18 minute read
Home & Lifestyles
Home and Lifestyles H & L
Cindy Reinhardt For the Intelligencer
Editor’s Note: In recognition of National Historic Preservation Month in May, local historian Cindy Reinhardt tells the stories behind some of Edwardsville’s historic buildings in a series of eight articles.
In early 1927, an insurance and real estate man, Harlan Bartlett, purchased Lot 20 of Block 23 in Leclaire from the N.O. Nelson Company. A few months later, after having a house erected on the property, he sold the new home at 1219 Emerson Ave. to Anna Abert, a widow from near Kaufman Station and her daughter, also Anna Abert, known as Ann or Annie.
Anna and Ann, together, and Ann after her mother’s death in 1948, would live at the house on Emerson Avenue until 1984. Fortunately, thanks to Anna’s granddaughters, Fern Scheller and Shirley Olsen, and great-granddaughter, Audrey Steiner, a clear picture of life in Leclaire during that time period is preserved in their memories and family photographs.
Anna Margaret Rabberman was born in 1866 in St. Clair County, Illinois. She was the daughter of German immigrant farmers who moved to a farm near Alhambra in the early 1870s. In 1888, Anna married August Frederick Abert, an area farmer who was born in Germany in 1859 and immigrated with his parents when he was 8 years old.
The Aberts had five children who survived to adulthood, Louis, Albert, Lena, August, Edward and Anna. They raised their children on the family farm near Kaufman Station northeast of Edwardsville. They had been married 37 years when August died in 1935. By this time their children were all married with families except Ann, who was their youngest. Mother and daughter were both very petite, Anna only about 5-foot in height, and Ann not much taller. They could not physically do the manual labor required on a farm, so the decision was made to lease the farm to Anna’s son, Edward. His family moved to the farm while Anna and Ann moved to their new house on Emerson.
By this time Anna was nearly 60 and would be “at home” the rest of her life, living off income from the farm. Ann, 27, applied for a job at the F. W. Woolworth store in Edwardsville where she would work for 34 years. Ann was a thoroughly modern woman. She owned and drove a car before many other women of her time and enjoyed working outside the home.
By the late 1930s, Anna was getting elderly. Since Ann was working during the day, one of Edward’s children, Shirley Abert, began spending summers at the house on Emerson at a very young age to provide company for her grandmother while her Aunt Ann was at work.
Shirley remembers that at the time, only 6-7 years old, she didn’t like it because she wanted to stay on the farm with her seven siblings, but in hindsight, she recognizes that her grandmother and aunt “treated me like a queen.” They doted on her and didn’t ask anything of her in return except her company.
Shirley paints a vivid picture of what life was like in the 1930s and 1940s.
“We had an ice box just inside the kitchen door,” she said. “We put a placard in the front window so the iceman would know what size ice block we needed. He would bring it around to the backdoor, let himself in (because the doors were never locked) and put the ice in the ice box.” Ann Abert didn’t get an electric refrigerator until the 1950s.
The house had a living room and dining room separated by a large double doorway. The living room featured an antique pump organ that her Aunt Ann would often play. In the evenings, after supper when dishes were done (dishes were never allowed to sit), they would listen to the radio. In warm weather, many hours were spent on the front porch swing.
There were two bedrooms on the first floor separated by a shared bathroom. Anna and Ann each had their own room and Shirley would sleep with Ann when she was there. There was a basement and an attic storage room that as a child she wasn’t encouraged to visit. On occasional visits to the attic, she remembered a large old bed covered with stacks of quilts and many boxes. The attic was where they kept the large platters and pots needed for holiday meals which were a regular occurrence on Emerson. Numerous relatives remember the many family gatherings at “Aunt Annie’s house.”
Shirley remembers that her Aunt Ann did most of the household chores despite working full-time. When there was something requiring more strength than she had, the Krejcis next door were always willing to help if it couldn’t wait for a family visit.
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Ann prepared most of the meals, which consisted of typical German fare of meat and potatoes with gravy. She mowed the lawn and, with her mother, tended flower and vegetable gardens in the yard. She also found time for a long list of local organizations, including Eden Church, where she taught Sunday school for over 30 years.
Because high school was not otherwise available, Shirley lived with her grandmother and her aunt during the week and went home to the farm on weekends throughout her high school years in the late 1940s. When she turned 16, her Aunt Ann arranged for a part-time job after school and on weekends at Woolworth’s.
There was a garage at the back of the property where Ann kept her old Chevrolet. Shirley remembers one day there was snow too deep to drive through. Ann’s dedication to Woolworth’s was such that she and Shirley walked through the deep snow from the house on Emerson to Woolworth’s which was on the corner lot where the MCT Station is today at the corner of Hillsboro and North Main Streets.
Ann never married, but sometime in the 1930s she met John Schroeber, a Hamel area farmer whose brother married Ann’s best friend. They began dating, and this good-hearted man became such a part of their lives that a great-niece said that, as a child, she thought they were married since he was always around. John even attended family reunions. They dated for over 30 years. Anna’s nieces suspect Ann left the farm in her mid-twenties and just didn’t want to return to farm life.
The white bungalow on Emerson was kept in pristine condition by Anna and Ann. After nearly 30 years though, the Abert home began showing its age. The house was purchased last year by a company that is in the process of restoring the house. The women who made it their home for so many years would be pleased.
Sources for this article include materials at the Madison County Archival Library, articles from past issues of The Edwardsville Intelligencer, records from the Recorder of Deeds Office, interviews with numerous family members and a family tree developed for the Abert family. If you have questions about this article, contact Cindy Reinhardt at cynreinhardt@ yahoo.com. The August and Anna Abert family pose in 1905 when their children were young. From left, Edward, mother Anna (seated), Albert, Anna (seated), Louis, father August (seated) and Lena. It is clear that Anna was a very petite woman.
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Source: The Forbes “Best-in-State Wealth Advisors” list, February 11, 2021. Data provided by SHOOK™ Research, LLC. Data as of June 30, 2020. The Forbes “Best-in-State Wealth Advisors” ranking was developed by SHOOK Research and is based on in-person and telephone due diligence meetings to evaluate each advisor qualitatively, a major component of a ranking algorithm that includes: client retention, industry experience, review of compliance records, firm nominations; and quantitative criteria, including: assets under management and revenue generated for their firms. Investment performance is not a criterion because client objectives and risk tolerances vary, and advisors rarely have audited performance reports. Rankings are based on the opinions of SHOOK Research, LLC and not indicative of future performance or representative of any one client’s experience. Rankings and recognition from Forbes are no guarantee of future investment success and do not ensure that a current or prospective client will experience a higher level of performance results, and such rankings should not be construed as an endorsement of the advisor. Neither Forbes nor SHOOK Research receives compensation in exchange for placement on the ranking. Forbes is a trademark of Forbes Media LLC. All rights reserved. Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated (also referred to as “MLPF&S” or “Merrill”) makes available certain investment products sponsored, managed, distributed or provided by companies that are affiliates of Bank of America Corporation (“BofA Corp.”). MLPF&S is a registered broker-dealer, registered investment adviser, Member SIPC and a wholly owned subsidiary of BofA Corp. Investment products: Are Not FDIC Insured Are Not Bank Guaranteed May Lose Value
Coldwell Banker Brown Realtors acquires Paul Lauschke & Associates
ALTON — Coldwell Banker Brown Realtors’ President Gerry Schuetzenhofer has announced the company has completed an acquisition of Paul Lauschke & Associates at 117 W. 3rd St. in Alton.
Paul Lauschke & Associates’ employees and brokers — in addition to company founder, Paul Lauschke, and his sons, David and Rick — are joining Coldwell Banker Brown Realtors.
David Lauschke will serve as the Designated Managing Broker for the Alton office. Its leasing agent will manage the property management division as Brown Realtors Property Management.
“We are excited to be adding a team of management and brokers from a real estate company with such an amazing history of service to the greater Alton community,” said Schuetzenhofer. “Paul, David and their team pride themselves on customer satisfaction and we are thrilled they are joining our agency.”
Paul Lauschke & Associates has been in operation for more than 50 years. David Lauschke said his brokers are excited to continue serving the Alton community in a new capacity.
“We were actively looking at ways to take our business to new levels in today’s ever-evolving real estate market,” he said. “We considered several alternatives and believe Coldwell Banker Brown Realtors is the right choice for us. We found their business philosophy combined with all of the real estate expertise Coldwell Banker offers made the decision easier.
“Trying to keep pace with all of the innovations occurring at such as rapid pace in today’s market can be challenging,” he said. “We believe Coldwell Banker has a great group of people and an ideal set of tools to help our associates stay competitive in the constantly changing real estate industry.”
Coldwell Banker Brown Realtors is the largest real estate firm in the Metro East St Louis area, with offices in Edwardsville, Alton, Jerseyville, Highland, Belleville, O’Fallon and Troy and a network of more than 210 REALTORS® and staff. For more information visit www.brownrealtors.com. To contact the Alton location, call 618-4652966.
Helping YOU Find the Perfect Home Loan
A home’s value is in the eye of the beholder. The same goes for its renovations. What appeals to one potential buyer may not to others. But some remodeling projects generally help.
Before you decide what to do, research prices for homes in your subdivision. According to a recent Forbes article on increasing your home value, “If they top out at $500,000 and yours is already $475,000, you may lose money if your project is more than $25,000.”
If you need to remodel, consider these projects that are likely to please buyers and add to its purchase price: • Insulation – “Making sure you have sufficient insulation is the biggest item that can increase the value of your home,” says Sue Cress, Mortgage Lender with Town and Country Bank in Edwardsville. “It will appeal to buyers and reduce your utility bills.” Many prospective buyers want to see a home’s utility bills from the past two years. To learn if you have enough insulation, the U.S. Department of Energy recommends getting a qualified home energy auditor or doing it yourself. Several utility companies provide energy audits. Check with your local provider to see if such services are offered in your area! • New Roof – The National Association of Realtor’s (NAR) says you’ll get back all of your costs for a new roof and more when you sell your home. Your return on investment will be more than 100%. “Many realtors have told me that if a potential buyer sees a problem with the roof, it immediately reduces the home’s value a great deal because they will have to redo the roof, which can cost $10,000,” Cress says. If your roof is in good condition, leave it alone. • New Hardwood Floor – As homeowners become more environmentally conscious, natural wood floors are growing in popularity. Installing a new hardwood floor will definitely pay off, according to the NAR, which calculated that your return on investment will be 106%. However, it found that you’ll lose money if you refinish a tired hardwood floor. • Garage Door – If your door looks bad, replace it. Curb appeal is crucial. If yours doesn’t work, replace it. “The national average is that you will recoup 94% of the cost when you sell your home,” Cress says. “But if your garage door looks and works fine, keep it because you may not get that much of a return.” • Kitchens and Bathrooms – “You hear that those are important to update in order to sell, but your taste and a future buyer’s may differ,” says Cress. “You’re supposed to get 64 cents return on value for every dollar you spend updating a bathroom, but it will depend on what you do and the buyer’s taste.” Interior designers often recommend doing a minor bathroom remodel by replacing your tub, tiles, toilet, sink, vanity, or any fixtures to generate the greatest return on your money. • Windows – Windows are like roofs, if they are attractive and functioning properly, let them be. You’ll get back about 72 cents for every dollar you spend replacing windows. “Ask yourself if you’ll be in the house long enough to justify that cost or if you’re putting that money in just to try to sell the house, because you’re not going to get that much bang for your buck,” says Cress. Keep in mind, however, that leaky windows will cost you and a future buyer in utility bills.
If you’re considering selling, you can ask realtors to tour your house and give suggestions about how to improve its salability. Search for articles online about home buying trends and make sure your home’s front is attractive. Curb appeal can make or break a deal! For additional information about renovations and your future home buying needs, contact Sue Cress, NMLS #: 488271, today at 618.691.9243 or
scress@townandcountrybank.com
About Town and Country Bank
Town and Country Financial Corporation is the parent holding company for Town and Country Bank and Town and Country Banc Mortgage Services, Inc. with branches in Buffalo, Decatur, Edwardsville, Fairview Heights, Jacksonville, Lincoln, Mt. Zion, Bloomington, Springfield, and Quincy. Town and Country Financial Corporation shares are quoted under the symbol TWCF. For more information about the Bank, please visit www. TownandCountryBank.com.
STAUNTON — Cisler Real Estate is marking three decades since its founding.
“An incredible amount has changed in real estate over the past 30 years,” said Dave Cisler, CEO and Managing Broker of Cisler Real Estate. “We’ve experienced the highs of the late 90’s through the mid 2000’s, the lows of the 2008 recession and the steady growth since, and have come out stronger and more experienced from it all.”
Over the 30 years, the Cisler family’s real estate sales, appraisals and management experience — along with market strategy and strong partnerships — have defined their success, including the addition of the firm’s office in Litchfield.
“We are entrepreneurial in our way of thinking, and that’s been key to our success,” said Matthew Cisler, a second generation of Cisler Real Estate. “I am engaged in my new career and am loving every minute. Working with new customers, first time home buyers, and our Real Estate Team has been a dream of mine”
During a recent celebration at the Ariston Cafe in Litchfield, the following Realtors were honored: • Bronze Award ($1 Million or 15 units): Sheila Hayes and Jason Huhsman • Gold Award ($3 Million or 35 units): Lyndel Klausing • Platinum Award ($4 Million or 45 units): Tom Daugherty and Marla Zubal • Pearl Award ($7.5 Million or 60 units): Mike Mihelcic — Top Producer • Smallest Sale: Tom Daugherty, $4,000 for 148 S. Bunker Hill Road, Shipman
• Largest Sale: Marla Zubal, $560,000 for 7633 Possum Hill Road, Worden • Rookie of the Year Tony Aloisi • No. 1 Realtor Award for Towns (Five Years or More): Mt. Olive — Lyndel Klausing (2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2018, 2019, 2020); and Staunton — Mike Mihelcic (2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020).
For more details call 618-635-2244 in Staunton or 217-324-4040 in Litchfield.
The Cisler family consists of, from left, Matthew, David, Susan, Joseph and Andrew Cisler.
Celebrating 35 Years in Business
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she said.
Hill said that, throughout middle and high school, she was always the “go to” if someone needed nice lettering or a drawing.
“I was that person,” said Hill, who actually focused more on writing and packing drama classes at that age. “I wrote madly until about 25. After I dropped out of college, I was just going to read as many books as I could and figure out how to make money, so I made art.”
She said that, in 2008 while working a “boring” 9-to-5 desk job, she started drawing all the time.
“I ordered these expensive gel pens and figured out these heavy dark lines, making images and asking people what they thought. But it was cool because that helps to self identify,” she said. “You can’t see what other people are seeing.”
She became hyper-focused on body painting in 2011 while continuing her line work. When 2013 came around she pushed herself to a different level. Because of travel with her mom in Hawaii, she adopted a Polynesian influence. In 2015, a friend told Hill her artwork looked like henna and invited her to Maui — which fell into more line work for another year until 2016.
“Ever since then, I’ve been back in Pennsylvania busting my ass, getting deep in the mix, layering lines and images, not just lines,” she said. “I draw faces all the time — masks, protective talismans — to bring people some-
If you go:
What: Muse User: A Yenna Hill exhibition
When: 6-9 p.m. Saturday
Where: Good Weather Gallery, 301 N. Main St., Edwardsville
Info: The opening is free to the public. There will be a virtual exhibit at www.goodweatherartgallery.com, as well as some open hours for in-person viewing at the gallery. For in-person appointments message Good Weather Gallery’s Facebook page or call 618-477-9323. The show closes June 19.
thing to meditate with, and see something different each time.”
Hill said she hasmet a lot of people who came to know her as an artist. She also does art modeling, henna, art markets and local group shows.
“I started bartending right before the pandemic happened,” she said. “It was good for me, for sociology and forming my inspirations, so much better than holing away just doing art.”
Besides businesses where her art is hung, opening at Edwardsville’s Good Weather will be her first gallery show.
“My sister is so supportive of the gallery,” Hill said. “Without COVID happening, life wouldn’t slow down enough to even look at a gallery. COVID was a time to paint.”
Good Weather Gallery and Hill’s Muse User exhibit will show at least 20 pieces of Hill’s work with most, if not all, for sale. There will be a virtual exhibit at www. goodweatherartgallery.com, as well as some open hours for in-person viewing at the gallery. The work can be viewed in-person by appointment. The last opportunity to view Muse User will be June 19, when the show closes.
