Enos Park in Springfield in Sangamon County, Illinois — The American Midwest (Great Lakes)

John F. Bretz House & Warehouse

1886

Photographed by Duane and Tracy Marsteller, April 4, 2025

1. John F. Bretz House & Warehouse Marker

Inscription. This property is listed in the National Register of Historic Places by the United States Department of the Interior

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Architecture • Roads & Vehicles. In addition, it is included in the National Register of Historic Places (NRHP) series list. A significant historical year for this entry is 1886.

Location. 39° 48.854′ N, 89° 38.966′ W. Marker is in Springfield, Illinois, in Sangamon County. It is in Enos Park. It is on North 5th Street 0.1 miles south of North Grand Avenue, on the right when traveling south. North 5th Street is one-way southbound. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 1113 N 5th St, Springfield IL 62702, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in Central Illinois.

It is also in the American Midwest

and in the Corn Belt.

Globally, it is in North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once the territory of the Mississippian Culture

and also the Northwest Territory.

Other nearby markers. At

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least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Lithuanians in Springfield (approx. 0.2 miles away); Rippon-Kinsella House (approx. 0.3 miles away); General John A. McClernand (approx. 0.3 miles away); The 1858 Senate Campaign (approx. 0.3 miles away); Lincoln’s Tomb (approx. half a mile away); Reservoir Park and Lanphier High School (approx. half a mile away); John Riley Tanner (1844 - 1901) (approx. 0.6 miles away); Receiving Vault (approx. 0.6 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Springfield.

Regarding John F. Bretz House & Warehouse. Excerpt from the National Register nomination:

The John F. Bretz House and Warehouse have local historical significance … due to their association with John F. Bretz, who is significant in respect to community planning and development in late-nineteenth-century Springfield. For nearly thirty years (1877-1905), Bretz played a preeminent role in the construction of the sewer system and the paving of streets in Springfield through his service as city street supervisor and as a construction contractor. While not the most glamorous contributions to community development,
Photographed by Duane and Tracy Marsteller, April 5, 2025

2. John F. Bretz House & Warehouse Marker
paved streets and sewers were necessary elements to the creation of a modern city, and contemporary writers proudly boasted of Springfield's advancements in these areas during the last quarter of the nineteenth century. As a contractor, John Bretz initially specialized in sewer construction and later expanded his operations to include street paving. By the time of his retirement in 1905, he was reported to have laid the greater part of the brick pavements in Springfield in addition to laying many of the sewers in the city. Bretz served as supervisor of city streets in 1877-1878, 1882-1883, and 1887-1890. It was during his last term in office that Springfield made a transition from wood-block paving to brick paved streets. Bretz played an additional role in the city's paved street program as a major investor in Springfield Improvement Bonds. Between 1886 and 1905, John Bretz conducted his business from his house lot at 1113 North Fifth Street in Enos Park. As such, the residence and warehouse there represent the two most important structures in his later career, and, in their own ways, these buildings are emblematic of the considerable
Photographed by Duane and Tracy Marsteller, April 4, 2025

3. Former John F. Bretz Warehouse
success he enjoyed.

Also see . . .
1. Bretz, John F., House and Warehouse (PDF). National Register nomination form for the property, which was listed in 2000. (Prepared by Christopher Stratton, via Illinois Historic Preservation Agency; archived March 4, 2016 by Internet Archive) (Submitted on April 18, 2025, by Duane and Tracy Marsteller of Murfreesboro, Tennessee.)

2. John F. Bretz. Biography excerpted from Joseph Wallace's 1904 book, Past and Present of the City of Springfield and Sangamon County, Illinois. (Via Sangamon County IL GenWeb, 2000) (Submitted on April 18, 2025, by Duane and Tracy Marsteller of Murfreesboro, Tennessee.)

John F. Bretz image. Click for full size.

Past and Present of the City of Springfield … , Joseph Wallace; via Google Books (Public Domain), circa 1904

4. John F. Bretz

Credits. This page was last revised on April 18, 2025. It was originally submitted on April 18, 2025, by Duane and Tracy Marsteller of Murfreesboro, Tennessee. This page has been viewed 154 times since then and 24 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4. submitted on April 18, 2025, by Duane and Tracy Marsteller of Murfreesboro, Tennessee.