280-282 DOUGLAS AVENUE
HISTORIC SIGNIFICANCE
280-282 Douglas Avenue was built in 1922 as a four-flat for Harris Goldman. At the time, the cost to build and purchase the property including the demolition of a previous home on the site was around $18,000. Conveniently, Harris and his family lived right next door at 278 Douglas.
Harris immigrated to the United States in 1893 and is first listed in Elgin in the 1894 City Directory as a junk dealer. His home and business were located in the area now occupied by Elgin’s City Hall. Today, we would probably describe his company as a salvage or recycling operation.
In addition to his junk business, Harris owned a number of properties in the neighborhood. Descendants recall that he rented these to recent immigrants. In 1919, the property at 280-282 Douglas, still owned by members of the Hoagland family who built 278 Douglas, went into foreclosure, and was sold at auction. Harris Goldman submitted the winning bid and bought the house for $3,000. In 1922 Goldman demolished the previous building and with a mortgage built the existing apartment now numbered 280-282 Douglas Avenue. The property remained in the Goldman family until 1936.
ARCHITECTURAL SIGNIFICANCE
Aside from the splendid Italian Renaissance style window over the front entry, Arts and Crafts elements dominate 280-282 Douglas, including the front casement windows and the three-over-one double hung sash windows on the rest of the building. The tall parapet on the east elevation hiding the flat roof is typical of commercial buildings of the period.
TIMELINE OF PREVIOUS OWNERS
Sources: 2022 Heritage Plaque Application; Audio: TextAloud