Springfield's Brinkerhoff Home: January 2008

Thursday, January 24, 2008

A year of Pictures

One year ago last month, I took my first pictures of the Brinkerhoff Home. Last spring, I was made the official photographer for the Brinkerhoff events and began posting pictures on this site in late March. I have enjoyed providing this service and hope you have found it both enjoyable and informative. During these cold winter months, I plan to develop a full service website at http://www.brinkerhoffhome.org/ . Currently, you will find a picture gallery there but it will be expanded to provide more information. If there is something you would like to see on the new website, please use the comment option below to post your ideas.

Thanks,
Dulany Sriner, blogmaster

Regrettably, the open house advertised in the previous post was cancelled due to the inclement weather conditions. I know about those conditions because I was there to take some pictures. Finding locked doors, I made the most of the opportunity to take a few winter pictures outside.

While the walks looked clear, they were actually ice covered. I found it safer to walk on the ice covered snow that would crunch beneath my feet.

The normally inviting bench took on a new look with the wintry gingerbread.

Nature's ice sculpture, pictured at left, encapsulated the buds waiting for spring.

While below, the colorful remnants of a late warm fall were captured inside the icy shroud.

One last look back as I headed for the the warmth of my SUV and and a trip back to the office to download these pictures of nature's wonders.

While I missed the beauty of the Brinkerhoff Home in its holiday splendor, I captured another of nature's wonders. I was actually glad I wasn't aware of the cancellation and made the trip across town. Hopefully, you will enjoy it as much as I did.

Now on to the business of 2008.

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

Brinkerhoff Home 2008 calendar of events

February 10 (Sunday) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Lincoln Open House

March 12 (Wednesday) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Spring Luncheon

May 3 (Saturday) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Spring Fair

July 11 (Friday) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Ice Cream Social

September 13 (Saturday) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Fall Fair

October 5 (Sunday) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Victorian Tea

November 10-16 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Christmas Decorating

December 6 (Saturday) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Christmas Champagne Party

December 14 (Sunday) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Christmas Open House

2008 BRINKERHOFF MEETING DATES (5:30)

January 17, February 21, March 20, April 17, May 15, June 19 , July 17, August 21, September 18, October 16, November 20, December 18

Brinkerhoff Home History

George Brinkerhoff, a successful businessman and political associate of Abraham Lincoln, built the Home for his wife and six children in 1869 for the sum of $35,000. Elijah E. Myers was the architect. After Mr. Brinkerhoff's death in '1928, the then Springfield Junior College purchased the home and began classes there. By 1974 the home had deteriorated so badly the college considered razing it. Doris Bucari, a college trustee, was given one year to show evidence of saving the home. work progressed slowly until she and other community members founded a not-for-profit corporation, Brinkerhoff Inc. in 1977. Restoration of the home was the aim of the organization and with help of the Brinkerhoff Auxiliary, a group of interested citizens organized by Doris, and the assistance of many other people, work on the home was put in high gear. Through the years Brinkerhoff Inc. and the Brinkerhoff Auxiliary have been disbanded and replaced by the Brinkerhoff Foundation. Practically the entire interior has been restored. paint has been stripped and reapplied, new wallpaper applied in some rooms and, of course, plumbing and rewiring. The floors, blackened from age and hard use, were stripped and refinished. Lovely chandeliers have replaced hanging fluorescent fixtures. Each room has been beautifully furnished with period furniture in keeping with the time of the home. Some of the furnishings have been donated, the rest purchased with funds obtained from the Spring and Fall Fairs held each year and other money raising events. The exterior brick has been completely tuckpointed and in 1984 an Illinois Department of conservation matching grant provided for the reconstruction of the cupola. We feel Doris would be more than proud to see the Home as it is today. The Home has been placed on both the National and Illinois Registers of Historic Places and provides elegant ambience for weddings, receptions, catered parties and a variety of private celebrations.

DSDigitals official Brinkerhoff photographer

Welcome to the Brinkerhoff Home web blog. On March 15th, the Brinkerhoff House Foundation, Board of Directors designated me, Dulany F. Sriner owner of DSDigitals.com their official photographer. As we pursue the development of this Blog, we will be providing a listing of events along with other Brinkerhoff information. Regular posts will provide up to date announcements from the board. Please be patient as we try to build the site with the goal of making it available for registered members to post their own announcements. At that point, I will provide help as needed but it should manage itself. Until that point, postings will come through me. For current pictures of the Brinkerhoff House on my web site go to: http://www.gallerypg.com/WebGallery/Brinkerhoff%20Home/index.htm

Springfield's Brinkerhoff Home

Thursday, January 24, 2008

A year of Pictures

Brinkerhoff Home History

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DSDigitals official Brinkerhoff photographer