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Emmert C. & Lulu Clevenstine House, 1700 26th Street
Most Significant Unprotected Structures:
Gordon-Van Tine bungalow with outstanding use of rubble stone
Architectural Style:
Craftsman
Construction Date:
1925
Architect/Builder:
Unknown
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This Bungalow-style home makes the best, and most obvious, use of rubblestone in the community. It is the most eye-catching feature of the house, and is used on the side walls of the porch steps, the porch piers and the front chimney. The walls are covered with cedar shakes. The shakes even cover the sides of the large square columns on the porch. There are multiple gables on this one-story home, with some revealing the rafter ends. The windows have ttraditional detailing of Arts and Crafts, particularly in the generously sized drip caps and wide framing. The center bay window on the north side of the house has a different arrangement with 18 fixed panes in a transom above a large picture window flanked by two narrower windows. Unfortunately, most of the window sashes have been replaced with double hung vinyl inserts.
The house is nearly an exact replica of Gordon-Van Tine Home No. 612, "A Striking Three-Bedroom Bungalow." The only difference between the elevation drawing in the catalog and the Clevenstine home is the missing roof brackets and utilization of stone on the chimney and porch. Gordon-Van Tine was the Davenport manufacturer of kit homes. It was established in 1907 as a subsidiary of U.N. Roberts Company, a millwork manufacturer in Davenport. With its previous experience in selling millwork and building materials by catalog, it was a natural progression for the company to expand its operation from millwork to the entire cornucopia of building supplies. From the very beginning, Gordon-Van Tine supplied larger companies, notably Sears, Roebuck & Co., with the building materials. Eventually, Gordon-Van Tine began marketing its own building materials to customers. In 1912, the first house catalog illustrated 40 houses. Gordon-Van Tine refined its catalogs and shifted its considerable experience and resources into pre-cut housing in order to compete head-to-head with companies like Aladdin. In 1916, it produced its first entry into the pre-cut housing market with its Ready Cut Homes catalog. From 1922 to 1932, Montgomery Ward relied on Gordon-Van Tine to produce its Wardway. Gordon Van Tine ceased operations in 1947.
The architectural features of the Clevenstine House must have been appreciated because, until the windows were replaced around 2006, they had stayed intact through six owners during the first 30 years of the house's existence.
This home was first occupied by a traveling salesman, Emmert C. Clevenstine, and his wife, Lulu. Only a few years later, in 1930, Howard Cohn was the resident. He worked for the Progress Window Cleaning Co. and lived here with his wife, Sarah. Then in 1932, occupants were David L. and Blanche Hartman. He was a department chief for Modern Woodmen of America. One year later, Kirk and Mary Journy moved into the bungalow. Kirk was the managing secretary of the Quad City Association of Milk Dealers. He was active with the Rock Island High School Alumni Association and the Elks Lodge. He would later become executive secretary of Dairy Queen National Trade Association, Inc., which had 1,055 members in 1951. Dairy Queen was founded in Moline in 1941. The Journys lived here until 1938, when Orville W.J. Suhr and his wife, Grace, became the owners. Suhr was a production manager and superintendent at Rock Island Sash and Door Works. They would live here until 1958, when the home was purchased by Nashua Packing & Sealing salesman Harold B. Lindberg and his wife, Dorothy.
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