c. 1880 Second Empire in Quincy, IL

$589,000

For Sale

Added to OHD on 8/23/22 - Last OHD Update: 8/23/22

1469 Maine St, Quincy, IL 62301

4 Bed
3 Bath
4500 Sq Ft
0.39 Ac.

National Register Property

Historic charm with modern conveniences, located right in the heart of the East End Historic District. The quality craftsmanship, with butternut, walnut and oak woods adorn the entire home, floor to ceiling. Adding warmth to this beautiful home are 3 stunning marble fireplaces, all in working order. There are 4 beautiful pocket doors in various rooms throughout the home. Several stained-glass windows throughout, front & back parlors, used as living and family rooms, divided by a massive set of walnut pocket doors. Lots of new in 2021: Furnace & Air with multiple zoning, gourmet chef's dream kitchen which has been totally renovated, quartz countertops with all new appliances, sub-zero refrigerator, Whirlpool dishwasher, Ilve Stove, ceramic tile floor & updated wiring in kitchen, new sewer line & chimney cap. Upstairs bathroom has new plumbing, sink & toilet. A complete list provided with this listing. Cellar section of basement being used as wine cellar with racks (will convey).

Listed With

Sandra Frillman, Century 21 Broughton Team :: (217) 224-4600

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Kelly, OHD | 15308 comments

Admin

1 year ago

I’m in love with the updates made. 🙂

https://www.oldhousedreams.com/2020/02/21/c-1880-second-empire-quincy-il/

roxxx | 978 comments

Supporter

Reply to Kelly, OHD | 15308 comments

Yes. They did an outstanding job

Komiza | 849 comments

What a beautiful home. My dream home.

MJG | 7072 comments

The woodwork in this house makes such a strong and bold statement in this house and the staircase newel is monumental. I know some would find the wallpapers too busy or dark by todays standards but I prefer the hallway paper and back parlor or library paper over the white walls they once were. Though usually 19th century folks preferred to paint tin ceilings corresponding colors to the room, this doesn’t look too bad. These papers appear to be Bradbury and Bradbury replicas. The centennial Room-set for one and Christopher dresser for the other.

Side note, some of Dresser’s designs like this frieze or his teapots for example often get incorrectly categorized as Art Deco but he was much before the art deco trend.

I’d live here for sure and I would back date and change the kitchen and other modern areas.

I am surprised and selfishly disappointed none of the stained glass was photographed here. The one on the staircase and the other one on the second floor.

DJZ | 1027 comments

Reply to MJG | 7072 comments

Yes yes to all this! I was sold on everything till i saw the kitchen and laundry room, a small let down for me given the rest of the beauty this house has to offer. Id love to bring back the butlers pantry that seems to have gone from the original posting 4 years earlier. But i honestly couldnt agree with you more

JimH | 8411 comments

Moderator

The Dresser reproductions are beautiful, and the colorways they’ve chosen are more restrained than some others. I know those patterns were shown in the US and “available” to some degree, but I imagine they were less popular than they are these days, especially over here. They work nicely in this house with the Eastlake woodwork, which is relatively rare in a Second Empire.

Snarling Squirrel | 1791 comments

Reply to JimH | 8411 comments

I think you’ve helped me see why I adore this Second Empire mansion so much JimH. It’s also very “America on the Mississippi” to me: French and exhuberant, yet the materials and details are hand crafted with American woods (probably custom by local craftsmen). It’s not pretending to be Versailles.

Reply to Snarling Squirrel | 1791 comments

It’s just lovely, and like Goldi’s porridge, it’s not too this or that – just right! And I have a soft spot for Second Empires with Eastlake details, like my profile photo (Grandma’s house).
The house must have been pretty nice for a young couple – he was a Dutchman, an exec at Singer Sewing Machine, and her Dad was a local doctor. They sold the place in a few years and ended up living in an orange grove near San Jose.

The architect, John S. McKean of Chicago, also designed the impressive Adams County Courthouse in Quincy about the same time the house was built. Research in building publications might identify sisters to the house surviving anonymously in Chicago or elsewhere.

I can’t imagine demolishing such a courthouse, but it happened all over the country in the twentieth century. Architect John S. McKean also designed the Forum Block bank building across the street in 1876 (and the right addition in 1890). You can certainly see the Aesthetic Movement/Eastlake ornamentation here. It’s sort of surprising to see scroll-saw type ornament on stone facing:
https://www.flickr.com/photos/army_arch/14732039118

Heidi Rauch | 222 comments

The courthouse wasn’t demolished it was destroyed by a tornado.

Reply to Heidi Rauch | 222 comments

Wow! Thanks for that clarification Heidi.

Rosewater | 8766 comments

I’m generally not a fan of dark interiors personally, but their combination of light and somewhat minimal together with super rich jewel toned spaces with great texture and depth is just delightful. A little of this and a bit of that makes for a refreshing combination which feels neither bland nor oppressive. Yes the kitchen seems like a bit of an anomaly of taste level, but otherwise I love the way these folks are living here. Probably the first time I’ve ever seen oversized, tract house furniture really fit well and work in an old house.

Bethany | 3790 comments

Being no purist, but very picky about kitchens, I have to say that I really like this one. I feel like it preserves a “vibe” of Victorian kitchen but with an appealing, colorful design that I love. Kudos to the owners.

Reply to Bethany | 3790 comments

I like it too. Love the green as well. 🙂 I know the flooring in the updated bathroom is kind of a fad at the moment but it’s one I’m diggin’. 😀

DianeEG | 913 comments

I’ve lived in old homes with original kitchens and it’s hard especially with a good sized busy family. I vowed not to change the one small row of cabinets with a sink in a small kitchen with six doors and two windows. But that meant the stove was in front of a window and the back was seen from the outside, the family sized frig stuck out over the door molding to the DR and I had to move the highchair every time we went in/out the back door. All baking/food assembly was done on the table which had to be cleaned up before we could eat. If we all were sitting at the table eating, I could not access the oven or frig doors. If I had walked into this home as a young serious home buyer, I would have thrown myself upon the island and cried happy tears.

JDmiddleson | 5202 comments

The color and the layout of the kitchen appealed to me as well. As much as an original kitchen that was in this home may feel romantic and appealing, most home buyers couldn’t function in a kitchen of that time period. Besides, I can count on one hand the number of original kitchens we have seen here. It is the one space most often changed and remodeled, for good reason! It doesn’t fill the needs of most people today! This one still gives a nod to the past while being functional for today’s needs!

tyreval | 268 comments

Much of the first floor puts me in an uncomfortable state of house envy. I don’t like dark wallpaper, but the patterns chosen for this home strike me as brilliant and completely fitting.

Kitchen and laundry are mistakes made with comfort in mind. Ah well.

We all have a small handful of magical OHD houses that stick in our hungry craw for years, and this is one of them.

I’m sorry it’s being listed again so soon by the new people after lingering on the market, while the rest of us pined for it from a distance.

I love the dark richness of the wood and paper/

elemental | 57 comments

It’s wonderful! I love it. I wonder what the attic looks like.

Phillip | 490 comments

Long one of my personal favorites on the site. It just proves how much more dramatic a second empire is with stained wood trim. I like the dark masculine color palate. This house is fabulous in every way.

KLee | 24 comments

Does it come with the all the pictures/photos and collectibles? Ha! “What did you do, Ray?”

Mary Frances | 17 comments

Reply to KLee | 24 comments

9 months ago

I love every inch of this home. Especially the kitchen. Kitchens are the only room in an old home I am willing to sacrifice to updates. My only concern was the pictures. I hope the walls aren’t plaster – I would hate the job of repairing the holes left by the pictures. I would definitely put a picture rail to prevent this from happening. 😐

Reply to Mary Frances | 17 comments

The first home I owned had plaster walls. I loved them…..right up to the time my wife asked me to hang up some artwork. As you well know from your experience, it’s not an easy task. I’d guess this home has a mix of walls. The walls in rooms that look mostly original and unchanged will have plaster walls. The newer remodeled parts, like the kitchen will have drywall. I totally agree with you about putting up picture rail where you could!

Angie boldly going nowhere | 1027 comments

That is one well stocked fridge, eh? (Pic 30). First time I’ve ever seen a pic of a fridge door open in any house on OHD. Of course, there might well have been and I missed it. I LOVE the green that’s used in the kitchen and I quite like the kitchen, itself.

NightOwlRN | 33 comments

So many great things about this house, though picture 13 confuses me a bit. The difference between the color and they layout of the wood flooring… is that normal?

Reply to NightOwlRN | 33 comments

Different floor types in each room and different wood types is normal, however those floors do look like they may have been done in the early 20th century perhaps. The floor boards are narrow similar to the early 20th century trends. Though I can’t see them up close.

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