Holiday Trimmings

On November 29, we had a great day at the Iles House 

decorating for the winter holidays.  

Trimming the porch with greens: Linda Cunningham and Farrell Gay.

Making trim for the House: Dean Clough, Linda Denk, Linda Garvert, 

Betty Ann Poage, Jackie Stites, Elaine Kerhliker and Martha Clough.

Linda Cunningham, Jackie Stites and Linda Garvert 

welcome a special visitor to the House: an oil portrait of Elijah Iles, 

on loan from the Illinois Historic Preservation Agency.  

A close-up of the portrait. 

Thanks to Dave Barrigner locating it in storage and to 

Linda Garvert who pursued the paper work for a loan.

Pictures and captions: Dick Hart

Robert Irwin's 200th

Saturday, Nov 8, 2008 marked the 200th birthday of Robert Irwin, a former owner of Iles House. For a profile of Mr. Irwin, see the entry for April 6, 2008. Here Dick Hart, Linda Garvert, and Kathy Kincaid unveil the Irwin portrait, donated to Iles House by J. P. Morgan Chase, formerly Springfield Marine Bank.

A game of eucher, played by George Souther, Logan McMinn, Skip Turnbull, and Larry Stevens. Standing is Bob Sherman, portraying William Corneau, a neighbor of Irwin. He often played cards with friends and neighbors, including Nicholas Ridgley, Stephen Douglas, Abraham Lincoln, and Dr. Merriman.

In the back parlor, docent Margie Adkins in a grand period dress is busy at tatting, or lace-making.

On the lower level, Linda Denk and Jackie Sites view an exhibit on the life of Robert Irwin, prepared by Linda Garvert, chair of the birthday event. Also available: hot apple cider and various baked apple goodies, to welcome Robert Irwin back to his home and wish him a happy 200th birthday.