A view of the former Halbach Schroeder Company Department Store building on the southeast corner of Maine and S. Fifth in downtown Quincy. The Chicago School architectural style building was designed by Quincy architect, Martin Geise. it was constructed in 1918 and was one of the largest structures in the downtown area. The building sits catty corner from Washington Park, the city square.
Originally known as "The Big White Store," Halbach Schroeder was the largest in Quincy's history, and continued its business in this building until 1943, when a St. Louis firm replaced it. Other subsequent owners of the structure were Ely & Walker Company followed by Burlington Mills. In 1956, the department store operation was sold to Block & Kuhl and later to Carson, Pirie, Scott & Company of Chicago. Carson's closed its doors to this operation in 1981.
The building is a contributing structure of special significance in the Downtown Quincy Historic District, added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1983. It has been an office and apartment complex in recent years. Recently renovated, the property is now known as the Halbach Schroeder Lofts.
To the east (left) of the Halbach Schroeder building is the WCU building, a ten-story structure designed by architect George Behrensmeyer in the Commercial architectural style. Completed in 1925, the WCU building was Quincy's first skyscraper.
The Western Catholic Union, a fraternal insurance organization, included in the basement of the structure a swimming pool, a bowling alley, a small gym, and a small cafe. The first floor contains a large commercial space, which was first and for many years occupied by the W.T. Grant Company. Floors two through nine contain offices in which many professional firms, insurance and investment companies, and other service companies have operated over the years. The Western Catholic Union has always and currently maintains offices on the ninth floor. An auditorium and banquet facilities are located on the tenth floor. It is interesting to note that the building's surviving architectural firm of George Behrensmeyer (presently known as "Architechnics") still maintains offices in the building.
The WCU Building also is a contributing structure of special significance in the Downtown Quincy Historic District on the NRHP.
Quincy, known as Illinois's "Gem City," is the seat of Adams County. Located on the Mississippi River, this west central Illinois community had a population of 40,111 at the 2020 census. During the 19th century, Quincy was a thriving transportation center as riverboats and rail service linked the city to many destinations west and along the river.
I invite you to visit my Adams County album for more views of the residential and commercial architecture in Quincy.
Tags: Quincy Gem City County Seat Adams County Western Illinois IL Street View Maine Street South Fifth Street Architecture Building 1 Halbach Schroeder Company Department Store AKA The Big White Store 500 Maine Street Architectural Style Chicago School Architect Martin Geise Function Department Store Office Building Apartments Repurpose Reuse Ely & Walker Company Burlington Mills Block & Kuhl Carson, Pirie, Scott & Company Carson Apartments Halbach Schroeder Lofts Building 2 WCU Building Western Christian Union 510 Maine Street Architectural Style 2 Commercial Skyscraper 2 George Behrensmeyer Architechnics Department Store 2 W.T. Grant Company Contributing Structure Of Special Significance National Register of Historic Places NRHP Reference # 83000298 Downtown Quincy Historic District Canon EOS 5D Mark IV
A view of the 100 block of N. 5th Street on the east side of Washington Park, the city square. The buildings in this view lie within the Downtown Quincy Historic District added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1983. The district showcases some of the city's late 19th and early 20th century architecture.
The City of Quincy is located in western Illinois along the Mississippi River. It is the seat of Adams County. During the 19th century, Quincy was a thriving transportation center as riverboats and rail service linked the city to many destinations west and along the river. The city has several historic districts listed in the National Register.
The population of Quincy at the 2020 census was 39,463.
Tags: Quincy Gem City County Seat Adams County Western Illinois IL Downtown Business District 100 Block Fifth Street Street View Commercial ArchitectureNational Register of Historic Places NRHP Reference # 83000298 Canon EOS 5D Mark IV
A view looking west on Maine St. from 7th St. in downtown Quincy. The buildings in this view lie within the Downtown Quincy Historic District added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1983. The district showcases some of the city's late 19th and early 20th century architecture.
Tags: Quincy Adams County Illinois IL Downtown Business District Maine Street Street View Commercial Architecture National Register of Historic Places NRHP Reference # 83000298 Canon EOS 5D Mark IV
A view looking west in the 400 block of Maine St. in the heart of downtown Quincy across from Washington Park, the city square. On the left is the State Savings Loan and Trust, a historic bank building built in 1892 for brothers Lorenzo and Charles H. Bull, who were prominent Quincy businessmen and community leaders. The Chicago architectural firm Patton & Fisher designed the bank in the Richardsonian Romanesque style.
Constructed of pink Missouri granite, the building's exterior is graced by handsomely carved Romanesque decorative details, massive iron and oak doors, and beautiful curvilinear window grilles of wrought iron. The building has a five bay facade, with three bays on the original portion and two on the western addition (right) that was designed in 1906 by prominent Quincy architect Ernest M. Wood. The bays are each marked by a window with a thick stone arch. The original section is topped by a large front-facing gable, providing for attic space above the second story. The ground floor of the historic structure is now occupied by a restaurant, with office space above. The building was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1979.
Seen on the corner of Maine and 4th Street (next intersection) is the former Quincy Free Public Library building, now repurposed as the home of the Quincy History Museum. Completed in 1888 at a construction cost of $45,000, the limestone building was designed in Richardsonian Romanesque Revival-style. The former library is one of the most prominent structures in the Downtown Quincy Historic District on the National Register of Historic Places. The former library also is an excellent example of Richardsonian Romanesque architecture, with rough faced stonework, deep set windows and parapet gable roof.
Quincy, known as Illinois's "Gem City," is the seat of Adams County. Located on the Mississippi River, this west central Illinois community had a population of 40,111 at the 2020 census. During the 19th century, Quincy was a thriving transportation center as riverboats and rail service linked the city to many destinations west and along the river.
I invite you to visit my Adams County album for more views of the residential and commercial architecture in Quincy.
Tags: Quincy Gem City County Seat Adams County Western Illinois IL Street View Maine Street Architecture Architectural Style Richardsonian Romanesque Building 1 Commercial Architecture Bank State Savings Loan & Trust Company 428 Maine Street Architects Patton & Fisher Ernest M. Wood Building Material Granite National Register of Historic Places NRHP Reference # 79000813 Building 2 Library Quincy Free Public Library Repurposed Reuse Quincy History Museum 83000298 Downtown Quincy Historic District Canon EOS 5D Mark IV
Explore #60 on June 12, 2020.
The State Savings Loan and Trust is a historic bank building located at 428 Maine Street in Quincy. The bank was built in 1892 for brothers Lorenzo and Charles H. Bull, who were prominent Quincy businessmen and community leaders. The Chicago architectural firm Patton & Fisher designed the bank in the Richardsonian Romanesque style. The western addition (on the right) was designed in 1906 by prominent Quincy architect Ernest M. Wood. Constructed of pink Missouri granite, the building's exterior is graced by handsomely carved Romanesque decorative details, massive iron and oak doors, and beautiful curvilinear window grilles of wrought iron. The building has a five bay facade, with three bays on the original portion and two on the addition; the bays are each marked by a window with a thick stone arch. The original section is topped by a large front-facing gable, providing for attic space above the second story.
The ground floor of the historic structure is now occupied by a restaurant, with office space above. The building was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1979.
Tags: Quincy Adams County Illinois IL Commercial Building Architecture Bank State Savings Loan & Trust Company 428 Maine Street Downtown Architectural Style Richardsonian Romanesque Architects Patton & Fisher Ernest M. Wood Building Material Granite National Register of Historic Places NRHP Reference # 79000813 Canon EOS 5D Mark IV Explore Explored In Explore