North End Square History
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We're seeking additional information about the historical underpinnings of the North End Square neighborhood. Can you help? If so, please contact us! |
Today's North End Square neighborhood was annexed by the City of Rockford on May 23, 1911 (3:42 PM). However, the streets, generally as they exist today, existed as early as 1892. Although the City at that time had a population of approximately 20,000, the northern concentration of residences was in the vicinity of North Main and Whitman.
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The Talcott residence, on Main Street, north of Whitman. The above sketch (click on the sketch to enlarge it) shows that the area was not built up in 1856, when the sketch was made. In 1856, Rockford's population was approximately 13,000. At the time, the residence was beyond the northern city limits, which were extended to present day Auburn Street by 1886, to Custer in 1911, and to Riverside in 1952. |
In the late 1800's and early 1900's, North End Square had a growing City to its south and prosperous farmer's to the north. Among these farming families were the Eddy's, the Willoughby's, and the Halsteds.
Otis Eddy Farmhouse
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The former Otis Eddy farmhouse, above (click on picture to enlarge), restored by Village Green Nurseries in 1987, was built in 1876. Eddy purchased the farm in 1864, after coming to Rockford in 1861. Architectually, the building isn't significant, except that it's unusually large (5,650 square feet) for a farmhouse. It has fourteen rooms, on four levels (including the basement). It features uncommonly large windows (3' x 7'; 31 of them, most with original panes, and most shuttered outside. It also features high ceilings (10'9" main floor; 9'6" upstairs). The house was continually occupied from 1876 until 1987. However, in the 1950's the grounds became overgrown with trees, to muffle traffic noise, when Main Street became four lanes. Many people passing by on Main didn't realize that in the thick overgrowth of trees there was a huge house and barn, with an Otis Eddy descendent living in the house. She died in 1987 and is buried in Greenwood Cemetery..
Otis Eddy, who built the farmhouse, was born in Rhode Island in 1804 (the seventh descending generation of his 1630 immigrant ancestor, Samuel Eddy (1608-1687) from Cranbrook, Kent, England). Otis Eddy died in Rockford in 1907. At the time of his death, he was the oldest mason in the world and the oldest person in Rockford.
Jonathan B. Halsted Farmhouse
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The Halsted farm consisted of 300 acres, starting at the southwest corner of Main and Halsted and running west. The Halsted farmhouse, above (click on picture to enlarge), was built in 1859 and still remains at 3318 N. Main, along with the original wrought-iron fencing.
Schools
A one-room rural school (West View District 68) was situated near the southeast corner of Main and Halsted, on the site previously occupied by Keide's Restaurant (now a self-storage business). It was established before 1853. Children from nearby farms went to this school, including the John, Brown, Halsted, Lake, Willoughby, and Eddy families. In the 1890's children in the growing area to the south attended the North End School, built in 1891 at 1221 Custer (current site of Third Presbyterian Church). This school was abandoned in 1912 when Walker School was opened, and the premises were subsequently purchased by Third Presbyterian Church in 1913. When North End School was closed, the West View School, near Halsted and Main, was expanded to two rooms.
Welsh School, named in honor of R. K. Welsh, was opened in 1927 at the northwest corner of Custer Avenue and Huffman Boulevard. The school's namesake, R. K. Welsh, died on August 2, 1942, at the age of 80 years. A prominent lawyer and retired judge, Welsh was active in education and government, organizing the first Rockford Board of Education and acting as its first President. He was also an organizer and first President of the Chamber of Commerce.
Greenwood Cemetery
Chartered in 1845, it was originally located near today's Cedar-Winnebago Street intersection, where the earliest burial was made about 1838. Rockford Cemetery was rechartered in 1852, and later, relics of early graves were moved to present-day Greenwood Cemetery, which, by 1892, was identified as West Side Cemetery.
Maps
The development of northwest Rockford is visible in maps from 1851 to 1905. To review topographical "snapshots" of the developing area, click here.
Then & Now
Since the North End Square neighborhood was not part of the City prior to 1911, residents and residences are not listed in the City Directories. However, starting with the City Directory of 1912, one can identify former residents. To review current homes linked with former residents, click here.
