Rock Island in Rock Island County, Illinois — The American Midwest (Great Lakes)
Connor House
Photographed By Duane and Tracy Marsteller, July 9, 2022
1. Connor House Marker
National Register Of Historic Places Registration form
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placed on the
National Register
of Historic Places
by the United States
Department of the Interior
Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Architecture. A significant historical year for this entry is 1888.
Location. 41° 30.302′ N, 90° 34.328′ W. Marker is on Rock Island, Illinois, in Rock Island County. Marker is at the intersection of 20th Street and 7th Avenue, on the left when traveling north on 20th Street. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 702 20th St, Rock Island IL 61201, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Robert Wagner House (approx. 0.3 miles away); Fort Armstrong Hotel (approx. 0.3 miles away); John Gale & Richard M. Coleman (approx. 0.9 miles away); Fort Armstrong Cemetery Boulders (approx. 0.9 miles away); Site of Fort Armstrong (approx. 0.9 miles away); Fort Armstrong Sesquicentennial (approx. 0.9 miles away); Fort Armstrong (approx. one mile away); Blackhawk Purchase Treaty Commemorative (approx. one mile away in Iowa). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Rock Island.
Regarding Connor House. Excerpt from the National Register nomination:
In 1888 Homer J . Lowrey, a “pork packer,” resided at 702 20th Street. Lowrey's previousemployment in the Rock Island area included a role as proprietor of the Cordova Lime Works, a building materials supplier. Lowrey sold the house to James Connor and his wife, Anna Fries Schmidt Connor in 1891. The house was a wedding gift from Anna's father, Peter Fries, one of Rock Island's most prominent early citizens. Like Anna's first husband, Charles Schmidt, James Connor worked for for the Peter Fries & Co. wholesale liquor house, first as a traveling salesman and later as manager.
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The Fries operation was the oldest of three wholesale liquor houses in the city in the late 1880's and early 1890's. The business experienced continued prosperity in subsequent years, as evidenced in the major remodeling of the Connor House undertaken in 1906. Anna Fries Schmidt Connor continued in the house until her death in 1930 and her son, Oscar Fries Schmidt, resided here until his death in 1944.
Shortly after Schmidt's death, the house was purchased by Paul A. Parker. Parker's family had moved to Rock Island in the 1880's and established a laundry bearing the family name. The business continues as a family operation today. The Connor House remains in the Parker family as well, under the ownership of David and Barbara Parker.
Also see . . . Connor House (Rock Island, Illinois). Wikipedia entry includes
Photographed By Duane and Tracy Marsteller, July 9, 2022
2. Connor House Marker
The house is now the Victorian Inn bed and breakfast.
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Credits. This page was last revised on July 13, 2022. It was originally submitted on July 12, 2022, by Duane and Tracy Marsteller of Murfreesboro, Tennessee. This page has been viewed 100 times since then and 21 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on July 12, 2022, by Duane and Tracy Marsteller of Murfreesboro, Tennessee.
