359 PARK STREET
HISTORIC SIGNIFICANCE
The original owners of 359 Park Street were Edward and Cordelia Barclay. Edward and Cordelia had one son, Arthur, who later went to fight in World War I. Edward Barclay was the son of a hardware dealer who was very civic minded. His father, David, was one of Elgin's early Mayors, a Fire Chief and President of the Elgin Board of Trade. Edward worked in his father's business until the time of his death in 1903.
Cordelia came from a prominent Florida family. She held a high position in the Woman's Club, the Every Wednesday Literary club and the Southern Woman's club. During World War I, she was one of the highest ranking members of the Red Cross and sewed the Red Cross flag that flew over Elgin's City Hall. In 1919, Cordelia passed away at Saint Luke's Hospital.
ARCHITECTURAL SIGNIFICANCE
359 Park Street is a High Victorian, Queen Anne home, built by Smith Hoag. Hoag was a prominent, local contractor in Elgin and worked on many homes and public buildings in the area. These include the Opera House (razed), the Dickinson Flats at Chicago and Chapel, and the Philip Freiler home on Douglas Avenue. Some of the distinctive touches Hoag included in his home designs were the soaring third floor attic spaces, decorative parade porches and elaborate shingle work.
TIMELINE OF PREVIOUS OWNERS
Sources: 2015 Heritage Plaque Application