Converse Manorbuilt 1880

A history of 1125 Main Street

The home at 1125 Main Street stands as a proud

reminder of Peoria’s past. We invite you to explore its

history, celebrate the family and times that created it,

and learn about the people who occupy it today.F

“From the brow of the bluff a

charming view captivates the eye.

The busy city, with its hum of

industry in the foreground, the

waters of the lake sparkling in

the sunshine, and on the other

shore the bluffs covered with

verdure or glowing in the bright

tints of autumn, form a picture

of rare beauty.”

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The Peoria of the 1880s was an exciting and active

community, a center of industry, and a city to rival

Chicago and St. Louis. Along the riverfront, factories and

distilleries spilled smoke, while the railroads and steam-

ships transported people and goods across the nation.

Downtown, the vaudeville circuit was thriving, with

Peoria an essential stop for any new act. Throughout the

city, residents relaxed at the sulfur baths, unwound at the

reading room, and entertained themselves at the opera

house. Peoria at the end of the nineteenth century was a

boomtown—with a population of 41,000 and growing.

Mr. Edward S. Easton

Mrs. Sarah D. Easton

d— P e o r i a D a i l y T r a n s c r i p t , F e b r u a r y 1 6 , 1 9 0 1

“While his educational advantages Were not of the best, e. s. easton Was naturally gifted and he acquired a surprising knoWledge of business, beginning on the loWest step of the ladder. he started out as a train boy, but combined With that occupation the prac-tice of buying grain on the street, as the farmers came to toWn. in this Way he laid the foundation of the grain firm Which bears his name.”

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One of Peoria’s most prominent residents of the late 1800s

was Edward S. Easton. Born in 1842 the son of a grain

merchant and the grandson of a Scottish immigrant,

Edward finished grade school, then joined the work force

at age 13 as a train boy on one of the earliest passenger

runs out of Peoria. He soon entered the prosperous grain

purchasing industry, buying and selling grain on the street

to the highest bidder. In 1864, he married Sarah D. Hall of

Peoria. The couple had three children, sons Charles and

George and a daughter Edna, who died at age six.

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“The leading industry in we lead all other cities. you consider the abundant quality, water of just the cost, land at moderate river to carry away the and water transportation, freight. These are advan to surpass all other of distilled spirits.”

— P e o r i a : i t s B u s i n e s s , i t s R e s o u r c e s , a n d A t t r a c t i o n s , 1 8 8 6

this line is distilling, in which The reason is apparent when supply of grain of superior right temperature, coal at low prices, a location on a large offal, and in addition rail securing favorable rates of tages that have enabled Peoria points in the manufacture

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Edward Easton made his fortune in Peoria’s thriving

distilling industry. In 1874, he took over his father’s grain

business and formed a partnership with his brother-in-law,

Franklin Hall. Together, the two men built the Central

City elevator—and later the Phoenix elevator—to buy and

sell grain to local distilleries. Later, Edward became

vice-president of the Monarch Distilling Company, then

opened his own business, the Manhattan Distillery. It was

said at the time that, due to an exceptional deal on grain,

Edward recouped his start-up costs in just one year. He

soon became one of Peoria’s wealthiest men, known as a

“Whiskey Baron.”

In the midst of his business Mr. E. S. Easton finds time to prepare plans and specifications for his proposed new dwelling on the bluff.”

““ The E. S. Easton residence

on the west bluff is being

pushed up rapidly—a

characteristic of the owner.

Lumber and other material

is being piled up and will

soon be transformed into

an elegant home.”

In the midst of his business Mr. E. S. Easton finds time to prepare plans and specifications for his proposed new dwelling on the bluff.”

It is said that the residence about to be erected for Mr.

E. S. Easton will be the most elegant one in the city.”

“

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— P e o r i a D a i l y T r a n s c r i p t , 1 8 8 0

As a prominent Peoria businessman and resident, Edward

Easton was always in the public eye, most notably when

construction began on his new manor home at the top of

Main Street hill in 1880. Designed by renowned Swedish

architect Charles Ulrichson, the manor was built by five

construction crews in less than one year. It cost more than

$30,000, extravagant at a time when neighboring houses

cost a mere $5,000. Edward and his family moved into the

home in December of 1880 and hosted their first event, a

New Year’s Eve ball, shortly thereafter.

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I“The most expensive, although the cost is not revealed, is the large and handsome residence of E. S. Easton, corner of Main and High Streets, where it commands a magnificent view of the city and country for miles around, and is so constructed and situated that each room has a fine view. Its exterior style, which is imposing and picturesque, is different from anything in Peoria, while in every point of interior arrangement, fin-ish, and modern conveniences, it is a model. Everybody will doubt-less concede that it has succeeded the Cockle mansion, now the Ingersoll, in the distinction of being the finest private residence in the city.”

—Peor ia Da i l y Transcr i p t , J anuary 1 , 1881

dOn completion, the manor stood as a masterpiece of late

Victorian architecture. Its mansard roof and tower were

characteristic of the Second Empire style, though the

Eastons added their own flourishes, including a European-

influenced turret. Throughout the home, details small and

large reflected the handiwork of countless experts. Solid

wood doors hung on elaborately patterned hinges, each

numbered and dated. Door and window frames were

handcarved from imported woods, with hardwood floors

laid in various patterns. Each room featured an elaborate

chandelier. Other luxuries included fortress-like, double-

brick wall construction, an early predecessor of modern

central air conditioning, and an elevator.

“The lawn was strikingly decorated with Japanese lanterns and locomotive headlights. Little tables specked the yard, providing places to eat ice cream and cake. Little boys all clean and proper passed quietly among the guests supplying lemonade to those wishing to partake. Pretty girls sold button hole bouquets. Trautvetter’s band livened the evening with sweet music.”

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Scenes such as this would have played out in and around

the Eastons’ home, as it quickly became a center of social

activity. The third floor of the manor was built solely for

entertainment, sporting a large ballroom and a billiard room

for gentlemen guests. As there were no grand public rooms

or banquet halls at the time, wealthy homeowners felt it

necessary to build their own to entertain properly. In the

ballroom, the Eastons’ guests probably danced the popular

dance of the time, the reel. As it required vigorous and

noisy dancing, the ceilings of rooms below the ballroom

were built quite thick with soundproofing insulation.

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passing away of edward s. easton

i t w a s n o t u n e x p e c t e d

End CaME SHorTly bEforE MIdnIgHT laST nIgHT

Members of the family at bedside as shadows fall across a busy business life.

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Edward S. Easton, one of the best known of Peoria’s business men, passed away at his home at the head of the Main Street hill at 11:30 o’clock last night. His demise was not unexpected. Mrs. Easton and her two sons stood at the bedside, and a united fami ly saw t h e f e e b l e spark of life flutter faintly and disappear. It is a double affliction and a sore one . Mrs. George Easton was called away but a few weeks ago, and even at that time the shadow of death was hovering over the palatial home and the days of the builder were numbered.”

“

— P e o r i a D a i l y T r a n s c r i p t , F e b r u a r y 1 6 , 1 9 0 1

f KWhen Edward Easton died in 1901, he left the manor and

his estate to his wife Sarah. It was a controversial move for

the times. Son Charles contested his father’s will in a legal

battle that lasted many years. When it ended, Sarah kept

possession of the manor but was left with little money.

Unable to maintain upkeep of the home, she sold it to Col.

John Comstock, a prominent Peoria realtor. He, his wife,

and their nine children made good use of the manor,

entertaining often in the third-floor ballroom.

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KWXAfter the Comstock family left in the early 1900s, the

manor stood empty for decades. The ravages of time,

weather, and vandalism took their toll, and the home fell

into a state of disrepair. In 1941, relatives of the Comstock

family finally sold the building, and for the next four

decades it served as a funeral home. During this time, many

of the home’s original features were sold or destroyed, and

the third floor sat boarded up and abandoned.

“on High street, thebarons of the pastbling three-storydickensian air atthe corner of High

stands the old Easton home... its walls lit with green and red flood with its walnut paneling and third faces demolition in the coming

— P e o r i a J o u r n a l S t a r , D e c e m b e r 2 4 , 1 9 6 5

home of whisky century, the ram- homes have a Christmas. and at and Main streets Victorian white lights. The home, story ballroom, year.”

Beginning in the 1960s, the manor took center stage in the

battle between modernization and preservation. Three

times, the Peoria City Council gave the owners permission

to raze the home and construct high-rise apartments in its

place. Three times, the project fell through. Finally, in 1992,

Peoria’s Historic Preservation Committee bestowed land-

mark status on the home, protecting it from destruction.

During this time, the funeral home closed, and the house

again stood empty until 1994, when it briefly opened as

Peoria’s only bed and breakfast.

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E d i t o r i a l c a r t o o n f r o m

t h e M a y 2 4 , 1 9 6 4 , P e o r i a

J o u r n a l S t a r d e p i c t i n g

t h e a p a r t m e n t b u i l d i n g t o

b e c o n s t r u c t e d w h e n t h e

m a n o r w a s d e m o l i s h e d .

‘‘

— P e o r i a J o u r n a l S t a r , 1 9 9 8

Architect Leslie Kenyon is working

on the project. ‘This is one of the

few remaining examples of Second

Empire. This is a pure example,’

Kenyon said. ‘Office use of this

building is compatible with the

large parlors and open hallways. I

am delighted the building is being

restored with such care.’

‘‘Converse Marketing, Inc. is on the move again. The next move

is to an 11,000-square-foot, Second-Empire-style building.

u

In 1997, Jane Bodman Converse purchased the manor as

the home for her growing business, Converse Marketing.

With the help of architect Leslie Kenyon, Concord

Construction Management, and many others, the home

was returned as closely as possible to its original state.

Hardwood floors, molding, and woodwork were restored

throughout. Ballroom and billiard room renovations

included replastering and replication of a portion of the

ballroom floor. Period wallcoverings, historically accurate

chandeliers, and antique furnishings were selected to reflect

the Eastons’ taste in decor. Much of the renovation was

made possible through Historic Preservation Certification,

which provides twenty percent federal tax credits to

owners restoring historic buildings.

Converse believes environment is integral to the creative work done by the writers and designers in her agency.”

— P e o r i a J o u r n a l S t a r , 1 9 9 8

“

Inside the manor today, Converse Marketing’s team of

writers, designers, account managers, and administrative

staff is hard at work helping clients achieve their goals

through marketing excellence. The company specializes in

research, communication strategies and plans, values-based

leadership consulting, and production of materials in a

range of formats—print, multimedia, internet, video, and

more. Converse welcomes visitors to the home and takes

pride in making good use of the formal parlors and the

ballroom. While the times have changed and the people are

different, once again life flows in and out the doors of the

manor on Main Street.

We will be builders of the human spirit, a

people-centered company whose work

environment attracts outstanding people and

inspires outstanding work.

We will be sought as the leaders in integrated

marketing and communication programs

that touch people, build trust, and produce

change that is strategically relevant to our

clients’ business success.

O U r V I S I O N

O

converse@conversemarketing.com

Converse Marketing, Inc.1125 Main StreetPeoria, IL 61606

p–309.672.2100

f–309.672.2111

© 1999printed in U.S.A.