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917.7355 Il 6r 1934 cop.I
RECORD
CEOF THE20
RESTORATION OF® SALEM
THE LIBRARY OF THE UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS
NEW SALEM STATE PARK
NEAR PETERSBURG ILLINOIS 1932-1933
DIVISION OF ARCHITECTURE & ENGINEERING C.HERRICK HAMMOND ~ SUPERVISING~ARCHITECT
ILLINOIS HISTORICAL SURVEY
7
1
TRADES MAILU STOR COUNCIL
7
( 32108)
V
RECORD OF THE RESTORATION OF NEW SALEM
1
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THE LIBRARY OF THE UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS
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NEW SALEM
General view looking east, showing left to right, the two-story home of Samuel Hill, the Hill- McNamar store. the Berry-Lincoln store and the home and shop of Peter Lukins and Alex. Ferguson
RECORD
of the
Restoration of New Salem
New Salem State Park
Near Petersburg, Illinois
1932-1933
7 2 29 1304
WMICORRAUF LLINOR
Second Edition
Supervised by the DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC WORKS AND BUILDINGS STATE OF ILLINOIS HENRY HORNER. Governor
ROBERT KINGERY, Director AND THE Division of Architecture and Engineering C. HERRICK HAMMOND, F. A. I. A., Supervising Architect.
BY JOSEPH F. BOOTON, Chief Draftsman.
[Printed by authority of the State of Illinois.]
COPYRIGHT 1934 STATE OF ILLINOIS DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC WORKS AND BUILDINGS
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1
MAP OF NEW SALEM 1829-1839 SHOWING PRESENT ROADS AND PARK BUILDINGS
1 CLALTS GROCERY 16 HENRY ONSTETS FIRST RESIDENCE
2 DENTON OFFUT'S STORE
17
NEWLY ONSTOYS FIRST COOPER SHOP
3 BERRY-LINCOLN STOLE
ROWAN HERNDON
A HILL - MENAMAR STOLE
14 HERNION BROS. STORE
S SAMUEL HILL
( FIRST BERLY LINCOLN STORE)
DR. FRANCIS REGNIER 20 HILLS CALIING MACHINE
DR. JOHN OLLEN
AU! WOOL HOUSE
9
PETER LUKINS
21
MARTIN WARDELL
22 ISAAC GOLLOMER
10, ROBERT JOHNSON
23. TRENT BROTHERS
=
MILLER ANG KELSO
24 PHILEMON MORRIS
--
M
13. HENRY ONSTOT
. THE RUTLEDGE TAVERN (BALE HOUSE)
15 JOHN COMRON
NE
FIRST SURVEY
GENDER PULLING GROUND
ILVA
C
C
0
BRANCH
R I
20
VE
R
GRAVINE
SECTION . IV/2
SYMBOLS:
OLD ROADS PRESENT ROADS
CABINS RESTORED 1432-1923
CEMETARY.
CABINS TO BE RESTORED
26.25
PARM BUILDINGS ** WOODED AREA
35 36.
DRAWN ST AJ BARTH.
AND
PRESENT ROAD TO PETERSBURG
CHANDLERVILLE
H
Roce QUEARY
w-SAN GE
PerSENT BANK
BLUFF
A
12 HENRY ONSTOT'S COOPER, SHOP
1829
SOUTH BANK
SEGOND · SURVEY
Y
MSP CN 1933
SCALE IM FEET 364 100
0
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917,7355 Il6r 1934
cap 1
PREFACE
The first edition of the "Record" was printed in mimeograph form and forty copies were made and distributed to those who contributed to the work, to libraries and others deeply interested in the restoration. Its primary purpose was to record the available facts and explain the deductions. The subsequent interest in the book has been sufficient to warrant this second edition in printed form. As the work develops, future editions will be printed. in which the history of the restoration will be brought to date.
The restoration work was started during the administration of Governor Louis L. Emmerson and carried on to completion after the inauguration of Governor Henry Horner. Both have taken active parts in the work of restoring this famous little village.
H. H. Cleveland, former Director of Public Works and Buildings and Henry H. Kohn, former Director of the Department of Purchases and Construction, deserve mention for their intense interest in this project.
It is gratifying to note that the spirit established by those in charge at the outset has not been lost or changed but carried forward with even greater intensity. Governor Horner and Robert Kingery, Director of Public Works and Buildings, have taken up the work where their predecessors left off and supervised the work to its present state of partial completion.
This task is a never ending one. Even after the entire town has been fully restored and the facilities devoted to the public completed, the problems of maintenance and policies of public control will always present themselves to those in charge. The restoration work should always take precedence over the public features, and while the latter are important to the comfort and convenience of the visitors and employees, under no circumstances should they be allowed to encroach upon the town itself. At all times this shrine should be encouraged to return to its former condition and appearance. In walking through the village one should feel that the clock has been turned back one hun- dred years. Let us hope that this policy will never be changed through the years to come and that the spirit already established will never diminish or change.
J. F. B. July 17th, 1934.
373231
14 Dec 3.7 1 CCC
3 c
2 2 Ung 34
CONTENTS
PAGE
Scope and Purpose
15
Re-Survey of the Town Lots 16
Locating the Cabins
18 Cabin Planning 20
Cabin Construction
23
Dr. John Allen's Residence
27
The Berry-Lincoln Store
30
Clary's Grocery
35
Samuel Hill's Residence. 37
The Hill-MeNamar Store 39
Robert Johnson's Residence 42
Peter Lukins' Residence 44
The Miller and Kelso Residence 46
Denton Offut's Store. 4.9
Henry Onstot's Residence. 52
Dr. Francis Regnier's Office 55
Martin Waddell's Residence 58
The Rutledge Tavern 60
Appendix 6:
FOREWORD
The restoration of New Salem, Abraham Lincoln's home from 1831 to 1837, has been under consideration for the past thirty years. The first active step was taken in 1906 when the citizens of Petersburg engaged the interest of William Randolph Hearst, who was lecturing at the Old Salem Chautauqua in Petersburg. Mr. Hearst at that time purchased the site and conveyed it in trust to the Chautauqua associa- tion. Later in 1917 The Old Salem Lincoln League was formed at Petersburg, to carry on research work and keep alive the interest al- ready aroused. The Chautauqua association, with Mr. Hearst's con- sent, conveyed the site to the State of Illinois to be used as a State Park, and in 1918 the League, with funds raised by popular subscrip- tion, erected several cabins on original sites, built a road, marked other cabin sites and in celebration of the occasion, gave a pageant de- picting scenes of pioneer days.
During the following years the public interest in the Park increas- . ed, and visitors from all parts of the United States came annually to · visit the old town site. Finally, the movement to restore the town gained such momentum that in 1931 the 57th General Assembly passed a bill appropriating $50,000 to the Department of Public Works and Buildings, H. H. Cleaveland, Director, for "Permanent Improvements" at New Salem State Park.1 In anticipation of the Bill, this Division had already begun the research work and during the two years follow- ing its passage every known source throwing light on the project was examined and investigated. The Bill was approved by Governor Em- merson July 2, 1931, and the following year, July 16, the Requisition was signed by the Governor. During the months to follow, the informa- tion was assembled, checked and analyzed, plans and specifications were drawn and advertisements for proposals were published October 21. 1932.
The general contract for the construction of twelve cabins was awarded to English Brothers, general contractors of Champaign, Illi- nois. November 4, 1932; a few days later ground was broken and on November 17, the corner stone, located in the foundation of the Berry- Lincoln Store, was laid by Governor Louis Lincoln Emmerson.
At the present writing, (1934) the construction work of the twelve cabins has been completed, and it is hoped that in the near future the State will find it possible to finish the task and restore the balance of the town.
As stated previously, every known source was examined and the purpose of this RECORD is to show where the material was found and how it was used.
1 Governor Louis L. Emmerson issued a proclamation December 20, 1932, in which the name of the Park was changed to "New Salem State Park". Previous to this date the Park had been known as Old Salem State Park.
We are indebted to Paul M. Angle, Librarian of the Illinois State Historical Library, and Secretary of the Illinois State Historical So- ciety for his sound advice, help in locating sources of information, and constructive criticism. We also wish to acknowledge the help received from Mr. Thomas P. Reep, Author of "Lincoln at New Salem"1, so often quoted on the following pages. He was consulted constantly as this work progressed, and has given his approval to the restoration work accomplished at this time. We are also indebted to the Board of State Park Advisors, especially to Robert Kingery, Secretary, now Director of the Department of Publie Works and Buildings, for valuable sugges- tions, assistance and cooperation : to Miss Ida Bale of Petersburg, Ill., for data pertaining to the Rutledge Tavern and Bale Home. the old roads, and information which helped us to locate the map drawn by Mrs. Samuel Hill; to Mrs. Josephine Craven Chandler, of Havana, Illinois, for her advice and criticism ; to Mrs. Ella R. B. Craig for in- formation pertaining to her grandfather, Dr. Francis Regnier; to J. Colby Beekman for information concerning the Hill-McNamar Store ; to Mr. Charles Holz of Springfield, Ill., for information concerning the restoration of Clary's grocery and to the many others, too numerous to mention individually, who were consulted and spent considerable time and effort to help solve the many perplexing problems and to make the completion of this project possible.
The work thus far accomplished is only a portion of the completed project. It is hoped that in the near future it will be possible to go on with the work, and restore the first Grist and Saw Mill, Rowan Hern- don house. Onstot's first house and Cooper Shop, and John Camron's house in the eastern portion of the town. At present the central por- tion does not include the walls and roof of the Rutledge Tavern, Hern- don Brothers store : and Hill's Carding Machine and wool house. There is yet to be built in the western portion the houses of Isaac Burner, Philemon Morris, Isaac Gollamer and the Trent Brothers.
It is also hoped that the old roads may be restored and properly marked. When the smoke houses. sheds, fences and other minor struc- tures are built and the cabins are surrounded by appropriate planting, the old town will really seem to live again.
1 Record of the investigations of the Old Salem Lincoln League.
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9
SCOPE AND PURPOSE
The history of the restoration will be divided into two main divi- sions. The first will include general information pertaining to all cabins, such as the re-survey of the town lot lines, locating the cabin sites, types of cabin plans and cabin construction. The second will in- clude a description of each cabin, the information discovered and as- sembled, and how the restoration was make.
Material for the restoration was assembled from the following sources : (a) excavating the old sites, (b) books, letters and other data written by those who had actually lived or visited the town of New Sa- lem, (c) same material as written by decendents and friends of those who had lived in New Salem, (d) biographies of Abraham Lincoln and other material dealing with Lincoln and his life and career at New Sa- lem, (e) results of the investigations in 1918 by "The Old Salem Lin- coln League", admirably recorded by Thomas P. Reep in his book "Lin- coln at New Salem", (f) books and articles describing the pioneer life in this and other sections of Illinois.
After reading this history of the restoration, one should be able to know where the definite information, as gleaned from sources as out- lined above was used, and where we used our own judgment and imagi- nation, and worked out details as we thought they might have been. Along with the technical data dealing with the construction of the cab- ins, descriptions of the families who occupied them are inserted to pro- vide the atmosphere and background surrounding each structure.
It should be understood that this work deals primarily with the restoration and its research, and does not intend to cover thoroughly the history of the village or its inhabitants. It is hoped that the ref- erences quoted will create a desire on the part of the reader to study the sources and learn more of the history of the town and its interesting people.
15
RE-SURVEY OF THE TOWN LOTS
The hill was surveyed into lots and streets during the summer of 1829 by Reuben S. Harrison. The survey was filed and recorded Octo- ber 23, 18291. The recorded drawing is very brief and gives only a general idea of how the lot corners were originally laid out. The lot numbers are noted, the width of Main Street is given as sixty (60) feet. the lot sizes were determined at 11512 square, the compass direc- tions of Main Street are established, but the width of the cross streets were not given, nor the distance between the first and second survey2. The two surveys were never accurately tied up with section lines and the task of re-locating the lot corners proved to be a difficult one. There are deeds and records of land transactions just north of and adjacent to the town. The description of these transactions tied in with the town lots, and it was thought at the beginning that this would solve the problem, but when an attempt was made to re-survey these parcels of land, the surveyors found that the descriptions were inaccurate and impossible to survey. The compass variations were not given, the acre- age noted as being enclosed by the lines proved to be incorrect, and many other inaccuracies in the descriptions made it impossible to work them out. The surveyors were forced to correct the original descrip- tions as they thought they should have been recorded, and after several attempts, finally arrived at a possible solution. The results obtained were not entirely satisfactory, but they did establish the north and south lines of the first survey. The east and west lines of the first sur- vey lots were determined by the existing foundations. The residences of Dr. Allen and Samuel Hill were located by the excavations and, since the two buildings came within a lot width (11512 feet) with eight feet to spare, the lot lines as established cannot vary with the original more than three or four feet.
The cross streets running north and south were established at forty (40) feet, because it seemed to be a logical width, also because the bluff at the east edge of town established the over-all dimension in which the lots were contained.
The second survey was re-established in the same manner, and the east and west lines were located so that all excavations came within lot boundaries. In this direction they cannot vary more than four or five feet. The north and south lines of the second survey were established more or less parallel with the cabin basements, each side of Main Street
1 County Records.
2 The crest of the hill curves toward the south as it runs west so the lots were divided into two groups, the first and second surveys. The space between the two surveys has been called by some authorities the "public square", but this space is too small for a "square", and since a cabin occurred there it does not seem pos- sible it was intended to serve that purpose.
16
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which was located approximately midway between them, and when the compass direction of the street was checked. it was found that the varia- tion between Main Street of the first surrey and Main Street of the second surrey was the same as recorded, taking into account the yearly variation of the magnetic bearing with the true north, and applying it to the 1033 years which has elapsed since the original surrey was made by Harrison.
Several interesting conditions were discovered. Offut's store did not ocenr on lot 14, north of Main Street, of the first survey, purchased by him. He evidently bought this lot for speculative purposes. A basement was found to lie in the space between the first and second sur- Veys. This is believed to be the site of the Herndon Brothers Store3. Onstot's house was found to lie west of the town lot limits as recorded in Harrison's survey. so extra lots were added, with the assumption that they were sold but never recorded. On the other hand, Onstot may have purchased a small parcel of land west of town, never having it recorded. Since the records are not complete regarding this portion of the town, no one knows whether extra lots were sold or not.
Refer to appendix for complete description of the re-survey pre- pared by Ray V. Tilly, of Wood, Walraven and Tilly, Surveyors. Springfield, Illinois.
3 Later this store became the first "Berry-Lincoln Store" and was the store building which housed this famous enterprise before it moved across the street to the sheathed structure known to us now as the Berry-Lincoln store. It is thought that the builders of the Herndon Brothers' store meant to locate it on the west half of lot 1 South of Main Street, first survey. Evidently a mistake was made, for now its site lies just west of this lot and in the open space between the two surveys.
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LOCATING THE CABINS
DOCTOR ALLEN'S RESIDENCE site was identified by Mrs. Louisa Clary in 1918, for the Old Salem Lincoln League. (See descriptions of Dr. Allen's house and Rutledge Tavern, p. 27 to 29 and 60 to 66 incl.) Since the records show Dr. Allen purchased the lot which contained the basement, it is certain that this cabin is located correctly.
PETER LUKINS' RESIDENCE, according to some maps, was erected just west of Dr. Allen's residence. Other maps show Alexander Fergu- son as having lived in the first cabin west of Dr. Allen. Since Lukins left New Salem early, it is logical to assume they both lived in the same house. The fact that both were shoemakers seems to make the assump- tion more logical. So the first basement west of Dr. Allen's residence was assumed to be that of Peter Lukins' cabin. There are no deeds or transactions which show that Lukins or Ferguson bought the property.
THE BERRY-LINCOLN STORE, HILL-McNAMAR STORE AND THE HILL RESIDENCE lie in the order named, from east to west, on the north side of Main Street, first survey. These cabins are noted in this order on all maps, and their sites were identified in 1918 by Mrs. Clary and others for the Old Salem Lincoln League. Since Samuel Hill owned the lot which contained both his house and store, we are certain that these two are correctly located. The Berry-Lincoln store fies on lot 1, which at one time, according to records. belonged to William G. Green. who rented the store to Berry & Lincoln. This site was identified by many authorities for the Old Salem Lincoln League.
DR. FRANCIS REGNIER bought the west portion of lot 1 north of Main Street, first survey, from Henry Sinco.+ Sinco evidently sold the house and lot to the doctor. The old basement on this portion of lot 1 marked the site of the house owned and occupied by Henry Sinco and Doctor Regnier.
CLARY'S GROCERY AND DENTON OFFUT'S STORE were identi- fied by old settlers and the sites were known many years prior to 1918. when the Old Salem Lincoln League made its investigations. They occur in the eastern portion of town, are isolated and are close together. All agree that they have been located correctly.
ROBERT JOHNSON'S RESIDENCE AND MARTIN WADDELL'S RESIDENCE were established by remains of old basements which occurred where the maps indicated they were. All maps agree as to their location with reference to other cabins, so it is very probable they have been located correctly.
4 County records.
18
HENRY ONSTOT'S COOPER SHOP was located in 1918 by the Old Salem Lincoln League when the shop was purchased and moved from Petersburg to New Salem. Just west of the Cooper shop as it is now located, were remains of an old basement, which probably was the site of Onstot's house. Plans of the house were drawn according to informa- tion furnished by the excavation and the supposed dimensions of the house were compared with the remains of the original house now in Petersburg.5 The comparison showed that the two compared favorably and that undoubtedly the Cooper's house was correctly located.
MILLER AND KELSO'S DOUBLE RESIDENCE was located on the lot Miller bought". A search was made for remains of a basement or foundation, but nothing was found. Maps show their houses in this end of town, and since Miller bought property there, it is logical to assume their honses were on one of his lots.
5 See description of Henry Onstot's Residence-Page 53.
6 Records show he bought lots 9 and 10, and a small tract of land adjacent to the north-north of Main Street, second survey. Sce Pages 68 and 70.
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CABIN PLANNING
It is difficult to understand how the pioneers were able to carry on their numerous family activities within their limited quarters. Their cabins were small and crowded. Their mode of living was simple and in proportion to their wealth and tastes. Poorer families put up with the bare necessities of life, while the ambitious who became well-to-do, built surprisingly splendid homes, considering the obstacles encountered. It seems that the pioneers who settled in New Salem, were ex- credingly energetic and made an attempt to build according to the best standards. Research has proven that the details of cabin construction in this town as well as in this section of Illinois, were more workman- like, and carried to a greater degree of refinement than in southern Illinois, southern Indiana and Kentucky. This may be due to the fact that, having built other earlier cabins on former homesteads, the pio- neers in central Illinois had become more proficient in cabin building. Experience was a good teacher. Most cabins in central Illinois, es- pecially those in New Salem, were neat and tidy, well built and were more than just a shelter from the elements. As a rule, the wall logs were adzed both sides, and both inside and outside surfaces were clean and smooth. After the spaces between the logs were "chinked" with split pieces of wood, wedged in place and "plastered" with clay or lime the cabins were extremely weatherproof and trim. The log corners were fitted together by means of neatly chopped or sawn notehes and the logs were eut off at the corners, leaving no ugly protruding ends.
New Salem builders made use of the Rutledge and Camron saw- mill. and those who could afford it, used sawn material in the construc- tion of their cabins. One structure was completely sheathed with sawn siding™.
Of course, the early cabins of New Salem were simple in construc- tion and found their parallel in those erected elsewhere, on newly eleared land. But as the town grew, and the citizens acquired wealth, ex- port help was hired. Standards rose and cabins erected just prior to the exodus to Petersburg, were fine examples of pioneer architecture. Nails gradually replaced wood pegs: the latch string was replaced by the wrought iron handle, and the saw-mill saved many hours of labor with the axe. Contact with St. Louis and Springfield, during trading visits, made it possible for them to purchase window glass, nails and other refinements not within the reach of the early settler who located far from settlements.
Stone was found in great abundance near by and was used for foundations and fireplaces. Excellent clay and shale were also elose at
7 Berry-Lincoln Store, built in 1830 by George Warburton.
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hand, and hand moulded bricks were used extensively for fireplace man- tels and hearthss. The surrounding country was wooded and furnished the logs for walls, floors, rafters and "clapboards" (shingles). Red and white oak and black walnut were principally used. Construction details will be completely described on the following pages.
The cabins of New Salem, as well as those erected elsewhere on homesteads, consisted usually of one room, measuring about fourteen to sixteen feet in width, and eighteen to twenty feet in length, containing one fireplace, and covered by a hipped-roof. Extra rooms were often added. Sometimes these extra rooms were frame "lean-to" additions with a shed roof. Larger families found it necessary to erect two-room cabins. These were larger and constructed with a log dividing parti- tion. This type was usually built eighteen to twenty feet wide and thirty to forty feet long. The hipped roof ran across both rooms, and a fireplace was built at each end of the structure. A "lean-to" was often added to this type also, mostly on a side wall, and rarely on the end walls unless the fireplace was built of stone".
Another type commonly built especially in the "country" was the "two room and open porch type". It might be described as being two one-room cabins, built ten to fifteen feet apart. Their roofs were joined together, covering the open space between. The floor also was con- tinuous and the covered space between served as a dining room and a sleeping and sitting porch during the hot weather. As the needs of the family grew, lean-to additions were also added to this type.10
There was another crude type of shelter commonly built by the pioneer. Even though no record exists of one having been erected in New Salem, a short description of it might be inserted here. This "three-faced camp", as the name implies, was a temporary structure and served as a shelter until they moved on again, or when on their homestead, until their permanent cabin was completed. It consisted of three log walls, roughly fitted together, unpierced by doors or win- dows, and a roof of poles and clapboards. The fourth side was open and served the combined purpose of door, window, fireplace and chim- ney. The fire was built in the center of the "open wall", and the smoke either blew out in the open or back into the "camp", depending upon the direction of the wind. The floor was of grass, if they were fortu- nate enough to find such a spot, otherwise it was of dirt covered with newly cut grass, to avoid the formation of mud in stormy weather.
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