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1. 516 23rd Street – Cameron House
Broadway National Register Historic District: 1998
Architectural Style: Italianate
Construction Date: 1875
The Cameron House is among the oldest in the Broadway neighborhood, and its architectural integrity may be related to 60 years of ownership by one family. Joseph C. Cameron, whose mother and father settled in Rock Island in 1843 and 1844, moved just one block east when this home, then addressed 70 Broadway, was built in 1875. Joseph was a ship’s carpenter who eventually rose to the level of ferry captain during the time he lived here. Cameron was the captain of the J.W. Spencer steamboat, which was operated by the Rock Island Ferry Co. He and wife Clara had several children, and she continued to live here into the 1930s, two decades after Joseph’s passing.
This home has amazing architectural integrity and is mostly unchanged since its 1875 construction. Though relatively rare in other communities, front gable Italianate style homes are plentiful in Rock Island. This example shows elaborate wood brackets, stone window hoods and a wonderfully preserved front stoop above paired doors. Notice the south side of the home has many windows, while the north side has relatively few. The windows are placed on the south side of the house to let the sunlight naturally warm the house year-round. This practice is still used by modern architects.
Return to 50 Broadway Buildings tour page.
Return to Broadway Italianates tour page.
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