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 Though the Courthouse is a State Historic site and
does receive some funding through the Illinois Historic Preservation
Agency, state budget concerns over the past several years have made
it difficult for the Courthouse to get all the money needed to
maintain the site.
Right now, the Foundation is working to address the concerns of a
failing roof. The issues with the roof are having a domino effect
inside the building causing some ceiling cracks and other issues.
When the group can address the situation of the roof, it will then
be able to move on to address other issues on the interior.
Zion Lutheran Church
At the top of the list of homes to tour on Saturday evening was Zion
Lutheran Church and School. The church was officially the first
Lutheran congregation formed in Logan County and was founded in
1851. At its founding, the church building was not located where it
is today. From its founding day until 1905 the church had a few
different locations as its congregation grew and outgrew their
existing facility.
The current church was dedicated in 1905 and underwent major updates
in 1958 and again in 2012 when the new addition for the day school
was completed.
The church and school were both opened for the Saturday night tour
with tour guide stations at strategic locations to explain the
history of the church. Many may know of the great train car
explosion that took place in Mount Pulaski a half a century or more
ago. The explosion did a great deal of damage to homes and
businesses throughout the town, including to Zion.
The guides were well versed in defining the damage done to the
church, and explaining how through this unfortunate incident, the
church came out on the other side better than ever.
The new school facility is also of great importance to the
congregation and the community. The guide for that portion of the
tour was anxious to share the spacious pre-school and kindergarten
areas, the implementation of modern technology such as whiteboards,
and the outstanding science room complete with chemistry lab.
The sanctuary of the church features a beautiful pipe organ, stained
glass windows, and hardwood trimmed cathedral ceilings. A portion of
the original sanctuary wall has been opened up to step easily into
some of the new portions of the church.
Throughout the building, a variety of Nativity scenes were the main
attraction of the Christmas décor along with a festival of trees
that featured Christmas Trees decorated by students of the Zion
Lutheran School.
Church volunteers were also on hand to visit with tourists as they
completed their walk through the church and school. In the school's
new kitchen and cafeteria area, a large array of sweets were being
offered by several sweet ladies who were anxious to visit with
guests and share what they know of their church and school as well.
Dr. Erin Schafer
Dr. Erin Schafer purchased her vintage Victorian, three-story home
in 2014. The home is tagged as four-and-a-half bedrooms and two
baths. It features a lovely front foyer entry, sitting room, dining
room, and kitchen on the ground floor. The second floor of the home
features all the bedrooms, and the third floor is the attic
transformed into an office space. That large room features metal
barn roofing on the ceiling and barn wood paneling on the walls.
The home features much of the original woodwork, hardwood floors,
and exposed brick in the kitchen area. Erin loves vintage and
whimsy. The rooms of the home are decorated with unique items such
as a large, antique wall map of the globe in the dining room, an
un-restored stained glass window as a focal point in the sitting
room, and antique and vintage game boards mounted on the wall of one
of the bedrooms.
The Christmas décor around the house reflect that same feeling of
whimsy as Christmas Trees can be found in multiple rooms, and
several of the other décor items are pieces dating to mid-century
1900’s.
Erin has a love of animals and enjoys sharing the space with her two
pugs, and on Saturday evening her dark colored calico cat was
reigning over one of the upstairs bedrooms, happily accepting head
rubs from guests.
Fred and Patsy Lipp
This amazing home was built by Fred and is designed to accommodate
the couple's likes and interests. The living room area features a
lovely brick fireplace. On the mantel are examples of some of the
hobby work Patsy does with making miniature dioramas.
The house is comfortably furnished with a living area and a separate
sitting room area, accented with large windows that look out on the
lovely front yard area of the home. The home features
a combination kitchen dining area that includes an island work area
and plenty of cabinetry in the kitchen and a lovely dining area with
French doors that open out to the back lawn.
For the home tour, the dining table was laid out with vintage
Haviland china and crystal goblets, and the room was accented with a
Christmas tree in the corner of the room. Christmas trees also added
a touch of the holiday season in other rooms of the home, each one
done to reflect the room it occupied. The home also
included three bedrooms, each decorated in a different style,
including a blue bedroom, a rustic wood bedroom, and a third modern
style bedroom with an amazing silver ball light fixture hanging from
the ceiling.
Outside, Santa has nothing on Patsy, as she has her own little log
cabin workshop where she enjoys spending time working on her many
crafting interests.
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Rick and LeeAnn Volle
Many of the locals taking the tour on Saturday evening were anxious
to see the inside of this home. The house built in the early 1900’s
by the Frisch family. In the last two years, the current owners,
Rick and LeeAnn, have done extensive work on the interior of the
home. While there may be many new components, the integrity of the
original home has not been compromised especially on the ground
floor, where one can easily see the Art Nouveau influence that was
popular between the 1890’s and 1910.
Upstairs, one of the big draws for many of the female visitors was
the laundry room and walk-in closet combo off the Master Bedroom. A
second big draw was the fabulous kitchen with the super large
stainless steel cooking stove and the butler pantry connecting the
kitchen to the dining room.
The house features a double entry with an outside door, a small
entry room, then an interior door that opens into a nicely decorated
front sitting room. The room is flanked on either side by French
doors, one set leading into the formal dining area, and the second
leading to a separate room where the main attraction is the grand
piano.
The house features a library sitting room just beyond the front
living area that is warm and comfortable with a lovely fireplace
flanked with built-in hardwood bookcases.
The dining room features the original fireplace with green tile
front and also has the added attraction of an original painting of
the home sitting predominantly on the fireplace mantel. The dining
room table is a one piece construction table for a minimum of six.
On this night, it was elegantly set with deep rich red and gold
china, crystal goblets, and a holiday centerpiece featuring live
evergreen sprigs.
The Christmas decorations throughout the home were tastefully done
and included a variety of Christmas trees, garlands, and wreaths.
Among these items, the tree in the piano room that Rick Volle
cheerfully referred to as their “Charlie Brown” tree.
LeeAnn also shared an interesting story. The home was built by the
Frisch family, and on December 6th, 1912, the family held their
grand open house in the home. On display upstairs was a handwritten
account of the open house including how the event went, a special
ceremony that was performed, and who attended. LeeAnn said that
since finding this document, she and Rick have tried to verify if
the article was ever published in the local paper. According to the
document it was, but to date they have not been able to find a copy
of the article in the newspaper. She hasn’t given up on finding it
someday and said she’d appreciate hearing from anyone who may have
knowledge about the opening day at the Frisch home or any subsequent
newspaper articles.
(Click for large versions of the handwritten pages -
Page one -
Page two)
Included in the description of the house that day was mention of the
potted ferns and palms. Today, Rick and LeAnn have been careful to
maintain that aspect of the home, with large palms taking up special
locations in the front room and the piano room.
Willie and Brenda Rentmeister
Many will recognize Willie Rentmeister as a home builder in Logan
County, but the talent in the family does not stop with Willie.
Their home, recently purchased and refurbished is beautifully
decorated with color themed bedrooms and very well appointed rooms,
with all the work being done by Brenda.
The Rentmeisters purchased the home originally owned by the
Schaffenacker family and built in 1894. The work they have completed
has been with the goal of restoring the home to its original glory
and at the same time adding the modern necessities. While the
fireplace was noted as being original, it was converted from a
wood-burning hearth to a gas log. Electrical wiring has also been
done, and the house has beautiful woodwork and hardwood flooring
throughout.
Stepping into the home, the focal point of the front room is the
corner fireplace. Willie said the fireplace is all original right
down to the mirror insert on the mantel that is showing signs of its
age. The draw of the fireplace is magnified by the exquisite
Christmas decorations that include a simple and elegant nativity
with lighted garlands, and a very special piece that utilizes a pair
of girls white ice skates.
Nearby, there is also an outstanding Christmas tree color
coordinated to go with the room décor and fireplace decorations.
The front bedroom is nicely done with pale pink and greens while
another bedroom is done in shades of gray, and a third bedroom makes
a solid statement done in deep red and white.
The formal dining room is adorned with a collection of Santa Claus
figures and adds a touch of fun to the room as you journey into the
deep red kitchen with white cabinetry and exposed brick.
Each of the main rooms in the home features a themed Christmas tree,
including the kitchen where the decorations include spice tins and
red-checked ribbon. ----- The Mount
Pulaski Courthouse Foundation is very appreciative of all the local
home owners, as well as Zion Lutheran Church and School, who so
generously opened up their living, worship and learning places for
the tour this year.
The evening resulted in a great turnout with many guests both
locally and from out and about, enjoying some of the vintage and
historic homes in the Mount Pulaski area. Surely, no one left
disappointed.
The foundation is always seeking donations and holds several
fundraising events each year. Anyone wishing to assist with
fundraising efforts or make a donation to the foundation can learn
more at the Mount Pulaski Courthouse official website
http://www.mountpulaskihistoriccourthouse.org/#!about_us/csgz
[Nila Smith] |
