833 N SPRING STREET
HISTORIC SIGNIFICANCE
The 1905-1906 Elgin City Directory does not list 833 Spring Street, but by the 1906-1907edition, it has arrived. The first Elgin City Directory to list the home at 833, shows an Arthur and Mabel Kerr as owners, with Arthur’s occupation, noted as a post office worker.
Arthur was born to parents Caldwell Kerr and Esther Jane Eckley Kerr, who have been laid to rest in the Kane County area. Instead, Arthur, who was born in 1868, is buried with his wife in California, suggesting they may have moved there after living in Elgin.
Both Arthur and Mabel were American born with parents from Ireland and Canada, respectively. Continually rising numbers of immigrants moving to the Midwest was proving to be a growing trend, particularly in cities like Elgin that lured immigrants and their families with steady work and the excitement of city style living.
In 1911, a Dr. George B. Atchinson, D.D.S. resided in the home
ARCHITECTURAL SIGNIFICANCE
833 N. Spring Street is a fine example of the American Foursquare form with Colonial Revival stylistic features. The symmetrical, four square shaped, floor plan is the biggest marker of the form named Foursquare. The hipped roof and hipped dormers are often seen on styles with this form and are also seen here. The full-width porch, also common to this architectural form, is where the biggest character-defining features of the Colonial Revival style are seen. The round, Doric order columns and decorative wood railing with the highly decorative, dentil pedimented gable above the front porch entrance typify the Colonial Revival style.
TIMELINE OF PREVIOUS OWNERS
Sources: 1995 Heritage Plaque Application; Audio: TextAloud