PRESERVATIONAND CONSERVATIONASSOCIATION

Volume 16 November-December, 1996 Number 6

Focus on: Lincoln Building

Located at the southwest comer of East Main and Market streets in downtown Champaign, the Lincoln Building was nominated to the National Register of Historic Places for Architecture as a local- ly significant example of the Commercial Style. With its tripartite division of base, shaft, and capital; fixed storefront sash and second story display sash, each with transoms; and regularly spaced double- hung upper story windows, the Lincoln Building represents a state-of-the-art store/ office building for early twentieth century Champaign. Five stories tall and fireproof in construction, the mottled brown brick building with Oassical North and east elevations of the Lincoln Building, 44 East Main Street, Champaign. (Alice Revival inspired brown terra cotta trim Novak, 1996) and a copper cornice includes fine materials and solid construction, an ap- the style of these evolving late nineteenth Characteristics of the Commercial Style propriately handsome building built by and turn of the century buildings may be include a building height of five to six- one of Champaign's most prominent open to debate, but typically, some teen stories; steel skeleton construction families. The interior of the Linmln Build- variety of these buildings get lumped into with masonry wall surfaces; minimal, if ing features an extensive use of marble, the term "Commercial Style." Marcus any, projections from the facade plane; terrazzo, and wood trim in its office cor- Whiffen credits the first use of the term in flat roofs; level parapets or mrnices; 1/1 ridors of intact suites with single light print to an anonymous editor of four double-hung sash; prismatic transoms; doors and three-light interior corridor volumes of IndustriJlIChicago,published and minimal applied ornament. By far, transoms. Today, the building's architec- in 1891. Cites Whiffen, the greatest element of the style is win- ture and impressive high degree of in- The CommercialStyle is.thetitle suggested dows, mmprising much of Commercial tegrity contribute to this building's mn- by thegreat officeand mercantilebuildings Style buildings' main facades. The result tinu~ landmark presence in downtown nowfound here. The requirements ofcom- of the total area of glass exceeding that of Champaign. The period of significance is merceand the business principles of reales- the brick (or other structural or facing 1916, representing the building's date of tate owners calledthis style into life. Light, material) is a skeletal appearance. H any completion. The building was designed space,air and strength were demandedby ornamentation is used on the building, it by prominent local architect HR Temple, such requirements and principles as thefirst is clearly ancillary to the fenestration. who had an office in the Lincoln Building objectsand exterior ornamentation as the Wmdows of this style are rectangular, upon its opening. second. very large, and variously divided; the The second principle of the aforemen- fenestration pattern, whether of single or Commercial Style tioned-exterior ornamentation-opens grouped windows, is quite regular. One companion stylistic comparisons: Rich- popular form of grouped window used Technical advances such as steel skeleton ardsonian Romanesque, Sullivanesque, in the Commercial Style became known construction, elevators, electric lights, and and even Classical Revival. The term as the window-a broad central telephones contributed to the innovation "Chicago Style" also mmes into con- 'fixed sash flanked by narrow double- of the "," which, at the turn of sideration. Whiffen notes the tendency hung sash. In still other examples, win- the century, was any building five stories toward crediting Chicago as the birth- dows are located in semi-hexagonal bays or taller. With the steel skeleton support- place of the Commercial Style, as well as which extend the entire height of the ing the building, walls were new territory the city in which the style reached its ul- building (above the first or second for design changes, chiefly in a greatly in- timate development. He credits the stories). Typically, facades are terminated creased percentage of wall space oc- period of the Commercial Style from 1875 in mrnices, varying from plain to highly cupied by windows. What, exactly, to call through 1915. demrative treatments. Built in 1915-16, the Lincoln Building in on the Lincoln Building is not surprising. Harry Roberts Temple was a 1900 Champaign is a relatively late example of The Oassical Revival style was especially graduate of the architecture program at the Commercial Style. By the 188Os,the popular for public buildings from the the University of at Urbana-cham~ style was already popular in New York, turn of the century to the mid-twentieth paign. Nelson Strong Spencer, a native of Chicago, and other large Eastern and century, havirig gained prominence Dixon, lllinois, was an 1882 graduate of Midwestern cities. Despite William Le- through its use at the 1893 World's the same program. Spencer Was an in- Baron Jenney's early examples of build- Columbian Exposition in Chicago and the structor in the Department of Architec- ings in the style (First Leiter Building, 1901 Pan-American Exhibition in San ture from 1880-83; from 1898-1902,he 1879 and the , Francisco. The exposition planners of the was Superintendent of Buildings and 1884-85, both in Chicago), some of the Chicago fair mandated a classical theme, Grounds at the University. (Spencer more notable Commercial Style buildings with many of the eta's noted architects would appear to have been a good ac- of the style's earliest period were designing dramatic colonnaded buildings quaintance of Professor Nathan Oifford designed by Adler and Sullivan. Included arranged around a central court. The Ricker, as Spencer's first child was named are the Troescher Building (the Chicago widely attended exposition inspired ar- Clifford Ricker Spencer.) The Spencer and Joint Board Building), 1884; the Wirt Dex- chitectural fashion around the country. Temple partnership lasted from 1908 to ter Building, 1887; and, at the end of that Located approximately 120 miles south 1914, according to city directories. The period, the Wainwright Building in St. of Chicago, Champaign-Urbana could firm's office was first at 55 North Neil Louis, designed in 1890, and exhibiting hardly be considered an architectural Street, then later moved to 72-1/2 North the Sullivanesque treatment. mecca, but the architectural trends which Neil Street, downtown Champaign loca- In the 1890s, the Chicago basedar- had inspired the nation were seen here as tions. Among the numerous local designs chitectural firm of Holabird and Roche be- well. The second story display windows by the Spencer and Temple firm are the came the most'successful firm specializ- of the Lincoln Building are not on any First Baptist Church, 1899, Champaign; ing in commercial work in the city. Their other puildings in Champaign-Urbana. the Masonic Temple, 1912, Urbana; and Tacoma Building, 1887-89 represented This element is at least reminiscent of (if the Mahomet Graded School, 1904. their first attempt at the Commercial not directly inspired by) the Adler and Temple worked with James White, the Style; demolished in 1929, that building Sullivan designed Guaranty (Prudential) University of lllinois's architect, on the was in the vertical bay mode of the style. Building in Buffalo, New York, 1895, and design of the University/s Agriculture En- Later examples of the firm's use of the the CarSon, Pirie, Scott and Company gineering Building at 1208 West Peabody. style, including the Marquette Building of Store, Chieago, 1899. The idea oEbase, The Lincoln Building represents one of, if 1893, discontinued that mode, uSing in- shaft, and capital tripartite vertical not the first, designs by Temple on his stead, broad rectangular windows extend- divisions of the building was a popular own. Spencer left for Chicago where he ing the full width of structural bays. Con- trend attributed to Sullivan. While some- had an office on Van Buren Street. Temple temporaneously, Sullivan was employing timE!sarchitectural stylistic categories resided at 909 West Church Street in facades with piers and spandrels in the may be subjective, few, if any, Cham- Champaign, a stucco, English Revival same plane, with long horizontal lines at paign-Urbana buildings would be clas- house; whether he designed the house is the siIllevels being unbroken. Examples sified as Commercial Style. not known. He eventually left Cham- are the Meyer Building, 1893, and the Car- Champaign-Urbana's architectural paign for the Quad Cities. Temple died in son, Pirie, Scott and Company Store, preferences favored the Oassical Revival Italy in 1923. 1899, both in Chicago. style or at least classical architectural ele- The building resume of the Lincoln The Lincoln Building in Champaign ments. The Inman Hotel, the First Nation- Building's contractors-the English fits well within the defining elements of al Bank Building, and the Masonic Brothers-reads as a "Who's Who" of sig- the Commercial Style. Five stories in Temple, all within a few blocks of each nificant buildings in Champaign and Ur- height, the Lincoln Building is con- other, are Classical Revival in influence or bana, and particularly at the University structed of structural steel encased in style, although varying considerably in of lllinois campus. In addition to the lin- fireproof material with the exterior waIls degree of detail. The style was also ap- coln Building, among the credits of the clad in mottled brown brick with brown parently favored by HR. Temple, as, in English Brothers are the Auditorium terra cotta trim. The facades are flat with addition to the Lincoln Building, Temple Building, LincoJ,nHall, the Ceramics the exception of a light well on the east. (then with Spencer and Temple) designed Building, the Administration Building, The full entablature is nearly flat or level, the Inma~ Hotel and the Masonic Temple the Wesley Foundation, the Stadium, the with the exception of shields which in Urbana. The Spencer and Temple "New Library,"McKinleyHospital, the . project periodically only slightly above design for the Champaign High School "New Men's Gymnasium," the Women's the copper fascia of the cornice. Wmdows also used Oassical Revival elements. Building, the Agronomy Building, the are large 1/1 double-hung sash; display Opened in 1914, the school was later Floriculture Building, and the Stock Judg- windows have prismatic transoms. The renamed Central School then Edison ing Building on the University's campus. building's applied Oassical Revival orna- Junior High School. As with Mr. Temple, the English Brothers ment is clearly ancillary to its fenestra- Designed by prominent local architect became tenants in the Lincoln BUilding tion. The front section of the building is HR. Temple, the Lincoln Building was upon its opening. During their tenure in monopolized by large storefront sash part of a new, modem era of building in the Lincoln Building, English Brothers (originally with prismatic transoms) on downtown Champaign. As a result of received the contract to construct the first story, and large display sash with downtown Champaign fires, including a Chanute Field in nearby Rantoul; the con- three-light transoms on the second story. blaze in 1915 which destroyed several tract was awarded on May 22,1917, with The upper stories are dominated by large businesses, fireproof construction was em- completion called for within sixty days. 1/1 double-hung sash. The facade ter- phasized in advertising. Included in the minates in a full entablature with Classi- ''boom'' with the Lincoln Building were cal Revival elements. the Inman Hotel (1915) and the Lewis The use of Classical Revival ornament Department Store (1915)...... _.- -. . -. ...- ... __u .._ -

The Kuhn Family following the end of World War II. In his The Lincoln Building conclusion, Isaac Kuhn states: The Lincoln Building was built by Isaac Lim:oln expressed [democracy] in his day Anticipation for the opening of Cham- Kuhn with his father, Joseph. Joseph for himself and for America-'with malice paign's new, modem "mercantile and of- Kuhn was a pioneer Champaign mer- toward none, with charity for all. ' Democracy fice building" was great, with an article chant, the city's oldest clothier and meant-and still ttWlns-the rejection oflJig- on the building's opening making front founder of the Joseph Kuhn Oothiers. otry, the devotion to justice, the pursuit of page news in the local newspaper three His son Isaac followed well in his father's liberty and equality of opportunity to all, months before the building was opened. footsteps, becoming known as "the man regardless of descent, denomination or in- With a photograph accompanying the ar- who built Main Street." come. Democracy ttWlnt-and ttWlns-the ticle, four bold faced headings were Joseph Kuhn was born in Germany in government of the nation in keeping with given: ''Fine Lincoln Building Now Near- 1835, the son ofIsaac and Sarah Herz such principles by the people. Who are the ing Finish," ''Expected Handsome Struc- Kuhn. The elder Kuhn was a farmer and people?You and I, and our next door neigh- ture Will be Ready by April 1," "Absolute- stock dealer. Apparently in an effort to es- bors. ly Fireproof," and "Bas Relief Tablet Will cape recruitment by the German army, he Kuhn's words and his obvious inspira- Occupy Conspicuous Place in Large emigrated to America, arriving in Missis- tion from Lincoln are particularly mean- Lobby on the First Floor." The article com- sippi at the age of nineteen; a sister of his ingful in the context of coming from a mented on the "remarkable feature" of was living there at the time. Joseph first generation American of German the building having been under construc- worked for his brother-in-law from 1857 Jewish parents, after millions of Jews had tion mostly during the winter months until 1862 when he was drafted into the been murdered by the Nazis in horrific with not a single week's delay. High- Confederate army. He served with the contradiction to Lincoln's words. Accord- lighted were the bUilding's extensive ter- Confederate forces for about thirteen ing to one newspaper article, "When razzo floors, adding an expense of $6,000 months before taking ''French leave," ally- .Hitler's persecutions began, Mr. Kuhn to the building's construction costs. ing himself with a Federal outpost and dug into his pockets to aid a number of Originally, the terrazzo floors were only being sent to New Orleans. Joseph Kuhn persons to come to this country, even as to be in the lobby and corridors, with ended up in Lafayette, Indiana in 1863 his father had left Germany three quar- finished cement floors in the offices, but where he worked until moving to Cham- ters of a century earlier. He continued this the new tenants were pleasantly sur- paign County in the latter part of 1864. interest with refugees of World War II." prised with the extensive use of terrazzo. In 1865, he opened a store on University Isaac Kuhn was widely noted for his in- The walls of the lobby (and the walls of Avenue in Champaign. Kuhn was mar- volvement in the Jewish community and the toilets) were reported as Kasota ried that year, to Lena Loeb of Cincinnati; his charity locally. He had a keen interest marble, "an expensive marble obtained in she was also a German immigrant. Two in the welfare of Jewish students at the the northern part of Minnesota and never years later, he moved his store to a build- University of nlinois, but his assistance used in a Champaign building Until this ing at 45 Main which he purchased. and support to non-Jewish groups was time." A bronze tablet with a carved bust Before 1905, he bought the adjacent build- equally as extensive. He was active with of Abraham Lincoln in bas relief and a ing to increase his store's capacity; by the Grand Prairie Lodge and the Oeve- quotation from his message to Congress 1905, a third building was added. land Orphans' home. He served on the in 1861 ("The struggle of today is not al- Isaac Kuhn (born September 11, 1866) first B'nai B'rith Hillel commission and together for us but is also for the vast fu- was one of Joseph's and Lena's seven was credited with being one of the ture.") was to be placed on the wall of the children, the only one to join Joseph in primary movers in the founding of the lobby and opposite the building's direc- business. His brother, Arthur, was in busi- Hillel movement. He was also an ardent tory. The newspaper reported that the ness in Alabama and Rudolph was a supporter of the Wesley Foundation on rooms had been designed to the "wishes traveling salesman. Isaac began in the the University's campus and the Mc- of those who will.occupy them and as a business when he was seventeen, in 1883. Kinley YMCA. Eclectic in his interests, in result no two floors of the building are In 1888,Joseph took Isaac, the eldest son, 1930, Kuhn provided the handmade suit layed oufany thing alike." Metal cabinets into partnership; on April 14, 1904, the which was worn by the University's were to be furnished in all of the offices. business was incorporated as Joseph Chief nliniwek; the suit was made by the A large vault on each floor was designed Kuhn and Company. By 1905, Isaac was Sioux Indian tribe in Rapid City, South to receive a "strong box" for each tenant noted as relieving his father of much of Dakota. The Chief tradition, created by on that floor. Each suite was also the business responsibility. The building Ray Dvorak in 1926, and the suit, con- provided with hot and cold water. at 33-35 East Main Street was erected in tinues albeit with controversy today. The Lillard & Getman furniture store 1908 as new quarters for the company's Kuhn was married to Rose Adler of York, was announced as the building's main store. Joseph Kuhn died in December 27, Pennsylvania. They had four daughters. tenant for the east side of the first and en- 1915 after spending a full day at his store. Isaac Kuhn continued daily trips to his tire second stories, with display windows The Lincoln Building would have been store beyond his 86th year. He died on on the first and second stories. Applica- under construction at that time. January 21,1956 at the age of eighty-nine. tions had been received from several out- Isaac Kuhn's affinity for Abraham Lin- His importance in the community is il- . of-town potential tenants for the west coln is reflected in the naming of his new, lustrated in part by the news of his side of the first story, but owner Isaac modem office building. Later in 1946, death-the top headline and full-length Kuhn was looking for a local firm. The Isaac went so far as to publish a book of article on the front page of The News- building was equipped with a "large selected articles on Lincoln, composing Gazette. The Champaign-Urbana Courier size" Otis passenger elevation, in addi- ) the Foreword and Conclusion himself. also carried the news on its front page. tion to a freight elevator geared toward r AbrahamLincoln:A VastFuturewas pub- the furniture store, but available to all lished in celebration of the 80th anniver- tenants. Most exciting was the feature sary of the Joseph Kuhn and Company "entirely new in building plans in [Cham- store, an understandably patriotic treatise paign]." This was the "sun parlor" and "observatory tower." The sun parlor was Building quarters, the newspaper sixty-three rooms were under lease before a glassed-in room in the lower position reported that the rooms were large, un- the building opened. Oeverly, the on top of the building; the observatory usually well-lighted, and elegantly building's owners had been soliciting was above, from which nearly all parts of finished. Quite the downtown Cham- downtown Champaign lawyers who he city could be seen and" even the vil- paign event, Lillard and Getman's open- were in "walk-ups" (second story spaces lages of Leverett and Savoy." Reportedly ing was front page news. The opening fea- accessed by only stairCases) for rental a test of the building's structure was tured an orchestra and flowers were dis- deals in the proposed state-of-the-art lin- made by placing forty-five tons of mat- tributed as souvenirs "to the ladies." The coln Building, complete with elevator erial in the west room of the third floor, music and flowers were featured in the and design as you wish office suites. with no effect being noted according to morning when the doors were opened, Today, lawyers and other professional the reports of engineers. This represented and again in the evening from 7 -9 p.m. offices continue to occupy the Lincoln "several more tons of steel than was re- Factory representatives were also present Building, with plenty of space available

quired by the Chicagospecifications." , for several of the furniture lines. for more occupants. The two storefront Interestingly for this Champaign ver- Only about a week after the lead spaces are fairly consistently available for sion of the Commercial Style, another tenant's opening, Isaac Kuhn placed an rent, with the Champaign County comparison was made with Chicago: advertisement for the building, proclaim- Democrats occupying the west half peri- "Monday, May 1, which is always the oc- ing the building's "Fire-Proof, High odically (usually every two years, elec- , casion for a'wholesale shifting of tenants Grade Construction." This advertisement tion years.) A barber shop is still located in Chicago, will also be signalized by was part of what the newspaper had on one of the upper floors. Occasionally quite a bit of shifting in Champaign, par- noted were Mr. Kuhn's plans to "intro- artists rent the observatory for studio ticularly among office tenants." The first duce many things never before done in space. The building continues to con- tenants were to IJ10vein that day, with Champaign business operations." In- tribute substantially to downtown Cham- others to follow as soon as their spaces cluded among these plans was an adver- paign, serving as one of the anchor build- were completed. The furniture store had tising campaign to have weekly advertise- ings in the core of the downtown. Its inte- partially moved into its spaces; the third ments for six months listing the an- rior spaces are still very much intact, with and fourth floors were for offices and the nouncements of every tenant in the build- interior windows providing light to office fifth floor was for offices and lodge ing. The initial advertisement continued, suites detailed with woodwork and ter- rooms. The Knights of Columbus had The Lincoln But1dingis Champaign's razzo flooring. The building is owned by leased the southeast portion of the fifth newest officeand business but1dingand right- the grandson of Isaac Kuhn, Dr. William floor with five "immense rooms" for ly named becauseit is a but1ding'for the Youngerman, and Mrs. Ruth Younger- lodge and club purposes. people.' The rental is such as to benefit the oc- man, one of Isaac Kuhn's daughters. The Champaign Dat1yGazettefeatured a cupants and not to enrichen the owners. This article was condensedfrom the Lincoln rendering of the Lincoln Building in its You arecordially invited tolook through Building National Register nomination Monday,May 22, i916 newspaper, with ' the bul1ding.A few officesareyet to be rented written by Alice Novak and Kmen Kummer the heading "New Home of Lillard and and if you need an office, be one of the for- ofArchiSearch, a lo~l historic preservation Getman." Billed as a prominent furniture tunate ones. Therewt11bea slight advance in consulting firm. The bUl1dingwas listed on firm, the store ~pened that day, occupy- rents July 1st. the Register in August, 1996. ing half of the first floor, all of the second Occupancy by lawyers was not surpris- floor, and half of the basement, ap- ing, nor was the degree to which the proximately 20,000 square feet in total building was apparently occupied by the Commenting on the store's new Lincoln time it opened. Fifty-one of the building's

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Make checks payable to: PACA, Box2S55,Station A, Champaign, Illinois 61825 An Ordinance is Passed! tion form or nominations can be Called to New &: Renewing Members PACA at 328-7222. Deadline for submis- Alice Berkson Jeff Johnson After twenty years of lobbying and prod- sion of nominations is January 15, 1997. ing, in November the City of Champaign The following is a list of 1996 awards. Mr. &:Mrs. LynnAItenbemd Neill Schurter passed Champaign County's first historic preservation ordinance. Contained within Residential Heritage Award Jack Waaler Family the 1996 Zoning Ordinance, Article IX ·505 East Warren Street Fred &:Jody Seibold creates a Champaign Historic Preserva- St. Joseph Dan &:Tori Corkery tion Commission. The seven member Tony &:Mary Graham · 606 West Washington Street Usa Foster commission is charged with identifying Champaign buildings and areas within the City that ·108 North Webber Street Doug &:Linda Mills Peter &:Colleen Bushell are historically significant, advising the Urbana Plan Commission and the Council on · 200 East Newkirk Mr. George T. Clayton David &:Jan Sholem designating such property or areas as Tuscola either Landmarks or as Conservation or Sarah &:Eric van Rens Jeff &:Cathy Cunningham Historic Districts, and reviewing Certifi- Commercial Heritage Award Dorothy Neumann cates of Appropriateness for designated Novak &:Jones Law Offices · Mrs. L.E. Doyle properties. Urbana Charles Smyth PACA is now eagerly awaiting the ap- · Shurts House Inn Colleen & Bruce Brodie pointment of commission members and Savoy urges interested Champaign PACA mem- Mary &:Lock Blair ·Radio Maria Zarina M. Hock bers to seek appointment. In addition, Champaign owners of historically and architecturally Francis & Heather Young Sheila Goldberg significant properties or neighborhoods Landmark Heritage Award containing a concentration of such build- AltgeldHall, Ul Salvage Y.I.P.s ings should contact the Plan Department · ·Tina Weedon Smith Memorial Hall, Ul Bob Swisher Tony Barnert about nqminating the property under the Alice Novak Experimental Dairy Farm Historic Dis- Gary Perkins new ordinance. · Rich Cahill trict, Ul Art Zangerl Cheri Chenoweth Perry Morris Glen Gerdemann Leo Hoponoa Heritage Award Nominations Environmental Heritage Award AI Friederick Mike Miller Sought · Urbana Street Light Program Pius Weibel

The Heritage Award Committee is seek- Rescue Heritage Award ing nominations for the 1997 Heritage ·Center for Women in Transition Awards. Recent restoration, rehabilita- Salvage Donations University of Illinois tion, or adaptive use of historic buildings Oomph! Award City of Champaign in Champaign County are eligible for ·613 West Stoughton Street Champaign Unit 4 School District nomination. Owners, developers, ar- , Urbana Russ Green chitects, or contractors are urged to ·Habitat for Humanity Karen Brandecki nominate their own buildings or projects. 210 West Maple &:707 North Elm Enclosed in this newsletter is a nomina- Hunsinger Enterprises, Inc. Champaign

PACA Newsletter Art Zanger!. President Bruce Creamer, Vice-President NON-PROFIT ORG. Tony lamert, Secretary Rich CabiO, Treasurer U.S. POSTAGE Karen Lang Kammer, Exec. Diredo PAID CHAMPAlGN.IL 328-PACA: Telephone &:Answering Service PERMIT NO. 133

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