Historic homes: Lincoln/Postville, Sears Roebuck and the Marbold Farmstead

[May 23, 2013]  The Logan County Genealogical & Historical Society presented two programs Monday evening, one concerning research into historic homes in Lincoln and the other about the long history of the Marbold Farmstead in Greenview.

Diane Osborn is currently researching a book about architecturally significant homes in Lincoln that also have had historic and social impacts on the community. She began this project last October and had hoped to complete it by the end of this year. However, she has found so much material in just the original Postville area of Lincoln that she said "the book will get done when it gets done."

Her research has started in Postville and will spread into the other areas of Lincoln, just as the city originally expanded. She noted that Postville ceased to exist as an independent town on Feb. 16, 1865.

Osborn is following on-street research with visits to City Hall, Lincoln Public Library, the Logan County Highway Department, and interviews with contractors and builders to find the historic homes.

"I have spent so much time in some neighborhoods, it is surprising the police have not stopped me," she said.

Some of the fascinating homes she has found so far are cabins that were moved to Lincoln to serve as homes, and she also found old Lincoln schools that were converted to homes.

Osborn has been surprised by the large number of Sears houses in Lincoln. In many cases, the currently owners have no idea of the unique history of their houses, all of which were offered in the Sears Roebuck catalog in the early 20th century.

One man even moved a remnant of the Illiopolis ammunition factory to Lincoln for his home.

Osborn has chosen the title "Neighborhoods, Lincoln, IL" for her book. It will be jointly published by the Lincoln Woman's Club and the Logan County Genealogical & Historical Society. She is asking Lincoln residents to contact her if they feel their home qualifies as historically significant and should be included in the book. Her email address is [e-mail]. She may also be contacted by phone as 217-605-0011.

The second program Monday evening was presented by Barbara Van Dyke-Brown from Greenview. She was assisted by Charlotte Wohler. They are representatives of the Historic Marbold Farmstead Association, whose mission is to preserve and restore the Marbold house that sits along Illinois Route 29 on the south side of Greenview. Anyone traveling through Greenview can see the very large and imposing house sitting along the highway, on the east side of the road.

The Marbold home was built in 1850 by John H. Marbold, whose family immigrated to the United States from Germany in the early 19th century. A member of the Marbold family lived in the house until 1929, when the banking crisis of the Great Depression forced the sale of the residence.

The Historic Marbold Farmstead Association started in 2004 with the intent to preserve and restore the house and create a living history farm. The association was able to buy the house and 10 acres in 2011 and has come close to paying off the mortgage. The group has raised funds through grants and a series of events on the Marbold grounds. The house is currently listed on the 2012 register of the "Ten Most Endangered Historic Places" in Illinois.

The Historic Marbold Farmstead Association has second Sunday events each month throughout the summer to raise money for their endeavors. They are also sponsoring an antique show at the site on June 22.

For more information on this summer's fundraising or to take a tour of the house and site, call 217-968-5805. The association website is www.historic-marbold-farmstead.org, which contains a wealth of information on the house and efforts to preserve and restore it.

The Logan County Genealogical & Historical Society meets the third Monday of each month at 6:30 p.m. at their office at 114 N. Chicago St. The phone number is 217-732-3200.

[By CURT FOX]