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~ Henry Yates Sr. was born October 29, 1786 in Caroline County, Virginia. Henry was the son of Dr. Michael Yates, a native of England, who immigrated to America before the Revolution.
In May of 1831 Henry moved to Springfield, IL and opened a “stock of goods” store. It was at this time Henry became a close friend of Abraham Lincoln’s whom Lincoln warmly referred to as “Old Henry Yates”. In November of 1832 Henry and his family moved to Island Grove, where Berlin, IL now stands. He purchased a two story log cabin that originally stood on the north side of Old Jacksonville Road and he moved it to the south side of the road and opened another "stock of goods" store. The village of Berlin was laid out and platted by Henry and his son Thomas Yates. It was around his store that a settlement was effected and other businesses were started and the village of Berlin soon had an actual existence. ~ |
The aforementioned original 1832 red oak log cabin is the centerpiece of this home. This architecturally designed home incorporated numerous re-purposed components and was built to replicate a mid-1800’s Federal style home. Starting with the “Boral” brick which was manufactured in wooden molds, all limestone lentils and sills and the stone water table came from early Illinois buildings. The light fixtures that flank the front door, with their blown glass globes, are exact replicas of historical gas lights. All windows are Pella Architectural Series with true divided lights with the exception of the early Gothic windows on the carriage house style garage.
The front door with original forged iron hinges, ornate door surround, limestone steps and landing, limestone edging around landscaping, and original boot scraper all came from an 1850’s home that was located in Alexander, IL.
Beautifully simple walnut staircase in the front entry came from a circa 1845 home that was part of the underground railroad and located a few miles east of Jacksonville, IL
The entire home is filled with early four panel doors, hung with early hand forged hinges; old rim (box) locks and original brown Bennington pottery door knobs.
Two early walnut tongue and groove doors, circa 1840, (located in the cabin) lead to the outdoor screened in porch and also the TV / stereo cabinet. All of the walnut handmade raised panel shutters in the cabin are constructed from old barn siding. All walnut trim throughout the cabin room is recycled from early homes.
Beautiful 8” wide red oak flooring is original to the cabin. The remainder of the wood floor in the house is 7” yellow pine that came from a circa 1900 dairy barn loft. All nails used to secure floorboards are old and original hand forged square nails pulled from early buildings.
Many of the light fixtures in the home are antique gas fixtures that have been converted to electric. The brass fixtures in the foyer have original 1880’s acid etched shades and feature a deer and woods motif.
The tall, paneled pair of pine doors which separate the dining room from the kitchen came from a late 1700’s stone house that was originally located in Pennsylvania.
The mudroom beaded board wainscot and chair rail also came from the same 1850’s home as the front door and surround located in Alexander, IL.
The custom made inset Shaker style kitchen cabinets are constructed from beautifully figured curly cherry. The cherry that was used came from a huge 200+ year old tree enabling all door panels to be built using single inset boards.
The tiger maple stand-alone hutch is a reproduction of a late 1700’s Chippendale cabinet. Early wavy glass panes compliment the cabinet doors.
The screened porch columns came from an early flour mill that was originally located in Warsaw, Illinois, along the Mississippi River. The glass in the transoms on the porch is also constructed using old wavy window glass.
The stone used for the 10’ diameter fountain, the foundation for the spring house and also the stone on the outdoor patio came from a Civil War era homes original foundation. The heavy red paving bricks used for the patio floor came from an early dairy barn that was located in Decatur, IL
As the original owners of this home we tried to build it with a respect and sensitivity to history using numerous recycled architectural elements collected over a number of years. We attempted to transform the old, with the hope of restoring them to some of their original glory. That vision and painstaking process is what gives this one of a kind home its warm and inviting character!
The front door with original forged iron hinges, ornate door surround, limestone steps and landing, limestone edging around landscaping, and original boot scraper all came from an 1850’s home that was located in Alexander, IL.
Beautifully simple walnut staircase in the front entry came from a circa 1845 home that was part of the underground railroad and located a few miles east of Jacksonville, IL
The entire home is filled with early four panel doors, hung with early hand forged hinges; old rim (box) locks and original brown Bennington pottery door knobs.
Two early walnut tongue and groove doors, circa 1840, (located in the cabin) lead to the outdoor screened in porch and also the TV / stereo cabinet. All of the walnut handmade raised panel shutters in the cabin are constructed from old barn siding. All walnut trim throughout the cabin room is recycled from early homes.
Beautiful 8” wide red oak flooring is original to the cabin. The remainder of the wood floor in the house is 7” yellow pine that came from a circa 1900 dairy barn loft. All nails used to secure floorboards are old and original hand forged square nails pulled from early buildings.
Many of the light fixtures in the home are antique gas fixtures that have been converted to electric. The brass fixtures in the foyer have original 1880’s acid etched shades and feature a deer and woods motif.
The tall, paneled pair of pine doors which separate the dining room from the kitchen came from a late 1700’s stone house that was originally located in Pennsylvania.
The mudroom beaded board wainscot and chair rail also came from the same 1850’s home as the front door and surround located in Alexander, IL.
The custom made inset Shaker style kitchen cabinets are constructed from beautifully figured curly cherry. The cherry that was used came from a huge 200+ year old tree enabling all door panels to be built using single inset boards.
The tiger maple stand-alone hutch is a reproduction of a late 1700’s Chippendale cabinet. Early wavy glass panes compliment the cabinet doors.
The screened porch columns came from an early flour mill that was originally located in Warsaw, Illinois, along the Mississippi River. The glass in the transoms on the porch is also constructed using old wavy window glass.
The stone used for the 10’ diameter fountain, the foundation for the spring house and also the stone on the outdoor patio came from a Civil War era homes original foundation. The heavy red paving bricks used for the patio floor came from an early dairy barn that was located in Decatur, IL
As the original owners of this home we tried to build it with a respect and sensitivity to history using numerous recycled architectural elements collected over a number of years. We attempted to transform the old, with the hope of restoring them to some of their original glory. That vision and painstaking process is what gives this one of a kind home its warm and inviting character!
This unique home was featured in:
State Journal Register “Recycled Room” (July 13th, 2003)
Illinois Magazine (May 2002)
HGTV's – “Look What I Did” (June 4th, 2007)
