Springfield's Brinkerhoff Home

Wednesday, April 25, 2007

Spring Fair

Join us at this year's Spring fair
Saturday May 5th

Country Kitchen Baked Goods

What better way to start the weekend than

with some home-made goodies

Baked items can be dropped off at the Home on Friday, May 4th from 8:30 a.m. until 2:00 p.m. If baked items cannot be delivered on Friday, we need them no later than 8:00 a.m. on Saturday.

Free Home Tours During Fair
The Home will be open to the public during the Fair.

On the Auction Block

Don’t miss this year’s silent auction, featuring antiques and collectibles. Bids will be taken until 2:00 p.m.

Cookbooks

The coming Fair will be the first time we will have the opportunity to sell our new cookbooks. Look for the cookbooks at the Memorabilia Booth right in front of the Home. The cost is $10.00.

DSDigitals will be there taking pictures

Wednesday, March 28, 2007

Upcoming events

From the President Susan Canny

Our events for the rest of the year are:
May 5 - Spring Fair 9-3

July 13 - Ice Cream Social (Municipal Band)

Sept 8 - Fall Fair 9-3

Oct 14 - Victorian Tea

Nov 7 - Chili/Soup Luncheon

Dec 1 - Holiday Champagne Party

Dec 9 - Christmas Open House

For rental information for weddings, receptions, showers, parties call Nancy Nolan at 528-5087.

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