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The History of 110 North Kickapoo Street
As shared by Patrick Doolin in August of 2008

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[October 16, 2014]  LINCOLN - The complete history of the building standing at 110 N. Kickapoo Street in Lincoln, IL is somewhat of a mystery. The official address is actually documented as 108 - 112 N. Kickapoo Street and the structure stands just a quarter block north of Broadway Street on the east side of Kickapoo. The actual construction date has yet to be determined but the photo below shows the building fully occupied in 1903.

Local historians have said the area where this building currently stands was once the home to a number of wooden structures that were lost in a fire in the 1880’s. Based on research and architectural features of the building, estimates place its construction in the mid to late 1890’s.

The Integrity Building, as it is known today, is the home of Integrity Data, a small computer software company that provides software products and services for Microsoft’s Payroll and Human Resource solution. 

Information on the original occupants is sketchy. It is well known that Hanger Bros Music was the primary tenant of the storefront in the early 1900’s. In the photo from 1903, if you look closely you can see pianos in the storefront windows. Hanger Bros later relocated to the Miller Building, just a half block north on Kickapoo.

 

Research indicates that Harold’s Furniture and Linoleum occupied the storefront after Hanger Bros. The ‘Harold’ in the name is for Harold Broughton. The use of the second story space remains a mystery until we enter into 1924. Discussion with Dr. Deane Doolen, Jr., a well known and respected local dentist, revealed that his father, Dr. Deane Doolen Sr., purchased a dental practice from a Dr. Pearl Parks in 1924 and located his office and practice in the north end of the second story. It is unclear if Dr. Parks occupied the location prior to Doolen. It is interesting to note that Dr. Pearl Parks was a female, practicing dentistry in the early 1900’s. Few women held such positions during that time.

Dr. Doolen also identified the other building tenants. Dr. C.B. Davis, MD was a physician and a surgeon who was affiliated with St. Clara’s and Deaconess Hospitals of Lincoln, IL. In the southern most area of the second floor Dr. M. Lowell Branom practiced dentistry and his father Dr. Branom was a medical doctor in the adjacent office thus making the entire second floor a suite of professional offices of medical doctors and dentists. Each doctor’s name is advertised on their office windows in the photo below.

In additional to Harold’s Furniture & Linoleum, the first floor was home to a man by the name of Duke Dawson.  Mr. Dawson was generally engaged in the service industry, providing insurance, brokerage services and loans (note Duke’s Loan Co in the photo above).

Tom Walsh, an attorney from Macon, IL, also located his practice in the north corner office (to the left of Duke’s Loan Co in the photo above; not visible).  Dr. Doolen recalls the massive number of books that Mr. Walsh had in his office along with a rickety old ladder that was used to reach the upper book shelves. 

Dr. Deane Doolen, Jr. graduated from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign with his degree in dentistry in 1955 and after a two year tour in the Air force as a practicing dentist he joined his father’s practice at 108 N. Kickapoo Street.  Dr. Doolen, Jr. describes the office space the Doolen’s occupied as having three treatment rooms, a small lab, and a reception area.  Below is a photo of the original gold leaf signed that Dr. Doolen hung in the hallway of the building followed by a photo of the reverse side of the sign that was modified to include Dr. Doolen, Jr. when he joined his father’s practice.

In 1969, the Doolens relocated their practice to the Lincoln Professional Park building at the corner of Keokuk and North Union Streets. The Lincoln Professional Park was a joint venture by Drs. Doolen & Doolen, attorney Darrell Klink and Dr. Glen Tomlinson, M.D. At some point in the late 1960’s to early 1970’s, the first floor of 110 N. Kickapoo Street became part of Spurgeon’s which had its main entrance at 604 Broadway Street with a doorway joining the two buildings. This allowed the store to have over 9,000 square feet of retail space where primarily clothing was sold. It is at this time we believe the retail storefront windows were blocked in and the second floor was closed off and no longer used.

Spurgeon’s closed and the store reopened as SCHICK’s, owned and operated by Lincoln resident Lou Schick. The store was operated as Schick’s Clothing until they closed in 1999.

Patrick Doolin President/owner of Integrity Data purchased both 604 Broadway and 110 N. Kickapoo in August of 2000. When the buildings were purchased both were vacant and deteriorating. Integrity Data set up temporary offices in the old Schick’s store front on Broadway Street while the Kickapoo address was being remodeled. Below are photos of the building prior to renovations.

 

 


First floor of the building prior to renovation, August 2000

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Second floor of the building prior to renovation, August 2000


Second floor of the building prior to renovation, August 2000

In April of 2001, Integrity Data held a ribbon cutting ceremony for the official opening of the newly renovated Integrity Building. Integrity Data occupied the entire second floor while Midwest Bible School was located on the first floor. Midwest Bible School was active in this facility through 2003.

The second floor space where Patrick Doolin’s office is located is the same space that Dr. Doolen occupied in 1924. Nearly 80 years later, this space was repurposed and occupied by another Doolin. It should be noted that there are indications that the Doolens and the Doolins are somehow related but it is unclear how.

 

In July of 2006, the building was struck by lightning causing extensive damage and destroying the parapet wall and limestone cornice at the top of the building. The decorative cornice crashed to the ground at approximately 6:45 am on July 27th, 2006. No one was hurt but the sidewalk was crushed from the weight of the limestone. Integrity Data committed to restoring the building to its original glamour and by November of that same year, the repairs had been completed that included replacing the limestone with hand shaped stone to match the portion of the original stone.

At the turn of the 20th century, this building was newly constructed and bustling with activity. 100 years later, the building receives some much needed Tender Loving Care, new vision, new purpose and new life.


Integrity Data second floor offices, August 2008

This once vacant and deteriorating building now employs nearly 30 people from four different companies.    Two of these companies are currently focused on restoring other buildings in downtown Lincoln.  Integrity Data has 23 employees, is very high tech in its operations, retrains contracts with Microsoft Corporation and has its software products in 27 countries.  This old building that was built in Lincoln, IL over a hundred years ago is now using today’s technology to literally impact the world.  We can only hope that in another hundred years it will still be an integral part of our community and our world.

NOTE: This presentation was originally written in 2008. Integrity Data has since moved to the Scully builidng on the other side of the street. That building was virtually destroyed by fire, and the Doolins purchased it, did a complete restoration and then moved their offices to the newly refurbished landmark. Today, Natalie Marquez has her law offices in this building and another business, to be announced later, will be moving in after the first of the year.

[Text from file received, Patrick Doolin]

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