425 BILLINGS STREET

HISTORIC SIGNIFICANCE

425 Billings Street was built for Ole and Gorine Steen in 1909. Ole was born in North Odal, Norway on November 9, 1867 and immigrated to the United States in 1887. Ole was a pensioner of the Elgin National Watch Company, however, prior to coming to Elgin, he worked at the Dueber-Hampden Watch Company in Canton, Ohio, The South Bend Watch Company, which was located in Indiana and the Illinois Watch Company located in Springfield. Ole worked for the Elgin National Watch Company for 37 years, retiring in 1932. He married Gorine Shepstad in 1908 and had one son, Harvey. When Gorine passed away in 1927, Ole continued to live at 425 Billings Street until 1929 when he moved in with the Palmer Edwardson family at 333 Billings Street

ARCHITECTURAL SIGNIFICANCE

425 Billings Street is an excellent example of the Craftsman Style Bungalow. It is a one-and-a-half story brick house with stairs that lead up to a recessed front entry porch. The home has several distinctive characteristics including its side gable with a prominent front dormer and its expansive front porch. The porch and stair railings are not historic.

TIMELINE OF PREVIOUS OWNERS

 

Sources: 2009 Heritage Plaque Application; Audio: TextAloud