Ivory Quinby House facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Ivory Quinby House
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Ivory Quinby House, Monmouth, Illinois
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 Location in Illinois
Location in the United States
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| Location | 605 N. 6th St., Monmouth, Illinois |
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| Built | 1867 |
| Architect | John C. Cochrane |
| Architectural style | Italianate-Greek Revival |
| NRHP reference No. | 80001415 |
| Added to NRHP | November 20, 1980 |
The Ivory Quinby House is a historic home in Monmouth, Illinois. It was built in 1867 for Ivory Quinby, an important person in Monmouth. The house shows off two cool styles: Italianate and Greek Revival. A famous architect named John C. Cochrane designed it.
Ivory Quinby was a big supporter and one of the people who started Monmouth College. He also helped Monmouth become a busy transportation hub. He did this by bringing the Peoria and Oquawka Railroad through town in the early 1850s. The Ivory Quinby House is now listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Monmouth College has owned the house since 1965.
History of the Quinby House
In 1862, Ivory Quinby chose a special spot for his new home. It was on a large piece of land he had given to the city. He wanted the city to grow and improve. Quinby had checked the area and found it was the highest point in Monmouth. He already owned several houses but wanted a bigger one.
In 1866, Quinby hired a well-known architect from Chicago, John C. Cochrane. Cochrane later designed the Iowa State Capitol building. He created the plans for the Quinby House. The house was finished in 1867. Records show that indoor plumbing was added later, around 1901.
The Quinby family lived in the house until 1965. Then, they gave it to Monmouth College. This showed their strong connection to the college, which lasted for 112 years. Today, the house is where the college President lives. The Ivory Quinby House was added to the National Register of Historic Places on November 20, 1980. This means it's a special place with important history.
Updates and Renovations
Over the years, the Ivory Quinby House has had some changes. In the early 1890s, a large two-story front porch was added. A bay window was also put in.
By 1996, the house was getting old and needed a lot of work. It was becoming hard to live in. Ivory Quinby III, who gave the house to Monmouth College, had a rule. If the house was empty for more than two years, it had to be torn down. To save the house, the college raised money.
The house was fully renovated from 1996 to 1997. Many windows were replaced, some with their original glass. Gas light fixtures were updated to work with electricity. The old steam heating system was also replaced. The house had a beautiful marble fireplace that burned coal. This fireplace was kept, but it no longer works.
- Article on the Ivory Quinby House renovation - Carol Clark, Galesburg Register Mail, 1996
- Talk given at a meeting of Fortnightly of Monmouth - Eileen Loya, 1984
