Queen Anne – Kewanee, IL
Added to OHD on 4/6/17 - Last OHD Update: 4/12/20 -
SOLD / Archived Post
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209 N Walnut St, Kewanee, IL 61443
$125,000- 4 Bed
- 2.5 Bath
- 2650 Sq Ft
Victorian Showcase with all natural woodwork, grand staircase, lots of gingerbread, French doors, stained glass windows, gas fireplace, 2nd floor balcony, and lots of new with new handcrafted kitchen, new roof (2015) with tear-off, finished 30x27 attic space complete with mini-kitchen and large bath, freshly painted basement, 2-car garage & 2 landscaped lots. Lots of WOW! Appliances are negotiable.
State: Illinois | Region: Midwest (East North Central) | Associated Styles or Type: Queen Anne
Period & Associated Styles: Queen Anne (1880-1910), Victorian Era
Period & Associated Styles: Queen Anne (1880-1910), Victorian Era
17 Comments on Queen Anne – Kewanee, IL
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Commenting means you've read and will abide by the comment rules.
Click here to read the comment rules, updated 1/12/20.
OHD does not represent this home. Price, status and other details must be independently verified. Do not contact the agent unless you are interested in the property.
Chestatee, GA
I have a bunch of Illinois readers so someone get in there and get some photos!Pics added!Built date given was 1870, which would be too early for this style.
Hard to say on that date. The 3rd story oriel looks suspicious.
Noblesville, IN
Oh yeah; this was surely quite a looker, with multi-patterned siding detail and ornament. I’ll bet a nickel most of it is still there too, (under the plastic).
Wow – those doors, (thanks’ Margaret). Transoms are great, but MAN do I ever love those monumental, full height interior doors as in this house: gorgeous wood too. This house is long on the vertical and I LIKE IT! Reminds me very much of the Debs house in Terre Haute, (yes that Eugene V. Debs – he was VERY tall), which has a brilliantly preserved, stellar interior, a n d – is open to the public and well worth a lookie if one happens to be in the area – both for house and historic political interests:
https://www.google.com/search?q=eugene+debs+house&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwjXu9nXqpHTAhVJ-mMKHQ7SAmkQ_AUIBygC&biw=1708&bih=853#spf=1
I can see the bones of what was probably a stunning house in it’s day. It has so many nice features on the exterior still. I am dying to see the interior though! I’m sure an old picture would help in restoring the exterior. There may even be a lot of the original siding under the vinyl, I suppose!
My mind is going bonkers fantasizing about appropriate paint colors for this awesome exterior!
We are buying this home and have had the same question going through our mind on appropriate exterior color. The roof is new in 2015 and is green so kinda confused on the color. Don’t really want to stay with white.
In all likelihood, the house was built for Civil War veteran Horton Vail (1849-1902), whose family lived there in the early decades of the century. Vail married Lizzie Hipperd after the war and the couple had 9 children, seven of whom were living with them at this address in 1900. In 1892, Horton, a machinist by trade, had formed the Kewanee Boiler Company with others, and the firm manufactured boilers for sale around the world until 2002.
I bought His home and would like to find more history on it. Where were you able to find this information on Horton Vail?
Great house, Christina!
Horton Vail and family were at this exact address in the 1900 census and in city directory listings for years after that. Vail is mentioned in a few sources as an inventor, manufacturer and co-founder of the Kewanee Boiler Works. I don’t have online access to Sanborn Maps for Kewanee, but they could confirm that the street address hasn’t changed since then, which is why I hedged on saying he was definitely the owner. You should be able to find the deeds at the courthouse following your title search info. The house was likely built around 1900 and the Sanborns would confirm that also.
https://books.google.com/books?id=3HAUAAAAYAAJ&pg=PA562&lpg=PA562
https://findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=112355696
I know it’s a bit late from this posting, but this was the house my great great grandfather grew up in, and this is the first time I’ve ever been able to show my mother any pictures from the inside of the house. Thank you for posting this so that we could find it and see what the inside is like!
The Realtor listing has some pictures of the interior. Nice firework and the new kitchen isn’t too bad.
Chestatee, GA
Thanks, they weren’t there earlier today when I posted the house. Will add the photos tomorrow.
There was not a lot of decorative loss when sided. I’ve lived in the area since the early 70’s and don’t remember it’s paint being tricked out. I also think it’s had a series of owners who have valued the beauty of the home in spite of the area. Although not a high crime area (it’s across the street from the new police/fire/city admin. park and beside the new college tech bldg. area – formerly the old Walworth factory acreage) it has the disadvantage of being surrounded by many homes rather down on their luck – low income rentals or turned into multi apartments. The parking lot next to the home used to be a gas station and has been owned by the boy scouts to part their trailers and store things. It’s not a horrible neighborhood but the asking price reflects the neighborhood and economic downturn of the area not the condition and beauty of the home.
Lots of interesting details, I don’t mind the kitchen reno either. Good price too.
Ah, so great to see a mostly original interior. Paint is for walls. Styles have a lot of overlap so a trip to the assessor’s office might be wise.
Thanks for the history of the home. We are purchasing it and are very interested in it’s history. We just learned of Horton Bail from our historic society.
Congratulations Christina W. You will have a beautiful home and can’t wait to see your touch on it.