The Morrison Historic Preservation Commission (MHPC) is applying to nominate an appropriate portion of the community’s commercial district to be listed on the National Register of Historic Places. With the assistance of our consultants, the MHPC has spent months researching and writing the substance of our application. In the hopes that the community will find the information contained therein both interesting and informative, we will be running, one at a time, in no particular order, over the next year, the architectural and historical description of each building included. We hope you enjoy installment #8.
Note: The National Register of Historic Places is literally a listing of spaces, structures or areas recognized to be of National historic, cultural or architectural importance. It is kept by the United States Department of Interior, but the program is largely administered by an individual state’s preservation authority. In Illinois, this is the Illinois Historic Preservation Agency. The term “contributing” means that the structure lies within an historic district and adds to the architectural or historic significance of the same as a whole. If it is within the boundaries of the district, but does not so supplement, it is deemed “non-contributing.”
Vogel’s Barber Shop, Date: c. 1890–“Contributing”
Description: This two-story brick building with painted brick exterior is at 205-207 E. Main Street. The two storefronts of the main elevation (north) were altered; they are asymmetrical with slightly recessed glass and wood doors near the center (single light to the east, three lights to the west), smaller aluminum display windows and pargeted wall surface. The west storefront (205 E. Main) has a cast iron sill (maker’s mark reads “Dearborn Foundry Co., Chicago.”) The upstairs entry has been moved to the west of the exterior wall and is part of the adjacent building (201 E. Main.) Above the storefront is bracketed sheet-metal lintel cornice. The upper story has five historic wood, double-hung windows with stone sills and rectangular sheet-metal window hoods. Bracketed galvanized sheet-metal cornice is at the top. Between the cornice and window hoods is a repainted historic sign that reads “Hardware” in slab serif letterforms. The rear elevation (south) is painted brick. Window and door openings have soldier arches and are a mixture of historic and modern materials, infill, and utilities.
History: Owned by Alfred A. Bruce, the building originally housed a hardware and plumbing store (Sauer Hardware, owned by Henry Sauer, Bruce’s son-in-law), while the second story was a tin shop. Later uses included an arts and clothing store and Tomlinson Cleaners (1950’s.) The current first story occupants are two beauty salons (annabella’s and Vogel’s.)