What's New?

You will find our newest information on the home page of the Old House Society website. Check below for other information that you may have missed if you haven't visited us for a while.

DUNCAN MANOR TOUR

Duncan Manor will be open for public tours for the first time EVER on June 7th and 8th, from 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM. Click here for more inoformation or http://www.duncanmanor.org Proceeds from tickets purchased at the Garlic Press, Casey's Garden Shop, About Books and the OHS warehouse on Douglas St benefits the OHS, Towanda Area Historic Society and theDuncan Manor Preservation Fund..

Plant Swap & Garden Party!

HUGE BLOWOUT EVENT!

Home of John Eltrich & Karen Schmidt
This is the Final Open House of 2007. Watch for 2008 Activities On Our Events Page.

Home of Patrick & Ana O’Sullivan
See Complete List Of Open Houses On Our Events Page

Home of John & Virginia Gill
See Complete List Of Open Houses On Our Events Page

Vrooman Mansion Open House
See Complete List Of Open Houses On Our Events Page

Capital Campaign Fundraiser Open Houses
Proceeds to Old House Society Capital Campaign

Castle Open House a Huge Success!
Proceeds to Old House Society Capital Campaign.

Castle Open House
Proceeds benefit Old House Society Capital Campaign

Restoration Center
Danvers, Illinois Arm of Old House Society Open Saturdays 10-3

Old House Society's Restoration Center is a treasure trove of interesting items recently salvaged items from around Central Illinois. We are developing this facility into a one-stop shop to refurbish salvaged items to make them more useful. Our goal is to equip this facility with a wide array of tools and machines to meet these needs. And, although we are not yet fully operational, we have opened this facility as another way to help our members, and the general public, find parts they need for their house. Come check us out on Saturdays from 10-3 and find something interesting.

Also, don't forget to renew your membership for 2007.

Holiday Open House
Friday, December 1, 2006 from 4:00-8:00 p.m.
In Conjunction with A. Gridley Antiques and Cydney's

On Friday, December 1st friends and members gathered for some holiday cheer at our annual holiday open house. Everyone enjoyed discounts on select items, sampled some holiday refreshments and even renewe memberships all in one stop.

Plus, we teamed with Cydney's and A. Gridley Antiques to offer access to three of the area's largest antique resources. Customer Appreciation Days featured discounts, wine and hors d'oeuvres served, and live music at all three locations from 4:00 to 8:00 p.m.

Open House Fundraiser
Proceeds to Benefit Old House Society

More than a few eyebrows were raised when Old House Society included this "new" house on the House Tour in June. But most people who went through it were intrigued. So, on Friday, November 10, homeowners Tom Gerschick and Becca Rossi again opened their home as a fundraiser for Old House Society. Despite terrible weather, over 100 people braved the elements for a peek inside this new house with an interesting story.

Parts of the irrepairable Queen Anne that had sat vacant on the site in the Highland Historic District were salvaged and donated to Old House Society. A new home, sensitively designed in the early 20th Century Prairie style, has gone up in its place featuring reclaimed wood and slate floors from other Old House Society salvage projects as well as other items salvaged from the original home. This home also incorporates geothermal heating & cooling, energy efficient period windows, and more new ideas homeowners can use in their own home.

Thanks to everyone who volunteered their time and energy to pull this event together; especially Tom and Becca for opening their home to the public -- again! And thanks to everyone who attended this event. Proceeds will be used to help support Old House Society.

Warehouse Open House
Get answers to your old house questions

On Saturday September 16 and Sunday September 17, Old House Society hosted an open house at the Warehouse. The open house featured restoration contractors who answered home owners' questions their old houses.

The Warehouse is still open so come take advantage of our new lower prices & huge inventory!

600+ Tour Houses
Annual House Tour a Huge Success Thanks to Homeowners, Volunteers

On Saturday, June 10, 2006, over 600 people from Bloomington-Normal and across Illinois lined up for Old House Society's annual House Tour. This year’s tour featured a variety of buildings; From beautifully restored late 19th Century Italianate and Queen Anne homes to comfortable and convenient early 20th Century Arts & Crafts Bungalows to commercial buildings rehabilitated as personal residences. There was even and a new home built in an early 20th Century Midwestern Prairie style.

Special thanks go to the homeowners who shared their personal spaces with so many people; the volunteers, who worked tirelessly to pull everything together; and to everyone who bought tickets to the event. Proceeds from the House Tour benefit Old House Society, a not-for-profit organization.

If you enjoyed this event, consider becoming a member. And watch this website for more exciting events coming soon!

2006 House Tour
Saturday, June 10, 2006 10 am - 4 pm

This year’s Old House Society Tour features beautifully restored late 19th Century Italianate and Queen Anne homes, comfortable and convenient early 20th Century Arts & Crafts Bungalows, commercial buildings rehabilitated as personal residences, and a new home built in an early 20th Century Midwestern Prairie style.

Our Tour allows people to get an insiders glimpse into these private homes, meet the owners, and learn about our rich local history and architectural heritage by seeing and experiencing it.

The Tour is self-paced, and sites can be visited in any order. Information, maps and Tour Guides will be available at each site to explain interesting features, and answer questions. House Tour proceeds support Old House Society.

For more information, contact Mark Edwards, Executive Director (309) 821-9787 or director@oldhousesociety.org.

Been to the Warehouse Lately?
Reclaimed House Parts Add Character to Houses New and Old

The Old House Society Warehouse has a huge collection of salvaged house parts for sale. And for years, homeowners, contractors, architects and builders have used this resource to restore older homes or add character to newer ones.

Do you have a picture of items or materials purchased at the Warehouse being used in your home? We would love to see them! Email your pictures to webmaster@oldhousesociety.org and you may see them on our website.

If you haven't used anything from the Warehouse in your home, now is the perfect time. New items arrive almost every day so come in and find that perfect mantle, clawfoot tub, light fixture or wood trim. As always, members receive a 10% discount on almost everything.

2006 Annual Meeting
Tuesday, February 28 from 7:00 to 8:30 p.m. in the Normal Public Library

Old House Society will hold its Annual Meeting on Tuesday, February 28 from 7:00 to 8:30 p.m. in the Normal Public Library Community Room located at 206 W. College in Downtown Normal. The public is invited to attend.

Following a short business meeting, a presentation will be given by Charles Rohrbaugh, PhD, Archaeologist. Dr. Rohrbaugh will discuss how archaeologists go about their work, what they expect to find during upcoming excavations at the OHS Education Center in Bloomington, and how interested people can participate.

Free parking is available south across College Avenue. Refreshments will be provided.

Gift to the Street Awards

We have added information about all of our Gift to the Street Award winners. The Gift to the Street Award is given by Old House Society to buildings whose owners have maintained or restored its original architectural characteristics.

View an historical map containing all of the winners. Use it to take a walking tour of some of the wonderful historic buildings throughout Bloomington-Normal or just to learn more about your neighborhood.

The Gift to the Street Awards section of our website was created by Samanta Lax, an intern from Illinois State University. If you are interested in an internship with Old House Society, email our Executive Director, Mark Edwards (director@oldhousesociety.org).

December 2-3: Sacred Spaces Tour
Special Holiday Season Event Features Local Architecture

Old House Society has organized and sponsored House Tours for more than 20 years to help people visit, understand, and develop an understanding and appreciation for our local historic homes. This year we wanted to try something new – a tour of our local sacred spaces.

After considering many options, we decided to focus this first year’s tour on traditional religious structures. A wide variety of faiths and beliefs will be represented including Methodist, African-American Baptist, Unitarian, Jewish, Lutheran, Christian, and Catholic. Tours will focus on the history of each congregation, and the architecture of these wonderful local sacred spaces.

Other key features of the tours will be music, food, and quiet contemplation. Our Tours allow people to learn about our rich local history and architectural heritage by seeing and experiencing it. *** Please note: The Sunday hours for Holy Trinity have been cancelled. Please visit this sacred space from 12-3 on Saturday.

October 18, 2005: Wesleyan Students Tour Education Center
Archaeologists Start Old House Society's 'Big Dig' Project

On Tuesday, October 18, students from Illinois Wesleyan University visited the Education Center to speak to Ed Jelks and Chuck Rohrbaugh -- the lead archaeologists in our Archaeological Excavation project to excavate the grounds surrounding the 1882 Charles Cantine house. Students were shown sample artifacts from other sites, discussed prominent features of our site, and learned about the processes involved in this project. (View pictures.)

Old House Society encourages the involvement of members of the community in the projects currently underway at the Education Center. These include Archaeological Excavation, Restoration of the building, and Historical research into the Cantine family, the first owners of the house. If you are interested in helping with any of these projects, please contact us: volunteer@oldhousesociety.org.

October 22, 2005 Mandel House Tour and Ed Center Picnic
Two events let you see inside two of our most recent projects.

Old House Society will host Tours of the 1894 Oscar Mandel Home, now located at 402 E. Grove in Bloomington, on Saturday, October 22, 2005 from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. This will be the public’s first opportunity to visit inside this beautiful, historic Bloomington home since it was moved last fall.

No advance tickets will be sold. Admission at the door is $10 with proceeds to benefit Old House Society Foundation, which was created to manage this project, and fund future restoration projects. Read more.

Also on October 22, Old House Society is hosting a Potluck Picnic Party from 4pm to 6:30pm at the new Education Center, which is housed in the 1882 Charles Cantine House at 904 N. Linden Street in Bloomington. This is your chance to meet other members, see the new Education Center and to ask questions about the restoration and archaeology projects that are underway. We will provide the drinks, but please bring a dish to pass and your own table service.

October 4, 2005 Archaeological Excavation Begins
We're digging for artifacts behind our Education Center, the 1882 Charles Cantine House.

Our lead archaeologists Ed Jelks, PhD and Chuck Rohrbaugh, PhD have begun the excavation process behind our Education Center. This project is notable because 1882 Cantine House is representative of a typical Illinois home for an average person. We don't expect to find scores of gold coins or boxes of jewelry, but the artifacts we do uncover should give a revealing glimpse into the lives of the family that lived in this house in the late 19th century.

Are you interested in archaeology but have never gotten closer than an Indiana Jones film? This is your chance! Contact us (volunteer@oldhousesociety.org or 309-821-9787) to find out how you can participate in Old House Society's "Big Dig". No prior experience is necessary.

August 3, 2005 Picturesque Bloomington 1907 is now available through Barnes & Noble.com. If you're in central Illinois, you can pick up your copy when you visit our Warehouse. If not, have your copy shipped to almost anywhere in the world!

August 1, 2005 Old House Society website is redesigned to include more information and helpful resources.

June 17, 2005 Old House Society acquires the 1882 Charles Cantine house to be restored and used as an Education Center.

November 15, 2004 Old House Society Foundation helps move the 1894 Oscar Mandel house.

Page last updated: Tuesday, May 27, 2008