William & Harriet Lipe Home Part Two

William & Harriet Lipe Home Part Two

History of a Macomb Grand Old Lady at 704 South Lafayette Street

“Take another look before you lock my door Where your shoes have worn the finish from my floor Listen to my banging pipes and my creaking stair Let your boy slide down my bannister once more I’ll remember where you hid the extra key Where the hammer and the bandaids used to be I will smell your morning coffee in the air And I’ll see you hanging tinsel on the tree”.

- This Old House by Craig Bickhardt and Thom Schuyler ********** William Mitchell Lipe was born in McDonough County in 1840 to Francis and Lucinda Shumate Lipe. Francis owned a dry goods store in Fandon and had a “barn full of horses” in Macomb.

Young William would later become the first known telegrapher in Macomb. He also owned a grocery store at 8 West Side Public Square in Macomb for some 20 years, beginning while in his thirties.

Although Lipe only lived 51 years, eight months and one day, it’s apparent that he was a “mover and shaker” in his time and in Macomb.

William ventured west searching for gold during the “Gold Rush Days,” was a stockholder in the county fair association, and served as county treasurer and county supervisor.

In 1861, Lipe married Harriet Leach of the Spring Creek neighborhood. Their three daughters were Louise Brooking, Addie Hendee and Ruth Huston. The Lipe family owned the entire 700 block of South Lafayette Street in Macomb and it was referred to as the Lipe Subdivision.

At some point in time Willam and Harriet decided to build a house on their property, and for awhile it was the only house on the entire block. The Macomb Journal printed the following post in August of 1884: “Wm. M. Lipe is preparing to commence the erection of a fine dwelling house on his lots on South Lafayette Street, near the fairground”.

The builder for the large, two-story home would be J.W. Churchill, and the property most likely also had a carriage house in the rear.

The Lipe Home, (as I have named it and I hope it sticks), is one of Macomb’s historic homes sketched in artist David Badger’s book “The Badger Collection Presents Macomb, Illinois.”

According to Badger, the house was built in the Folk Victorian style (1870-1910).

The identifying features include: - A side-gabled roof - Two stories - A centered gable with elaborate decorations (cross bracing, fish scale shingles) - Gable head wood window surrounds - Wraparound porch with painted classical columns One can only imagine the pride of William and Harriet Lipe of their finished home.

An early photo shows the house before landscaping, a white or off-white painted outside with possibly dark red trim. And sitting to the south of the grand home was a swing set, as the Lipes had three little girls. The swing set brings the concept home that this was a real living, breathing family. Not unlike families of today, with swing sets in their yards.

William Mitchell Lipe did not get to live in his dream home for long. One can only picture that sadness that befelled the City of Macomb when he passed away, in his home, at age 51. The Macomb Journal printed on April 26, 1892, that William was “for years an active business man and an enterprising gentleman ready to give his influence and aid to any public enterprise for the better of Macomb. He was two years treasurer of McDonough County, and for years a member of the board of supervisors. He leaves a wife and three children.”

William only lived in his home for eight years, and the funeral was held in his stately residence at 704 South Lafayette Street.

Research shows that his wife remained in the house for some years, and that at one time her daughter Addie Hendee and her husband resided there as well.

According to census records, a daughter Ruth lived at the address as well, as late as 1903.

Then, as what happens to many older homes, it changed hands multiple times over the years, with each new owner trying to update and modernize the structure. The beauty of the home began to fade as many times health failed or money was tight and cosmetic attention was not possible.

Shrubs grew unchecked and hid the front of the William Mitchell Lipe house. One of Macomb’s Grand Old Ladies was in jeopardy of even possibly being torn down. See Part One of my story to learn what has since happened to the house, giving it a new lease on life.

“I’ve been strong and I’ve been sturdy And I’ve weathered every storm I’ve always kept your family safe and warm Now you’re packing up the laughter And you’re sweeping out the tears If this old house was built on memories I would stand a thousand years This old house, this old house If this old house was built on memories I would stand a thousand years”.

- This Old House by Craig Bickhardt and Thom Stay tuned for Part 3 - A Message from Reno, Nevada says “I lived in that house”.

Kenny Boblak, shares memories of growing up at 704 South Lafayette Street.

Credits for this article: Allen Nemec, McDonough County Genealogical Society “Images of the Past” Sue Scott, Western IllinoisMuseum Marla Vizdal , McDonough County Genealogical Society The David Badger Collection Presents Macomb of Illinois by David Badger.

The Macomb Journal