Featured Historic Buildings

FEATURED HISTORIC BUILDINGS

Boone County Deposit Bank

Abner Gaines House

Benjamin Piatt Fowler House

The Boone County Deposit Bank - Burlington

Front lobby on the day the Boone County Deposit Bank merged with Peoples Deposit Bank, February 14, 1927

The offices of the Boone County Planning Commission are housed in the 1925 Boone County Deposit Bank, located at the southeast corner of Washington and Jefferson Streets. This historic building, part of the Burlington National Register Historic District, was built on the site of the original County Clerk’s office. That building was moved one block west, and became the Burlington Post Office. The Boone County Deposit Bank was built in the Classical style, a common design for business structures in the early twentieth century. The building features wire cut brick and stone details. There were originally three doors across the front, with the ones on each end being made into windows at a later date. The lobby was forty feet long, with counters made of mahogany, marble and plate glass. The bank vault, still in place today, had two and a half feet thick concrete walls, reinforced with steel, and a 20,000 pound steel door. The bank used the first floor for its operation, while the second floor housed a lodge room used by various local organizations.

The Boone County Deposit Bank, founded in Burlington in 1885 by Fountain Riddell, may have been the first formal banking operation in Boone County. Other early county banks were found in Walton, Hebron, Petersburg and Verona. In 1905 a new banking institution was chartered in Burlington. Early directors of this business included O.P. Conner, B.W. Adams, A.W. Corn, and W.P. Beemon. In November 1905 the Peoples Deposit Bank opened a new office on Jefferson Street (now the Farmers Mutual Insurance Company). A. B. Renaker was chosen as the first cashier of the new bank, a position he continued to hold after the 1927 merger of Peoples Bank and the Boone County Deposit Bank (retaining the name of the former).

Abner Gaines House

The c. 1814 Abner Gaines House, located just north of Walton, is a Boone County architectural treasure, and the site of diverse activity in its nearly two centuries of history. Over the years, the house served as a tavern and inn, a stagecoach stop, a barn, apartments, an antique shop, and, finally, a single family residence. Although largely intact architecturally, this Federal style house has suffered the same negative consequences as many other historic buildings; neglect, insensitive additions and exterior wall treatments, and exploitation. The original handmade bricks, including finely executed arches over the front windows, were covered by stucco in the early twentieth century. Attempts to remove the stucco result in the loss of the original brick face, leading to eventual deterioration. The current exterior appearance of this highly significant historic home can be rather disturbing, but its symmetrical lines and well executed details are readily apparent.

Current owners, Stephanie and Alan Gjerde, purchased the property in 1990, realizing that it was a project that deserved their commitment and lifelong stewardship. They immediately made an effort to educate themselves about early nineteenth century construction techniques, as well as the fine points of the Federal style of architecture and interior design. The proper restoration of the Gaines House became a way of life for not only Stephanie and Alan, but for their children Max and Suzannah as well. The family has grown used to living with plaster dust, construction clutter, and cold rooms. They have completed most of the work themselves, between dealing with family matters, careers and budget restrictions, utilizing the occasional advice of building and preservation professionals, calling on friends when necessary, and taking the time and effort to see it done right.

During the last nine years, the emphasis has been on reinforcing structural stability, carefully reworking or adding basic systems, and undoing years of insensitive remodeling. This critical first step in historic rehabilitation doesn’t always show at first glance, and does little to "beautify" the building, but it is the most crucial part of a restoration project if the resource is to remain for another two hundred years.

The Piatt-Fowler House
by Patricia Fox

"There's nothing like having the real thing." With an attitude like this, it was no surprise that Wayne and Dee McClellan see themselves more as custodians rather than owners of the Benjamin Piatt Fowler House, c. 1817, north of Union. Preserving the past is a way of life they both enjoy.

Transferred from Columbus, Ohio twelve years ago, the McClellans sought and found a Federal style home. Even though the Fowler House had stood vacant for three years, they saw the inherent beauty in the historic structure. The walls were 22 inches thick, and the first floor included a grand entrance hall flanked on both sides by parlors with fireplaces and original chair railings. Determined to restore the house, the McClellans invested not only money but hard work, letting their desire for authenticity lead them to carefully rehabilitating the historic home, one of less than a dozen stone houses still preserved in Boone County.

Originally built by Benjamin Piatt Fowler of limestone quarried from a nearby creek, the house was refurbished in 1931. "It wouldn't be standing today, if it hadn't been remodeled," explained Wayne McClellan. "The guy did an excellent job.... He tuck pointed all the stone, replastered the interior, and put in a heating system for his mother and father." At that time a limestone wing on the east gable end and a one story portico over the facade entrance were also added. By the mid-1970s, vines and weeds had robbed the stone house of its handsome appearance. Even so, the McClellans were up for the challenge since neither one of them wanted to live in a modern house. "Most of the work we did ourselves. (Though we) had all the walls painted white, we did the painting of the woodwork, and Dee designed the porch and the family room." noted Wayne.

As they continued to work on the house, Wayne and Dee marveled at its craftsmanship. "The house, " he stated with pride, " was structurally sound. Everything (the exterior) was so straight. We've often wondered if Fowler brought in a master mason....it's too accurate.... the house is only a half inch off from one end to the other." The original builders paid attention to the topography as well as the direction of sunlight. For example, windows only exist on the northern and southern elevations, increasing much needed heat in the cold months with southern light. Out back an original hand dug, stone-lined well also remains in good working order. Twenty-eight feet deep, the well continues to hold 22-25 feet of water. "If it weren't for all the development," Wayne observed, "I would still use the well, but the water has become contaminated because of the surface run off.

FEATURED HISTORIC BUILDINGS

Boone County Deposit Bank
Abner Gaines House
Benjamin Piatt Fowler House

The Boone County Deposit Bank - Burlington

Front lobby on the day the Boone County Deposit Bank merged with Peoples Deposit Bank, February 14, 1927

The offices of the Boone County Planning Commission are housed in the 1925 Boone County Deposit Bank, located at the southeast corner of Washington and Jefferson Streets. This historic building, part of the Burlington National Register Historic District, was built on the site of the original County Clerk’s office. That building was moved one block west, and became the Burlington Post Office. The Boone County Deposit Bank was built in the Classical style, a common design for business structures in the early twentieth century. The building features wire cut brick and stone details. There were originally three doors across the front, with the ones on each end being made into windows at a later date. The lobby was forty feet long, with counters made of mahogany, marble and plate glass. The bank vault, still in place today, had two and a half feet thick concrete walls, reinforced with steel, and a 20,000 pound steel door. The bank used the first floor for its operation, while the second floor housed a lodge room used by various local organizations.

The Boone County Deposit Bank, founded in Burlington in 1885 by Fountain Riddell, may have been the first formal banking operation in Boone County. Other early county banks were found in Walton, Hebron, Petersburg and Verona. In 1905 a new banking institution was chartered in Burlington. Early directors of this business included O.P. Conner, B.W. Adams, A.W. Corn, and W.P. Beemon. In November 1905 the Peoples Deposit Bank opened a new office on Jefferson Street (now the Farmers Mutual Insurance Company). A. B. Renaker was chosen as the first cashier of the new bank, a position he continued to hold after the 1927 merger of Peoples Bank and the Boone County Deposit Bank (retaining the name of the former).

Abner Gaines House
The c. 1814 Abner Gaines House, located just north of Walton, is a Boone County architectural treasure, and the site of diverse activity in its nearly two centuries of history. Over the years, the house served as a tavern and inn, a stagecoach stop, a barn, apartments, an antique shop, and, finally, a single family residence. Although largely intact architecturally, this Federal style house has suffered the same negative consequences as many other historic buildings; neglect, insensitive additions and exterior wall treatments, and exploitation. The original handmade bricks, including finely executed arches over the front windows, were covered by stucco in the early twentieth century. Attempts to remove the stucco result in the loss of the original brick face, leading to eventual deterioration. The current exterior appearance of this highly significant historic home can be rather disturbing, but its symmetrical lines and well executed details are readily apparent.

Current owners, Stephanie and Alan Gjerde, purchased the property in 1990, realizing that it was a project that deserved their commitment and lifelong stewardship. They immediately made an effort to educate themselves about early nineteenth century construction techniques, as well as the fine points of the Federal style of architecture and interior design. The proper restoration of the Gaines House became a way of life for not only Stephanie and Alan, but for their children Max and Suzannah as well. The family has grown used to living with plaster dust, construction clutter, and cold rooms. They have completed most of the work themselves, between dealing with family matters, careers and budget restrictions, utilizing the occasional advice of building and preservation professionals, calling on friends when necessary, and taking the time and effort to see it done right.

During the last nine years, the emphasis has been on reinforcing structural stability, carefully reworking or adding basic systems, and undoing years of insensitive remodeling. This critical first step in historic rehabilitation doesn’t always show at first glance, and does little to "beautify" the building, but it is the most crucial part of a restoration project if the resource is to remain for another two hundred years.

The Piatt-Fowler House by Patricia Fox

"There's nothing like having the real thing." With an attitude like this, it was no surprise that Wayne and Dee McClellan see themselves more as custodians rather than owners of the Benjamin Piatt Fowler House, c. 1817, north of Union. Preserving the past is a way of life they both enjoy.

Transferred from Columbus, Ohio twelve years ago, the McClellans sought and found a Federal style home. Even though the Fowler House had stood vacant for three years, they saw the inherent beauty in the historic structure. The walls were 22 inches thick, and the first floor included a grand entrance hall flanked on both sides by parlors with fireplaces and original chair railings. Determined to restore the house, the McClellans invested not only money but hard work, letting their desire for authenticity lead them to carefully rehabilitating the historic home, one of less than a dozen stone houses still preserved in Boone County.

Originally built by Benjamin Piatt Fowler of limestone quarried from a nearby creek, the house was refurbished in 1931. "It wouldn't be standing today, if it hadn't been remodeled," explained Wayne McClellan. "The guy did an excellent job.... He tuck pointed all the stone, replastered the interior, and put in a heating system for his mother and father." At that time a limestone wing on the east gable end and a one story portico over the facade entrance were also added. By the mid-1970s, vines and weeds had robbed the stone house of its handsome appearance. Even so, the McClellans were up for the challenge since neither one of them wanted to live in a modern house. "Most of the work we did ourselves. (Though we) had all the walls painted white, we did the painting of the woodwork, and Dee designed the porch and the family room." noted Wayne.

As they continued to work on the house, Wayne and Dee marveled at its craftsmanship. "The house, " he stated with pride, " was structurally sound. Everything (the exterior) was so straight. We've often wondered if Fowler brought in a master mason....it's too accurate.... the house is only a half inch off from one end to the other." The original builders paid attention to the topography as well as the direction of sunlight. For example, windows only exist on the northern and southern elevations, increasing much needed heat in the cold months with southern light. Out back an original hand dug, stone-lined well also remains in good working order. Twenty-eight feet deep, the well continues to hold 22-25 feet of water. "If it weren't for all the development," Wayne observed, "I would still use the well, but the water has become contaminated because of the surface run off.