Herman & Sophia Heimbach House

Herman and Sophia Heimbach House. Built C. 1879. Referred to in his obituary as a "pioneer resident of Blue Island," Herman Heimbach came here from Germany in 1873, marrying Sophia Marx on October 8th of 1877. Sophia was born in Germany and had immigrated in 1871. By 1879 they lived in this house, believed to have been built by them. They raised three sons and three daughters here while Herman operated a livestock business out of this house, often selling livestock during Blue Island's old market days which took place along this stretch of what was then the southern end of Western Avenue in Blue Island. , , On Easter Sunday in 1907, Herman's son Henry opened a meat market and grocery store on this block just to the north, which he eventually moved to the building he had constructed on the southeast corner of Western and Broadway. , , Herman died on April 9, 1922, and his widow, Sophia, lived in this house with her son Henry until her death at the age of 89, passing away on July 13, 1945. Even then, the home stayed in the family - Henry's sister Clara, by then a widow, joined him back in their family home. They each lived here until their deaths in 1960 (Clara) and 1961 (Henry). It's a unique example of vernacular architecture that was prevalent in this part of Blue Island at the time - a style produced by those without professional guidance and based on local needs, the availability of construction materials, and reflecting local traditions., Historic Blue Island - Founded 1835.