During the past few years, there has been eager interest in development of the Donnybrook Bakery Cafe, at the southwest corner of S. Base and W. Main Streets, Morrison, IL. Bob and Debby Vaughn are in the final months of repurposing three of their four contiguous buildings. Each is alphabetically nicknamed, beginning on the corner: Alice, Brady, Caitlin, and Deirdre. Delaying completion of the Donnybrook–units A, B, and C–was the Vaughns’ 2012 purchase of Deirde, the former pet store at 207. After extensive renovation, it reopened in July 2013 as Extreme Image Salon. Erin James is the tenant of the beautifully transformed space.
Whenever 19th century buildings are delved into, count on surprises! All discoveries will cost money; many will require patience; a few will delight, if you love the history of a place. Also count on discoveries to slow construction. Such was the case on Wednesday, September 12, 2012.
Bob Vaughn stated, “During renovation/excavation of the west, interior, common wall between 203 and 205 W. Main Street, [ie., between Brady and Caitlin] we uncovered an original clapboard wall. This wall has been covered since the 1880-to-1895 time period, by my estimation and based on Don Mulnix’s historical review of our properties.” The younger Alice dates from 1902.
“We have found numerous posters and signs dated to this era [which] provide an interesting snapshot of life in Morrison at that time.”
- A yellow and black sign touts Ayers Sarsasaparilla as the only official drink at the 1893 Chicago World’s Fair.
- A poster for an upcoming steam ship ride down the Mississippi River from Clinton, IA, asks, “Are you going?”
- A yellow tin sign for “High Grade Newton [horse-drawn] Wagons” claims “They Are the Best.” Newton wagons were sold in Morrison.
- “Gombault’s Caustic Balsam” was for your horses and cattle–with “Equal Value for Human Use.”
Vaughn added, “We…have found about ten of these posters and still another 35 feet of wall to strip off. [This is] a very interesting wall that has been in a virtual time sarcophagus for 130 years.”
Regular demolition and construction stopped, while the various proclamations were carefully removed. Some–like the metal and ceramic signs below–said Vaughn, will find themselves living on interior walls of the Donnybrook Bakery Cafe.
“Ephemera,” paper items such as posters, broadsides, and tickets, were originally meant to be discarded after use, but they have since become collectibles. These attractive horse posters will require conservation.
From Tuesday, August 6, through Saturday, August 10, 2013, visitors will attend the Carroll County Fair at the Milledgeville, IL, Fairgrounds. A portion of a vintage Carroll County Fair poster lingers on the clapboard wall. In the late-1800’s the Fair was held in Savanna, IL. The grandstand is visible with the crowd watching a race.
There was an extra surprise along the wall. Vibrant comedic posters show the misadventures of a Black man and an obstinate mule. They are chronicled by minute, ending with “Fifth Minute, head open.” Man and animal are spent. The bridle dangles, having not been attached. A raised fist displays frustration, while those in the background enjoy the contest.
