Published by the Reid-Fitch Publishing Company in St. Louis in 1905, the ‘Belleville Illinois Illustrated’ book is a fantastic depiction of Victorian life in Belleville.
It features text and photos of all the prominent businesses, structures, and homes in Belleville while also providing a little bit of history.
I was so excited to find not one but TWO photos of The Brick and Maple!!
Zooming in, it’s incredible to be able to see old stained glass windows, the original porch, the horse hitching post, and how much land they owned before selling the neighboring parcel around 1919. This is also likely the personal horse and carriage of the Romeiser Family. By searching old Sanborn fire maps, we know there was a carriage house constructed with the home in 1887. According to stories from neighbors, it may have stood even up until the 1990s. It looks as if Peter Romeiser himself is sitting in the carriage!
The entire digital version of the book is available online and is a fun way to spend a chilly Friday morning! Check it out here!
Enjoy!
~The Brick and Maple Family
4 Responses
I so wish I could find pictures of my house. . .but I hit road blocks at every turn. . .do you have any further Ideas? I have pics of the people. . .but nothing of the house.
I’m trying so hard to find other photos of houses on the street! Can you send me more names of residents?
How can you buy a paperback or hardback copy of this book? I grew up in the Louis Opp house on East “B” St. ? Thanks
Hi, Lynn! I’m not sure of where you can buy a copy but they are available to read in their entirety online. The 1905 edition can be found here: https://archive.org/details/bellevilleillino00stlo
And the 1910 sequel can be found here: https://books.google.com/books?id=4vVYAAAAMAAJ&pg=PP1&source=kp_read_button
Can’t wait to see what you find! Happy hunting!!!!!