If This House Could Talk...

If this house could talk, it would tell you that in the 1880s it was described as "one of the most beautiful homesteads in Southern Illinois" by historian William Henry Perrin. Improved by the owner whose last name the home still bears, the house showcased a huge tower, a verandah bordering three sides, and a ballroom with ornate mirrors touching the ceiling.

Also of renown on the estate were the orchards and greenhouses. Apples, pears, and cherries were produced as well as acres of strawberries. The greenhouses quickly gained a wide reputation and produced large quantities of roses and ferns shipped to a ready market in Chicago.

Unfortunately, the house burned in 1897. Although similar in many respects, the new house built the same year lacked a few of the earlier elaborate features, such as the tower and verandah.

The view from the attic window of the house was reported by a later owner to be splendid. W. H. Perrin earlier described the view as follows: "The lofty peaks of the Kentucky and Missouri hills are plainly discernable, and the curling smoke of the steamers on the Ohio and Mississippi Rivers can be determined."

Do you know where this house is located? If you would like to share information about this house including memories that you may have, please feel free to contact: PAST of Union County, P.O. Box 778, Jonesboro, IL 62952, or obtain information at pastonline.org.

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