Strawbridge-Shepherd House

Today the University of Illinois at Springfield and the Iles House Foundation announced an agreement on the Strawbridge-Shepherd House, an 1845 home on University land.

The University has granted the Foundation a 10-year lease and the two institutions will work together to preserve and maintain the property. Some restoration work began in late November, as seen in these pictures.

Details about the agreement appear in today's issue of the State Journal-Register. The Foundation has raised seed funds to launch this project, and it welcomes contributions from the public. Eventually the Strawbridge-Shepherd House will serve Sangamon County as the Iles House serves Springfield, as places for preserving and learning about a remarkable past.

Pictures by Dick Hart

Robert Davis

On Feb 20, Iles House hosted the Sangamon County Historical Society. The guest speaker was Robert Davis, who delivered a moving first-person account of Andrew Lewis, a slave who escaped to freedom and fought in the Civil War with the 29th Illinois Regiment.

Mr. Davis is pictured here with his wife, Patricia J. Davis, who works in recruitment for the SIU School of Medicine. A fiscal officer with the Illinois Department of Natural Resources, Mr. Davis holds degrees from Princeton and Chicago, and he has taught at Lincoln Land and the University of Illinois at Springfield.

He grew up in Detroit, where he heard stories about the Civil War from his parents and grandparents. Born in 1886 and 1889, his grandparents lived near Comer, Georgia, and spoke often about General Sherman's army marching through Georgia.

Mr. Davis is active with Civil War re-enactors and hopes one day to form an African-American cavalry unit, complete with uniforms and horses. Recently he joined the board of directors of the Abraham Lincoln Association.

Pictures by Dick Hart

Meacham Reception

The speaker of the hour on Lincoln Day was Jon Meacham, editor of Newsweek, seen here making a hasty departure to try to beat the Feb 12 blizzard. (See below for update.)

On the evening of February 11, the Iles House hosted a reception for the Abraham Lincoln Association. The event capped a year of presidency of the ALA for Richard Hart, seen above in the center, and flanked by Robert Lenz and Richard Marroc.

Also attending was Kathryn Harris, Director of Library Services for the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library.

Update: Mr. Meacham's jet taxied to the end of the runway at Capitol Airport, but it could not take off. Thanks to the Big Snow, he spent part of Valentine's Day still in Lincoln Land.

Pictures by Dulany Sriner.

Lincoln Days

Much excitement in Springfield this weekend, as citizens gather to mark the 198th anniversary of the birth of Abraham Lincoln. A reception for distinguished guests will be held at the Iles House at 6 pm on Sunday, February 11.

On Monday, February 12, the Abraham Lincoln Association will hold its annual dinner at the Lincoln Hotel and Conference Center. The Association president this year is Richard E. Hart, a Springfield attorney and founding member of the Iles House board.

The banquet speaker is Jon Meacham, editor of Newsweek and author of distinguished books on civil rights, the Roosevelt-Churchill friendship, and religion in American political life. His address title is "The Will of God Prevails: Abraham Lincoln and American Religion."

Also of historic note: on Saturday, February 10, the junior U. S. Senator from Illinois, Barack Obama, declared his candidacy for President in the 2008 election. His setting was the Old State Capitol, where Lincoln made his famous "House Divided" speech against slavery.

Lifelong Learning

Recent visitors to the Iles House included members of the Academy of Life-Long Learning, sponsored by Lincoln Land Community College.

Over forty seniors from the Springfield area enjoyed a tour of the House and a presentation by John Alexander. Mr. Alexander was a member of the Illinois Constitutional Convention in the 1960s. He now owns Books on the Square, a store in Virden that specializes in the history and genealogy of Macoupin County.

As you may tell from the presence of heavy coats, the winter afternoon was cold, but good cheer and warm smiles prevailed.

Pictures and story by Dick Hart.

Metamora Courthouse

In January-February, the Iles House closes and holds few scheduled events. To pass the winter, we will look in on other historic sites in Illinois and the Midwest.

Before Christmas, Dulany Sriner made a visit to the Peoria-Pekin area and took in the famous courthouse at Metamora, Illinois. Built in 1845, the two-story brick building served as the seat of Woodford County until that shifted to Eureka in 1896.

Abraham Lincoln practiced law on the Eighth Judicial Circuit in this building, one of only two that survive from that era. (The other is at Mt. Pulaski.) The flag above the judicial chair flew at one of the 1858 Lincoln-Douglas debates.

The courtroom has original flooring but otherwise is restored with period furnishings and accessories. It's open to the public Wed-Sat and closed on major holidays. For information about hours, call (309) 367-4470.

Thanks to Dulany for his pictures and time.

Merry Christmas

We are not enemies, but friends. We must not be enemies. Though passion may have strained it must not break our bonds of affection. The mystic chords of memory, stretching from every battlefield and patriot grave to every living heart and hearthstone all over this broad land, will yet swell the chorus of the Union, when again touched, as surely they will be, by the better angels of our nature. —Lincoln's First Inaugural Address, March 4, 1861.

Pictures of New Salem by Dulany Sriner

Questors Dinner

On Tuesday, December 19, Iles House played host to a Christmas party for the Questors of Rochester, who call themselves the Chickenbristle Chapter.

The word Chickenbristle is of uncertain origin. Vachel Lindsay uses the name in his poem, "Bryan, Bryan, Bryan, Bryan" to refer to a small hamlet near Riverton and Rochester.

At the dinner, Dave Barringer and Mike Denk acted as waiters to the 15 guests, serving up a green salad and baked lasanga. Linda Denk ran the kitchen with great aplomb.

Helen Duffey, an artist who is still active at 96, became our first visitor to use the new lift.

The house was decorated for Christmas and seasonal music in the background provided just the right mood.

Pictures by Dick Hart

Holiday Tours

Candlelight tours for the holiday season: Dec 8-9 and 15-16, 6:30-8:30 pm, with refreshments. The public is invited and admission is free. That was our plan for those two weekends, but on Friday, Dec 8, we had 0 attendees!

Problems with getting an ad published and delivered were responsible, and the weather of the past week didn't help. But to keep docent spirits high, Dick Hart returned from Gabatoni's with two pizzas, and everyone had a great time talking, telling stories and enjoying the house decorations.

Saturday Dec 9 was a different story. Visitors were on the front porch at 6:30 pm and the stream continued all evening. A great cross-section of Springfield turned out: young, old, and from every part of town. People made heart-warming comments, thankful that the House has been saved. One visitor exclaimed, "This is the real deal," meaning he'd never seen such an authentic restoration.

We are grateful that so many appreciate the preservation of Springfield's rich history. Beside Elijah Ile's candlelit fireplace, we may all glimpse the past on a cold winter's night.

Pictures by Dulany Sriner

AAUW Party

On the evening of Saturday, December 2, the American Association of University Women held a champagne and dessert party at the Iles House.

Founded in 1881, the AAUW has for 125 years promoted education and equity for women and girls. The Springfield chapter has supported programs that provide graduate fellowships for women and prevent sex discrimination in hiring or promotion cases.

The weather that evening was ice, snow and record cold, but over 150 guests came to enjoy dessert and conversation at the Iles House. Lit by candlelight, the House looked out toward trees glistening with ice, and for a moment one could imagine a winter night in 1881.

Pictures by Dick Hart.

Docents & DAR

On Saturday, Nov 17, the Iles House played host to two groups, the docents who provide guide and host services throughout the year, and the local chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution.

Here the docents discuss their duties and schedules over lunch. David Stevens (ivory sweater) provides advice and feedback.


Dick describes the Iles House as "Springfield's home," as it has rapidly become a gathering and meeting place for many historic-minded associations.

The DAR, descendants of ancestors who achieved American independence, has existed since the late 1800s. 2006 marks the 60th anniversary of the Caleb Hopkins chapter of central Illinois.

That eerie face in the silver tray is David Stevens. Pictures are by Dulany Sriner.

Happy Thanksgiving

From Springfield's Oldest House

To Yours

Happy Thanksgiving!

AIG Reception

On Nov 15, employees of AIG (American International Group) held a reception at Iles House. Over 50 attended the event, after a day of meetings at the Springfield office (former Franklin Life). Catering was by Augie's Front Burner of Springfield.

Several executives of AIG were present, along with managers from the Midwest region. On behalf of Iles House, Dick Hart welcomed the group and thanked AIG for the gift of a parking lot at Seventh and Cook.

Pictures and story by Dick Hart

Vachel Lindsay

November 10 is the birthday of Vachel Lindsay. He was born in Springfield in 1879 and died there in 1931. He studied art in Chicago and New York and then traveled all over the USA, lecturing and reading his poems. He remains today Springfield's most famous writer.

An article in today's Journal-Register describes the recent discovery of a letter that Lindsay wrote in 1928 to Susan Wilcox, his English teacher at SHS. The letter passed to Elizabeth Graham and then to Jaqueline Jackson, and only by good luck recently came to light.

The letter praises Miss Wilcox for her work on a student literary magazine and admires the writers' names, which ranged ". . . from Portuguese to Lithuanian. I read back into the family histories of some of them, just from the names. The old Springfield names have a special thrill for me, even though none of them represent intimates."

Lindsay's letter has returned to the library of SHS. The picture above is of his wife, Elizabeth, and their children, all described in the Wilcox letter. An extensive collection of Lindsay manuscripts survives at Firestone Library, Princeton University.

Candlelight Tour

On October 27-28, Iles House hosted its Candlelight Tour, a repeat of the popular seasonal event held last year. With its rooms lighted with candles, the House takes on a glow that reminds visitors of the past.


About 250 visitors attended, many of them from outlying parts of Sangamon county. Here they view pictures that depict moving the House to its present site in 1998.


Iles House Foundation president Dave Barringer (white shirt) gives visitors an overview of the House purpose, to serve as a museum of Springfield history and to raise awareness of the need for historical preservation in central Illinois.

A group of volunteer guides help to interpret the House, and several of them wear period costumes from the 1840s, the ladies in wide hoop skirts and the gentlement in frock coats and top hats. Amid the glow of candles, long ago seems to come alive.

Pictures by Dulany Sriner

Lincoln's Ghost Walk

Halloween night, October 31, is your last chance in 2006 to take "Lincoln's Ghost Walk."

The walk takes 90 minutes and covers 12 blocks of historic neighborhoods in central Springfield.

Information on where to buy tickets is at this site.

If you see any ghosts, please report them in the comment below.

And . . . BOO!

End in Sight!

Dulany Sriner sent these images of the rear elevator addition, where construction is nearly done. Landscaping has begun with placement of several large sandstone boulders. (Click on the pictures to see enlargments.)

A sloping board walk with hand rails provides access for disabled visitors. The addition is a concession to modern design, but its windows and materials complement the original Greek Revival style. Ground cover and shrubs will complete the project, just before winter closes in.

Southern Illinois

Dulany Sriner sent these images of a fall trip he and his wife made to southern Illinois.

"From Carbondale and the Salukis at homecoming to Chester, Illinois, the home of Popeye, we looped down to the southernmost tip of Illinois in Cairo, then headed down the Ohio river and up the Mississippi."

The pictures remind us that Illinois extends from the Great Lakes to the southern Delta. And also that Springfield sits on the Mason-Dixon line, home to settlers from north and south.

Thanks to Dulany for his pictures. Click on them to see enlargements, and visit D's Digitals for even more images of Illinois, Springfield, and the Iles House.

Autumn Events

Fall has arrived at Iles House, as you may see from the colorful display of mums and other autumn flowers in the front garden on Seventh Street.


On the south side (Cook Street), the picket and board fence is in view, and also the elevator shaft.


At the rear, construction nears completion. A handsome board walk descends through a garden area. By next spring, it will bloom as well.

To see the schedule of House events, click on "Iles House Calendar" in the right column.

Thanks to Dick Hart and Dulany Sriner for the pictures. Click on them to see enlargements!

Elevator Progress

Workmen continue to make progress on the elevator at the rear of the Iles House. Exterior carpentry is complete and now masonry begins. The bricks will match those on the lower level of the house.

When finished, the House will have an attractive rear entrance to the Museum of Springfield History and easy access to the upper floors. Thanks to Dick Hart for the picture.

Please note the Iles House Calendar in the upper-right list of links. Click there to see a schedule of forthcoming events.