|
 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] |
