Circa 1866. Save This Old Fixer Upper in Illinois $5K

OHU50K Notes $5,000

Save this old fixer upper. The brick home is located on a corner lot on a street with fabulous bricks homes, but this one has seen better days. I found an amazing newspaper article that gives the history of this poor house. It was first owned by a prominent and wealthy family, then later broken up into four apartments. In 1972, the Koehler family purchased the home and began restoration, bringing it back as a single family home. Apparently, they were working on the carriage house portion as recent as 1996, so what happened to this beauty?

House View featured at 303 N Jackson St, Belleville, IL, 62220

Realtor Comments

Potential filled 4BR/3BA home & carriage house! The main level features a living room, a dining room, a kitchen area, and bonus room. The second level houses all four bedrooms. The home was in the process of being remodeled and is ready to be finished by you to fit your unique style! Recent updates include new roof/roof trusses in 2019. All public utilities are available but not currently functioning. The property is located within the Belleville Historic District and any exterior renovations would need to have a design review application submitted to the City of Belleville. Price listed is Starting Bid Only. Bidding starts closing 5/16/2024 @ 2 p.m. Property will sell under auction terms and be sold AS- IS, WHERE-IS. Seller, will not make any repairs as a result of any building, occupancy, or environmental inspections. Buyer will be required to sign an Auction Purchase & Sale Agreement if final bid is accepted by Sellers. Any showings after open house are by appointment only.

4bed
1.5+bath
Circa 1900

Door featured at 303 N Jackson St, Belleville, IL, 62220

303 N Jackson St, Belleville, IL 62220 $5,000

If interested in a property, please contact the realtor whose link is provided in the post below, or contact an agent of your own choosing. Independent verification of details and status is recommended.

Family History

The house was built in 1866 in Greek Revival style by Joseph Penn. Joseph Penn had emigrated from Germany in 1812. He served as the postmaster and as a juror in the Stuart Bennett trial in Belleville, regarded as the first murder trial in the new state of Illinois. The Penn family owned huge tracts of land in St. Clair County. They were some of the wealthiest people in Belleville.

Sometime around 1900, John and Caroline Penn, Joseph Penn’s son and daughter-in-law, came to live in the house with their daughter Florence. John Penn was secretary of Belleville Gas, Light and Coke Company until 1898. Then he and brother William opened up the Penn Real Estate Company. John purchased his first horseless carriage in 1901, a Stanley Steamer, and Florence was one of the first female drivers at age 12.

John Penn loved automobiles so much that he built the brick carriage house in the back in 1913. The Penns used it as a combination garage and stable. The building has a wooden disc so vehicles could be turned around, a unique feature for the times.