retired in 1988and has since been idle. Maintenancehas been non-existent and, consequent-ly, the elements and vandalism havetaken their toll. Dlinois Power Com-

pany, the owner, unsuccessfully triedto turn the plant over toa museum.. National Guard Annory, Rock Island.Designed in the mid-1930s by local ar-chitect Benjamin A. Horn, the 170 by200 foot National Guard Annory wasbuilt in the Art Deco style and featureslarge, set-back windows and a barrel-vaulted roof. Located along the Missis-sippi River and adjacent to a riverboatcasino, the Armory building's threat isdemolition due to the demand for ad-

ditional parking for the Jumers Casino.. Old Post Office, Chicago. The OldPost Office was designed by thenotable architectural firm of Graham,Anderson, Probst and White in 1921,with expansion taking place in 1932.At 2.5 million square feet, this build-ing is a mammoth example of classicArt Deco. Straddling major rail, sub-way and highway corridors, the OldPost Office dominates the southwest

area of the off-loop central businessdistrict. The U.S. Postal Service has va-

cated the building in lieu of a newstructure more conducive to modem

sorting technology. Despite thedecision to vacate, the Postal Serviceseems willing to consider alternativeuses and has hired a developer to per-fonn a feasibility study on this enor-mous historic structure.

. Washington School, River Forest.Washington School was designed in1929 by Dwight Perkins of the firmPerkins, Chatten and Hammond. Inter-estingly, the architect of the 1956 addi-tion, Lawrence Perkins of Perkins andWill, is the son of the original architect.The Washington School, operated andleased by the Alcuin MontessoriSchool since 1979, encompasses typi-cal Perkins design elements that caterto the n.eeds of children with windowsills, shelves and spaces are scaled to achild's perspective. The River ForestBoard of Education feels that the

"highest and best use" for the schooland its grounds is demolition and sub-division into five residential lots.

Annual Membership Meeting

The historic auditorium of the VirginiaTheater provided a splendid venue forPACA's 1997 Membership Meeting whichwas held March 9. After a short business

meeting in which 1996 preservation ac-tivities were reviewed, three memberswere elected to the Board of Directors to

serve through 1999:Kristin Solberg,Pamela Todd and Raymond Lytle. Cur-rently serving on the Board are PerryMorris (98), Richard Cahill (98), AnthonyBamert (98), Daniel Wurl (97), BruceCreamer (97), and Jeffrey Gordon (97).

PACA wishes to thank retiring two-term board member Susan Appel who,among other duties, served as Boardsecretary and vice-president, was an ac-tive member of the Orpheum Preserva-tion Committee, and was twice chair ofthe Heritage Award Committee. Retiringboard members Alice Novak and ArtZanger! both served two-"plus" termshaving stepped in to complete the termsof departing directors. Alice served astwo tenns each as vice-president andpresident of the board, and on twoHeritage Award Committees; Art wasboard secretary and is PACA's departingboard president, likewise serving twoyears in the position. Both Alice and Arthave represented PACA on locally ap-pointed governmental advisory bodiesand will continue to do so despite official-ly leaving the board table. The dedicationand expertise of these three board mem-bers will be missed.

The 1997 Heritage Awards were alsopresented at the meeting.

Commercial Heritage Award:Carolyn & Norman BaxleyRoger & Sharon KerlinCinema Cafe120 West Main, Urbana

Russ & Nick TaylorRe/Max Realty101 South Lincoln, Mahomet

Jeff Mellander with Jack Baker, Smith. & BurgettAssociates,C. Kwang Kim

Precision Graphics108 South Neil, Champaign

Adaptive Use Heritage Award:Carolyn & Norman BaxleyCatherine Cutter

Lindley House B & B312 West Green, Urbana

John Paul BuzardBuzard Pipe Organ CraftsmenWomen's TownOub112WestHill, Champaign

Residential Heritage Award:Eric Griffith & Pamalee BradySteve & Pat Setzler412 West lIIinois Street, Urbana

Pa tty BashGary, Janice & Kevin Shrock702 West Clark Street, Champaign

Habitat for Humanity210 West Maple, Champaign

Landmark Heritage Award:Mrs. Ruth YoungermanDr. William YoungermanLincoln Building44 Main Street, Champaign

Institutional Heritage Award:Sigma Chi House Corporation &Severns-Reid Associates

Kappa Kappa Chapter of Sigma Chi410 East John, Champaign

Landscape Heritage Award:City of ChampaignJeff GreenfieldDowntown Clock

Main & North Neil, Champaign

Neighborhood Heritage Award:Bert & Mary BarickmanSteve & Karen Miller

508 West Springfield, Champaign

Special Heritage Award:City of ChampaignHistoric Preservation Ordinance

Paul Behrends, rural MahometWindmill Restoration

Preservation Service Award:Art Zanger!Alice Edwards Novak

Susan AppelKent Snodgrass

Oomph! Award:Kappa Sigma212 East Daniel, Champaign

Ricker House Update

Since PACA purchased the Nathan C.Ricker House, 612 W. Green, Urbana, lastMay much work has been done, both be-hind the scenes and at the house itself. A

new organization, the Nathan C. RickerFoundation, has been established to pur-chase the house from PACA, develop-ment a re-use plan, and guide long-termrehabilitation in accordance with the

houses's new use. Six people have beenappointed to the new foundation's Board:David Gamer, Richard Cahill, WalterLewis, Stephen Kelley, Susan Presser, Ar-thur Kaha. Incorporation of the founda-tion is proceeding and not-fur-profitstatus will be sought soon there after. Amajor fund raising campaign targeting ar-chitecture and engineering graduateswith ties to Ricker and the University oflIIinois will then begin.

Meanwhile, PACA has been busystabilizing the house. A 20 cubic yarddumpster was filled with old furnitureand debris from the house, old appliancesrecycled, and modem acoustical drop ceil-ings removed along with a few modemalterations. Most importantly, however,work was begun on the badly deterior-ated front porch. The historic wood

columns and decorative trim were

removed and are being stripped of oldpaint, repaired and primed; the unstablebrick piers have been rebuilt on concretefootings; and old coal chutes under theporch have been removed. Yet to be doneare bricking up the coal chute openings,backfilling under the porch and aroundthe house to provide proper drainage,rebuilding the porch deck and steps,reinstalling the porch col~mns and trimand reroofing. Additionally, work hasbegun on the main roof with stabilizationof the dormer and rebuilding of the brickchimneys courtesy of an LPCI En-dangered Building Grant (see related ar-ticle). A temporary electrical service hasalso been installed.

PACA received a very important andtimely donation last fall of two largedouble-hung windows from the CaradcoCorporation that were installed on thenorth side of the attic replacing two verybadly deteriorated windows. A new cel-lar door frame, built by Perkins Construc-tion, will soon provide additional security.

All of the work thus far, except for themasonry work, has been done by volun-teers. PACA would like to thank Art

Zanger! and Greg Hargus fur taking thelead on stabilization plans (and doingmuch of the work themselves), the AlphaPhi Omega service fraternity, Architec-ture class 199, Architecture class 491(which completed a condition assessmentreport on the building), Gary Perkins,Susan Appel, Donna Martin, Rich Cahill,Reed Berger, and Lisa Zanger!.

As funding permits, PACA would liketo install a new roof on the house, restorethe cellar's at-grade entrance, and

Membership Application P.A.C.A.MEMBERSHIP CATEGORY: o NEW

o RENEWAL

o Adult. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .$15.00

o Student(1/2 timeor more). . . . . . . . . . . . . . .$10.00o SeniorCitizen. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $10.00o Family. .. . . .. .. .. .. . . .. . .. . .. .. .. .. .. ..$20.00

o Corporate .$75.00

NAME

ADDmONAL CONTRIBUTION

ADDRESS

Make checks payable to: PACA, Box 2555, Station A, Champaign, Illinois 61825

--- -..

remove the unhistoric and unsightlywide aluminum siding to reveal theoriginal clapboards and decorativeshingles. While the siding removal andsubsequent repair and painting of the ex-terior sheathing can be done by volun-teers, funding is needed to purchase newclapboards and shingles as a certain per-centage will require replacement. In addi-tion, the new roof requires professional in-stallation as the height and slope of theroof is beyond the call of volunteer labor!PACA is accepting donations for theseprojects; contributions can be sent to:Ricker House, c/o PACA, P.O Box 2555,Station A, Champaign, IL 61825.

New Officers Elected

Following the Annual Membership Meet-ing, the Board of Directors elected new of-ficers at the March Board meeting:

President: Jeffrey GordonVice-President: Bruce Creamer

Secretary: Anthony BamertTreasurer: Richard Cahill

Board meetings are held in the boardroom of the Orpheum Children's ScienceMuseum on the second Wednesday ofeach month. PACA members are invitedto attend; call PACA for the date and timeof the next meeting.

Remember to check your mar1ing label foryour membership renewal date. The date

shown indicates when you last renewed; mem-bership runs for one year from that date.

Salvage V.I.P.sBob SwisherBette Swisher

Gary PerkinsRich CahillCheri ChenowethGlen GerdemannAl FriederickPius Weibel

Matt Riggs

Salvage DonationsUniversity of nlinoisCity of ChampaignChampaign Unit 4 School DistrictJoseph WenzelDarrel FosteAleta HoltEli Levin

Special V.I.P.Kim WurlDavid Garner

Tony BamertDan Wurl

John Eby & Virginia Theater GroupWarren YorkChris Anderson

Perry Morris

Save the Date!

Kids Building FairSaturdayMay 17

11-4

parking lot in front of OrpheumTheatre

Volunteers Needed!

PACA NewsletterJeffrey Gordon, President

Bruce Creamer, Vice-President

Tony Bamert, SecretaryRich CahiU, Treasurer

Karen Lang Kummer, Exec. Director

328-PACA: Telephone & Answering Service

Printed on recycled paper

New & Renewing MembersMarya RyanLouise Connell

A.. Ralph SennMichael & Scottie Miller

Rebecca Henry & Michael MarkstahlerDan Sullivan

Dr. & Mrs. Victor WojnarKirstin Dohrer & Mark ReplogleMrs. Norman Barnett

Jane & Walter MyersMichael MurphyGary PerkinsMr. & Mrs. Charles J. LongacreHarold G. Scott

Rayond H. LytleJanine & Roger PrillamanEllen Garrett ColfaxCarol & Jaines DownsTim & Barbara Kinkead

Dr. Janet Whitson Macomber

Mr. & Mrs. Arthur ReplogleRisatti FamilyEllen Foran

Community Development Services,City of Urbana

Chris Anderson

Fred & Nancy CoombsLaird Thompson

Elizabeth RogersMichael SpecchioDavid GamerMr. Samuel Gove

Dr. Norah McClintock Grady

Virginia & Jack WaalerJoan & John SevernsDennis Coleman/Isotech LaboratoriesJoe Marriott

Kristina EngbergKristin SolbergJerry O'Bryan

NON-PROFIT

ORG.u.s. POSTAGE

PAIDCHAMPAIGN, IL

PERMIT NO. 133