Phoenix Block
Address: 106-108 W. Washington Street
Built: 1856
Architect: Unknown
Style: Greek Revival (1820-1860)
Greek Revival (1820-1860)
Hallmarks of the Greek Revival style as exhibited in Bloomington architecture include bold, simple moldings on the exterior and interior, pedimented gables, heavy cornices with unadorned friezes, and horizontal transoms above the entrances. The Greeks did not use arches as the Romans did, so Greek Revival buildings do not have the arched windows.
Brief History:
Dubbed the “Phoenix Block” by The Pantagraph because of how quickly they rose from the ashes after the fire on October 16, 1855
The buildings, completed in 1856, were originally built as office space for lawyers in the local area.
The 2nd floor of 106 W. Washington St. housed the offices for Kersey Fell, an insurance agent. It was here that his brother, Jesse Fell, first suggested to Abraham Lincoln that he should run for President of the United States and write a campaign autobiography. Lincoln would have been a regular visitor to Fell's office. Kersey’s desk (where Lincoln drafted his autobiography) is on display in the Abraham Lincoln in McLean County exhibit inside the Museum.
1857 - Housed the Illinois Natural History Museum on the third floor, one of the first public museums in Illinois.
1901 - During the construction of the Livingston & Sons department store, five of the seven buildings were razed.
1905-1922 – The 106 W. Washington Street building, housed Homuth Jewelry among others which included Sorg's Jewelers from 1946-1988.
Redeveloped by Fred Wollrab.
Architectural Description:
These two Greek Revival style buildings were originally part of a larger block of seven designed by an unknown architect. The two buildings to the east were razed for the construction of the Livingston building in 1902, and the other two to the west were razed during the construction of the Livingston & Sons Department store.
The block of buildings that burned was home to the Pantagraph from June 1854-October 1855.
Ornamentation was minimal. Window sills, caps and lintels of Joliet Limestone adorn the upper floors on all facades. The lintels are supported by iron columns. Brick inverted pyramids dress the cornice followed by a row of brick dentils and tile capitals. Only one building has this remaining decoration.
The first floor is comprised of aluminum framed, glass panels and doors exposing the nature of the public and commercial spaces for 106 W. Washington Street. It is also framed with new cast iron columns.
About the Fire:
“The most valuable and densely built square,” Main to Center Streets and Washington to Front Streets, was burnt with only two buildings remaining: McLean County Bank Building (1853), corner of Main and Front Streets; George Dietrich & George Bradner's hardware store, on Main Street just south of the alley
The fire began in the livery stable behind the Morgan House and then spread to subsequent buildings before firefighters managed to quell the flames amidst the crowd of 4,000 anxious citizens that had been attracted to the scene.
Drayman William Green was killed (from falling chimney) and two others (Samuel Flemming and Mr. Steele) were also injured. Fleming claimed one of his broken legs (the right) was improperly set, and in the subsequent drawn-out legal battle Abraham Lincoln represented Dr. Eli Crothers (who set the leg) in a malpractice suit known as the “Chicken Bone” case … but that’s a story for another day!
The loss was estimated between $75-$150k (or worth $49.1-$96.2 million today).
Within a few weeks, several lots were cleared and had one-story walls up with temporary roofs which enabled the owners to carry on business through the winter.
A new city ordinance requiring all buildings on the Courthouse Square to be constructed of brick was passed.
The Pantagraph also used the tragedy to once again call for adequate firefighting measures to prevent the reoccurrence of such major conflagrations.