On US 24 through El Paso, Illinois, it’s impossible to miss this grand dame of the Italianate style, sitting in between the highway and the railroad tracks.
While obviously originally a single family house, and in my opinion, the most lavish in the entire town, it was later converted into a motel and dining room. Below you can see a postcard that featured the motel.
Efforts to save the building, which only closed in the last decade, are commencing, as you can read in the this newspaper article. I hope they’re successful.
I love the cupolas that are the feature of many Italianate houses; there really are houses in Italy that look like this, though they’re usually stone. The cupola was a vent that drew hot air out of the top of the building.
Much of the original woodwork remains, making this an attractive rehab opportunity.
Here is an old photograph of the house; apparently it was owned by one James H. Wathen, and originally featured an ornate front porch, which is now gone.
Update: On March 16, 2013, I spoke to a couple who lived on a farm near here for decades, and frequently ate at the restaurant. They said it was famous for its fried chicken.
09/08/2012, 01:14 pm
I would be very interested in collaborating to bring this property back to a useful life. Feel free to pass on my email to any party currently involved with the Elm.
Regards,
David
09/09/2012, 10:41 pm
David,
That would be really cool if you could fix up this building. I unfortunately am not from around El Paso, so I don’t know anyone in town. If you click on the newspaper article about the closing, it lists the owners of the property.
06/12/2013, 12:25 pm
Hello, im currently working to restore the building. Ould you be interested in still collaberating?
11/09/2012, 04:28 am
This was an important place in my family’s life over generations. Both my mother and father and their families lived in El Paso for many years. I really wish someone would restore this treasure.
11/20/2012, 12:10 pm
Cupola’s aren’t only found on stone houses — they’re on wood homes as often as stone. And they weren’t only to draw hot air up through the building, they were also used by “look-outs” to help protect the house and surrounding property.