345 VINCENT PLACE

HISTORIC SIGNIFICANCE

On November 13, 1924, Edward J. O’Beirne platted the Edward J. O’Beirne Subdivision and quickly advertised the new subdivision in the local newspaper. However, he held onto one lot located at 345 Vincent Place and in 1926, Edward gave this lot as a gift to his daughter Mildred, and her husband, Harold Kuettner as a wedding present. The Kuettners quickly took out a mortgage for $3,500 and built this home within that same year.

Edward J. O’Beirne and his twin brother William were born in 1860 in New Haven, Connecticut. In 1867, the family moved to Elgin, where Edward attended public schools, and worked for the Elgin National Watch Factory before enlisting in the United States Navy for several years. He then returned to Elgin. In 1891 he became superintendent of the Elgin Tubular Iron Tower Company. By 1893 he had patented an armature for a dynamo-electric machine which created a direct current, and opened his own firm, O’Beirne Brothers and Company, building electric railways, light and power plants, and gas and water works. The company had offices in Atlanta, New Orleans and Dallas.

He married for the first time in 1883 to Selina Moore of Huntsville, Alabama, and they had three children, Mary, Shirley, and Jack, all of whom lived in New Orleans. After divorcing Selina, Edward married again in 1903, to Mildred Harper of Jackson, Mississippi, and had four more children, Frank, Mildred, Emmett, and Florence.

Their daughter, Mildred, was born in Georgia in 1906 and by 1910, the entire family moved back to Elgin. They lived for many years at 303 Douglas Avenue as her father owned the apartment building across the street at 300 Douglas.

Harold Kuettner was born in 1904 to Max and Anna Kuettner of Dundee, Illinois. He was a cement contractor at the time 345 Vincent Place was built, but he soon became the Postmaster in Dundee.

Harold and Mildred Kuettner did not stay long at 345 Vincent Place as Mildred transferred the home back to her father in September of 1928. From 1929 through 1931 the home was rented until Edward sold it to John Meyers and his wife, Florence for $3,600.

ARCHITECTURAL SIGNIFICANCE

345 Vincent Place is an excellent example of an Arts and Crafts style bungalow which enjoyed popularity from around 1915 through 1929. This one-story house has a dominant front-facing jerkinhead gable, grouped windows, wide eaves with brackets and uniquely, it has false half-timbering that is reminiscent of the Tudor Revival Style.

Sources: 2019 Heritage Plaque Application; Audio: TextAloud