I Sure Got My History's Worth Last Week-- Part 3: Elihu Washburne's House

On Friday, August 24, I noticed a sign out by the Washburne home in Galena saying that it was open Friday and Saturday 10 a.m. to 2 p.m..  I've been wanting to visit this place for many years, but it is usually closed.  And, it was 11 a.m..  I stopped.

This is an impressive house and a state historic site.  Home to one of Galena's most influential men, Elihu Washburne.  He was a multi-term U.S. Congressman from Illinois and a great friend of U.S. Grant.  He was largely responsible for Grant getting back into the Army as becoming a brigadier general (one star).

On election night 1868, Grant and others were in this house, which was hooked up to a telegraph, to follow voting results and was there when he found out he was the new president.

Also, two of Elihu's brothers were U.S. representatives from Wisconsin and Minnesota.

An Important Man Few Know Today.  --DaCoot

They Tore Down Elihu's House

From the August 21, 2013, Galena (Il) Gazette "HPC approves demolition of historic home" by Betty Roliardi.

Galena's Historic Preservation Commission on August 15th approved the demolition of an 1840 house on the east side of Galena. If you know anything about Galena, Illinois, "the town that history forgot," you know that was not a decision taken lightly.

And, an fairly important man, Elihu Washburne lived there. I wrote about him in my Civil War blog (Saw the Elephant). He was a friend of both Abraham Lincoln and U.S. Grant and a big reason Grant did well in the Army, at least initially.

Washburne lived in the house in 1840 while waiting for his mansion to be built. County records show that he still owned it in 1843 and sold it in 1847. His mansion still stands at 3rd Street and Decatur (US-20) and is open for tours.

Since then, however, the house at 208 Van Buren Street had fallen upon hard times and it was the belief that it was beyond saving. In short, it had become an eyesore. Its basement was constantly flooded and the house as a result was fairly well rotted.

The new owner of the house says he will try to replicate the original cottage as much as possible.

Always sad to see something old torn down but sometimes that is the only choice. ---DaCoot