The Daily Chronicle from De Kalb, Illinois • Page 3

DAILY CHRONICLE. Online Nlstexom and Monday. June 9. 2003 A3 Part lib cSmlX The Landmarks of Barb City jg jj I.I It; s' a 228-230 Fisk Ave. on May 18, 2003 1983 i lllll'l g- 580 DeKalb Ave.

In May 2003. It Is one of the two-story, front-gabled houses which replaced the Haish flats. he four-unit apart ment building at 228-230 Fisk Ave. is the surviving building of the historic Haish Flats in the old DeKalb-Pond-Fisk neighborhood. The structure had been of a trio that comprised Anna's Flats.

The Anna's Flats structures, in general, were originally of frame construction; they later underwent re-siding. The buildings stood two-stories high, and each had second-story open porches on front and the back. Windows in the various rooms principally were along the side walls on both floors. However, the front windows the apartments were fixed, and either were clear glass or had somewhat decorative transoms. Residents and visitors could gain access to the second floor of the building by entering an enclosed stairway from the front porch.

Prior to the redevelopment the entire Haish Flats complex in the early 1990s, 228-230 Fisk retained an open first-floor front porch, although it was altered from its historic design. However, the second-story front porch, along with the back porches on both levels, had been enclosed. This likely took place years before when the structure was reclad. It can be assumed that doorways of some sort remain leading to the second-floor porch from those apartments. In the case of fiats that completely lost their upper porch areas, doorways were replaced with smaller windows than those elsewhere on the building.

While 228-230 Fisk was the Haish Flat in the beat physical condition by the 1990s, it still reauired some improvements. The old gray asbestos siding was replaced by a much more attractive vinyl. Another aesthetic improvement included lighter-colored trim bands around the windows that help them stand out more. Also, the first-floor windows near the corner by the driveway previously were the only ones with awnings; now, not only do all of the windows have awnings, the porch doors do as well. Not all of the windows remained throughout the improvement process, though solid wall sections on the sides of the second-floor porch took the place of windows there.

Tip-Top' housing, in its day Another fiat along Fisk also acquired a nickname for itself, it being the most unusual of the lot. The "Tip-Top" at 235-243, on the north side of the street, comprised two buildings with four units each. These buildings were separated by a driveway; however, they were joined on the second-floor by a section, extending over the driveway, which projected as far forward as the porches and was capped with a simple gable roof. The two second floor apartments that contained Provided photos 228-230 Fisk Ave. In October The Hp-Top" Rat at 235-243 Steve Bigolin Local Lore the extra space were somewhat more sought after as they had four bedrooms each, instead of just two.

The cheap nature of their original construction, coupled with declining maintenance (even when owned by the Haish Estate) and conversion of the apartments into housing for college students rather than work'ing-class families, contributed to the ultimate demise of the flats. Over the years, all but a TiLMf" Thls brick comer of DeKalb photo taken 2003, may have been Jacob Haish. the tenements of another era gave way to low-density residences of the early 1990s. IT marks the spot A pair of curious commem-oratives survives along with the flat at 228-230 Fisk. Embedded in the sidewalk on the northeast corner of Fisk and DeKalb avenues, and in the cement of the driveway to the fiat, is a group of five bricks forming the letter In 1983, some former residents of the area recalled that they either were told by www.Daily their parents, or actually saw for themselves, that Jacob Huish himself originally laid these in place.

However, this amounts to a case of oral tradition and is open to question. It is true, though, that the driveway of the Haish mansion was paved with these same decorative bricks and they also are known for their use as sidewalk pavement in front of houses or other tenements constructed by Haish. Steve Bigolin is an expert in local history. Chronicle.com conincATions Recycle to "Raise the Roof in Genoa' GENOA Kishwaukee Valley Habitat for Humanity is raising funds for its new house at 705 Hawthorn Lane by recycling empty aluminum cans and used inkjet, laser, fax and copier toner Recyclables can be brought during Genoa Days, Wednesday through Saturday, to the Habitat booth "to help make the dream of homeownership a reality," say the organizers. The group will also be selling Avon Bug-Guard 40 percent of each purchase goes to Habitat and T-shirts.

Volunteers to build homes are being sought. Children with wheels participate in parade GENOA Genoa Main Street will sponsor the seventh annual "Decorate Your Wheels Contest during the Genoa-Kingston Fire Department's Genoa Days festival. Registration and parade will take place at 5:30 p.m. Wednesday on Main Street near Genoa Street. The annual contest is open to children 2 to 12 years of age.

There is no charge. A child may enter the contest by decorating a bicycle, tricycle, Big Wheel, wagon or anything similar on wheels. However, no motorized vehicles, in-line skates, or skate boards are allowed. Prizes will be awarded to the best-decorated wheels in two categories: 2-7 years and 8-12 years of age. Grand prize in each category will be a wristband for free rides on Thursday night.

First-, second- and third-prize winners in each category will receive ribbons. Participants will receive a coupon for a free ice cream cone from Crumpets. Personal interest classes offered at KC MALTA Kishwaukee College is offering a variety of classes for community members to learn new crafts or pursue a. personal interest. Class sizes are limited.

"The Chocolate Story," held from 7-9 p.m. Wednesday in Room A-108, will cover its history from cacao beans to store and its 300 known properties and effects. The instructor is Barbara Noble. The cost is $32. "Raggy Strip Quilting," three sessions by Dawn Andermann, will be offered from p.m.

June 16-30 in Room B-246. This class covers strip piecing and sewing quilt top and backing together in one step. Participants should bring thread; five yards each of three coordinating fabrics (or 2.5 yards of six coordinating fabrics); an 18-by-24-inch cut ting mat; a variety of quil-ter's tools and a sewing machine. The cost is $35. "Create a Quillow" (a lap quilt that folds into a decorative pillow), four sessions by Dawn Andermann, will be held from p.m.

July 7 to Aug. 4, in Room B-246 at Kishwaukee College. Participants are asked to bring a sewing machine and extension cord. A detailed supply list will be mailed one week prior to class. Cost is $44.

For more information or to register using a credit card, call Kishwaukee College at (815) 825-2086, F.xL 204 or 210. Church to serve dinner MAPLE PARK Grace United Methodist Church, 606 Willow will host a grilled pork chop dinner from p.m. Tuesday. Cos' is $7 for adults, $3.50 for children ages 3-10 and free for children younger than 3. The back parking lot entrance has no stairs.

For information, call (815) 827-3490. Phyllis Johnwn can be reached at pqj6pulitzcr.net. only part the in of Fisk Ave. October 1983 time, and residents and ers worried about the direc tion the project might take. This probably stemmed from the fact that many of those who called the fiats home were low-income persons and had limited choices as to where they could move.

The DeKalb-Pond-Fisk Neighborhood Committee formed then to work in conjunction with the city in planning for the future. Except for 228-230 Fisk, the other assorted Haish Flats, some small, houses and the former heating plant building eventually were demolished to permit a large enough parcel to offer for redevelopment. The core area along Fisk and DeKalb avenues witnessed the con struction of 12 two-story, front-gabled, single-family homos in their place. One such structure also was built on Pond and another on Fourth. Just as the flats historically had comprised a subdivision of basically identical two-or four-unit low-income tenements, the middle-income houses that exist there today look much alike as well.

The age-old congestion problem in this neighborhood finally became a thing of the past, as on the Flak and avenues In a on May originally placed by FEATURING Sales Service Center Sycimora IVKofo fS Next to tUu Mui.lrr www.odvoneepc4.nef with ftw octrvotioA Mm-Mi 1 1 7 pm lwr4my an if it tt kri" couple were re-sided, with many losing second-floor porches and other elements of design integrity in the process. A fire in the mid-1980s destroyed the "Tip-Top" fiat, leaving a gaping hole in the streetscape. City officials now express concern that it might be time to consider a wholesale redevelopment of this "slum" area. Redevelopment comes to the Flats Acquisition of the various properties by the city took BEN GORDON CENTER COMWNIY WELLNESS SERIES ATTENTION FARMERS AND INVESTORS Arc We There liM 1 1 uuu 1 mm-g pm wm4my 10 -3 pm i "A Hi 'jf wi rn an tt Swr trrwrnm mm vtair jtmw fwA Hst (mm and ato ILLINOIS RIVER ENERGY LLC ANNOUNCES 2 INFORMAL MEETINGS Illinois River Energy, LLC (IRE) is a development company proposing to build a 50 million gallon ethanol plant in Rm helle Illinois. IRE is currently seeking investment capitol to finance this plant.

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