Home Sweet Home

For Sale: The Historic “Koenig House”

This charming historic home, on 8+ acres at the end of “Kirkpatrick” Street, in the north of Edwardsville is being held for sale. It includes a picturesque brick “Summer Kitchen” and barn, all well-settled into the wooded acreage. A modern wing was attached in 2006, making it ultimately modern but in a very historic setting. For interested parties, a larger package of historical information is available from the owner.

General Description and History:

The basic older home is essentially a three bedroom, Federal-Style “story and a half” home. It has a classic floor plan with two bedrooms upstairs, and four rooms down, plus a huge central hall, front to back, both up and downstairs. One of the downstairs rooms could be used as a third bedroom or office. The central hall enjoys a traditional walnut handrail on the open stairway. All rooms are large, with high ceilings. A single bathroom was added upstairs to the original plan. (The front porch had been removed, but was restored.)

It was believed built in 1866, just after the Civil War, by John Koenig. It was built on land that was part the first claim in the Edwardsville area, made by Thomas Kirkpatrick, who lived in a log home alongside of what is now the driveway to the property, which was also used for the county’s first court sessions. Mr. Kirkpatrick is considered to be the first citizen and founder of Edwardsville. He named it after his patron, Ninian Edwards, who was the first and only governor of the Illinois Territory, before Illinois became a state, in 1812, and one of the first 2 senators when it did become a state in 1818, by then, living in Edwardsville.

The home originally faced Old Springfield Road, now called Liberty Street, that borders the property on the east. The original access, therefore, was from Old Springfield Road, and the current access brings traffic to the original rear of the home, where the “Summer Kitchen” is located. Old Springfield Road carried traffic from Edwardsville to Alton, and with a “wye” to the north, to Springfield. It was an important pioneer road, one used by Abraham Lincoln himself on many occasions. Mr. Lincoln would travel by train from Springfield to Alton, then hire a carriage to Edwardsville.

Headlines Prior To a Previous Sale

The home came to be known as “The Koenig- Deal House”. Mr. Koenig and his family occupied the home for many years. They, and possibly others before them, operated a “pear beer” business. Several hundred pear trees had been previously planted, and two brick-arched caverns were built facing Old Springfield Road in which the beer was cooled and kept in wooden barrels. One of the caverns has caved in, but another remains intact, although the entrance has been blocked. Anecdotal history suggested these caverns were used on the “Underground Railway”, along with the nearby Klingle House and “Three Mile House”.

In the middle of the 1900’s, the home was purchased and occupied by Don and Eve Deal. Their love of the place is still manifest in many places, and Don, an engineer with Shell, made many electrical and mechanical improvements, some of which still persist. They also added an indoor pool to the south. Falling into disrepair, the present owner has removed the pool room, restoring the porch to the original design as shown in the old picture, (above).

The home has solid brick foundations and walls, consistent with construction of the times. The bricks likely were made on the site. Most of the original windows have been replaced, (but not all,) with plumbing, wiring and a bathroom added. A one car carport adjoins the “Summer Kitchen”.

 

 

Summary of Features (older part):

Approximate square feet of living space: 2,200, (in the older part only.) The 2006 addition added 900 feet, a total of 3,100.

All four rooms downstairs are 16 by 16, with 12 foot ceilings. The two bedrooms upstairs are 16 by 17. Operating pocket doors separate the living and dining rooms.

It has a municipal water supply. A new septic system and field was installed in the winter of 2002.

A tall dry basement exists under half the house, the other half a “crawl” space, with interior stairways providing access.

It’s served with 200 amp electrical service, with circuit breakers.

Natural gas is used both for heating and water heating. It has central air conditioning, with a forced air distribution system

The land is 553 by 444 by 785, but irregular (A survey plat is available.)

The kitchen was remodeled when the addition was added in 2006. Appliances include dishwasher, range, ceiling fans, and a security system.

The living room has a working wood-burning fireplace.

Floors are all of original pine flooring.

In 2006, the south porch was replaced, restored to its original “front porch” status.

In 2008, the long north porch on what is now the front of the home, (pictured above,) was replaced with a composite, porch-floor look-alike. Now 3 years old, it’s still gorgeous, and should last for many years without painting.

 

The New Addition:

In 2006, a modern 900 square feet of space was added on the east side of the older home. It added a huge family room, a large master bedroom, a first floor bathroom and a closetlaundry room. It has a separate, and new, HVAC system, and a wonderful set of windows from which to view the outdoors. It has 900 square feet of very well built space.

The land has a huge variety of hardwoods, shade trees, evergreens, fruit trees and old-fashioned flowers. It’s a bird watchers paradise. On one day in 2010, the family saw orioles, indigo buntings, bluebirds, and rose breasted grosbeak, among other more common species.