Sunday, February 19, 2012

The Three Sisters of Vine Street

I am fulfilling another request from my Facebook page. Brad suggested the houses at 1919, 1921 and 1923 Vine Street. These are three "sister" houses because they were all built around the same time and are similar in appearance.

1919 Vine Street

1921 Vine Street

1923 Vine Street
Victorian Antiquities and Design highlighted 1923 Vine last fall and luckily it has found a new owner.

Now for some history! These home were all built around 1905. Originally, the land these homes sit on were part of A. Schwill & Co. Malt House.
1891 Sanborn Insurance - Source
At one time, Albert Schwill & Company was the largest producer of malt for brewing beer in the United States. But even early, at the location that ran from West McMicken (once called Hamilton Road) to Vine Street was the Lafayette Brewery, owned by Alexis Darusmont. After his death, his wife continued to run the brewery until 1878. It was sold to Albert Schwill in 1882. Albert Schwill & Company also had offices and plants in Chicago.
1905 Sanborn Insurance - Source
By 1904, the malt house was owned by Herman Goepper. About 1909, the Aman and Sandman Box Company, specializing in cigar boxes took over the McMicken Street location.
1930 Sanborn Insurance - Source
From researching the census records, it appears that these were built to be used as rental housing.
In 1910, 1920 and 1930, all three homes were occupied by one or two small families in each. In 1930, Jacob Kraeusser owned 1919 Vine Street. His step-son, George J. Eggebreckt lived with him and his shown as the owner of 1923 Vine Street prior to 1948. I am guessing that Kraeusser and Eggebreckt owned all three homes and rented the ones they did not live in. After 1946, the homes were each given their own parcel of land and sold separately.

Know of another of "sister" homes? Just let me know and I will do some more digging!

1 comment:

  1. My Grandmother used to live in house #1923...the green one. She would walk to her job at the Hudepohl Brewery up the street. This was in teh 1930's I believe.

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