South Side German Historic District
Encyclopedia
The South Side German Historic District is a neighborhood within Quincy
, Illinois
just south of downtown
. The neighborhood includes most of Quincy's rich German architecture. The region is also widely known as "Calftown", named for the number of calves once owned by its inhabitants. It was added into the United States
National Register of Historic Places
in 1992 with a boundary increase in 1995.
Once said to be a brewery larger than Anheuser-Busch
, the Dick Brothers Brewery was founded in 1857 by three brothers. At one time, 70,000 barrels of brew would be produced and shipped round the Midwest. The brewery suffered under the Prohibition era and after World War II. The brewery closed in 1951, but the building still remains to this day.
Dr. Richard Eell was an abolitionist and his home provided a stop on the Underground Railroad
from 1835 to 1846.
The Eighth Street Business District (pictured) forms the heart of the South Side German Historic District, and many notable features are along or nearby this interchange including the State Room, LaGondola's Spaghetti House, Gem City College, and the Salem Church.
Gem City College is a school that specializes in horology
and cosmology
.
The Quincy Library serves much of the area's literature needs. It is build with a modern design, not a German-influenced one like much of the neighborhood's culture, however the site has become a city landmark regardless. As of 2011, the Library has begun an expansion providing a larger children's and teen section, as well as added more conference spaces for events.
The Salem Church stands as a prominent feature in Quincy's German historic district. Although not it's original location, the church began services in 1848 by a German mission society. It moved to it's present location in 1877. The church is also an historical landmark.
The State Room is a former 500-seat movie theater
that has been modified to function as a concert venue, reception hall, and bar. The ticket booth is still present and the outside has an array of many incandescent lightbulbs, retained features from its theater roots. State Room opened as a theater in 1938.
. The first graves began the cemetery in 1847. It is also placed on the bluffs overlooking the Mississippi River
.
Quincy, Illinois
Quincy, known as Illinois' "Gem City," is a river city along the Mississippi River and the county seat of Adams County. As of the 2010 census the city held a population of 40,633. The city anchors its own micropolitan area and is the economic and regional hub of West-central Illinois, catering a...
, Illinois
Illinois
Illinois is the fifth-most populous state of the United States of America, and is often noted for being a microcosm of the entire country. With Chicago in the northeast, small industrial cities and great agricultural productivity in central and northern Illinois, and natural resources like coal,...
just south of downtown
Downtown
Downtown is a term primarily used in North America by English speakers to refer to a city's core or central business district ....
. The neighborhood includes most of Quincy's rich German architecture. The region is also widely known as "Calftown", named for the number of calves once owned by its inhabitants. It was added into the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
National Register of Historic Places
National Register of Historic Places
The National Register of Historic Places is the United States government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects deemed worthy of preservation...
in 1992 with a boundary increase in 1995.
Dick Brothers Brewery Building
9th and York StreetOnce said to be a brewery larger than Anheuser-Busch
Anheuser-Busch
Anheuser-Busch Companies, Inc. , is an American brewing company. The company operates 12 breweries in the United States and 18 in other countries. It was, until December 2009, also one of America's largest theme park operators; operating ten theme parks across the United States through the...
, the Dick Brothers Brewery was founded in 1857 by three brothers. At one time, 70,000 barrels of brew would be produced and shipped round the Midwest. The brewery suffered under the Prohibition era and after World War II. The brewery closed in 1951, but the building still remains to this day.
Dr. Richard Eell’s House
415 Jersey StreetDr. Richard Eell was an abolitionist and his home provided a stop on the Underground Railroad
Underground Railroad
The Underground Railroad was an informal network of secret routes and safe houses used by 19th-century black slaves in the United States to escape to free states and Canada with the aid of abolitionists and allies who were sympathetic to their cause. The term is also applied to the abolitionists,...
from 1835 to 1846.
Eighth Street Business District
8th and StateThe Eighth Street Business District (pictured) forms the heart of the South Side German Historic District, and many notable features are along or nearby this interchange including the State Room, LaGondola's Spaghetti House, Gem City College, and the Salem Church.
Gem City College
700 StateGem City College is a school that specializes in horology
Horology
Horology is the art or science of measuring time. Clocks, watches, clockwork, sundials, clepsydras, timers, time recorders and marine chronometers are all examples of instruments used to measure time.People interested in horology are called horologists...
and cosmology
Cosmology
Cosmology is the discipline that deals with the nature of the Universe as a whole. Cosmologists seek to understand the origin, evolution, structure, and ultimate fate of the Universe at large, as well as the natural laws that keep it in order...
.
Quincy Public Library
526 Jersey StreetThe Quincy Library serves much of the area's literature needs. It is build with a modern design, not a German-influenced one like much of the neighborhood's culture, however the site has become a city landmark regardless. As of 2011, the Library has begun an expansion providing a larger children's and teen section, as well as added more conference spaces for events.
Salem Evangelical United Church of Christ
435 S. 9thThe Salem Church stands as a prominent feature in Quincy's German historic district. Although not it's original location, the church began services in 1848 by a German mission society. It moved to it's present location in 1877. The church is also an historical landmark.
The State Room
434 South 8thThe State Room is a former 500-seat movie theater
Movie theater
A movie theater, cinema, movie house, picture theater, film theater is a venue, usually a building, for viewing motion pictures ....
that has been modified to function as a concert venue, reception hall, and bar. The ticket booth is still present and the outside has an array of many incandescent lightbulbs, retained features from its theater roots. State Room opened as a theater in 1938.
Woodland Cemetery
Woodland Cemetery is one of the oldest cemeteries in the state and is listed on the National Register of Historic PlacesNational Register of Historic Places
The National Register of Historic Places is the United States government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects deemed worthy of preservation...
. The first graves began the cemetery in 1847. It is also placed on the bluffs overlooking the Mississippi River
Mississippi River
The Mississippi River is the largest river system in North America. Flowing entirely in the United States, this river rises in western Minnesota and meanders slowly southwards for to the Mississippi River Delta at the Gulf of Mexico. With its many tributaries, the Mississippi's watershed drains...
.