419 ST. CHARLES STREET
HISTORIC SIGNIFICANCE
419 St. Charles Street was built in 1926 and replaced George Bowen’s 1893 house which was subsequently demolished. Bowen’s original property was one of the most significant properties in the area as this was the location of Hezekiah Gifford’s 16 square foot cabin built in April of 1835.
Hezekiah Gifford was from New York and was lured by the tales of rich soil in Illinois and so in the spring of 1834 he reached the banks of the Fox River by way of the Army Trail. He was delighted by what he found and quickly returned to New York, married and convinced his older brother, James, to accompany him and his new wife, Mary Jane, to Illinois the following spring. Hezekiah aimed to establish a farm and James sought a location for a town. Thus the beginning of Elgin.
ARCHITECTURAL SIGNIFICANCE
This home is what is considered a craftsman style bungalow that was built in 1926 for Peter Jenny. The building cost $6,500 at the time it was constructed. It has a central gabled dormer with 3 over 1 double-hung windows that are grouped together.
Sources: Audio: TextAloud