Ogle County Newspapers / oglecountynews.com • Friday, January 15, 2021
OGLE COUNTY NEWS
6
LOCAL HISTORY
Dr. H. A. Mix’s home was an “elegant residence”
Home was located on the east bank of the Rock River
Editor’s note: Otto Dick, Oregon has researched the people, places and events important in the Oregon area’s history for the Ogle County Historical Society. The following is one of a series of the articles he has written.
BY OTTO DICK
T
his information was published in the Nov. 14, 1872 edition of the Ogle County Reporter. “The other day we visited the elegant residence where Dr. H. A. Mix will soon make his home. No pains or expense have been spared by the Doctor to make this a most tasty and complete private residence. “It is situated on the west bank of the river, north of the Catholic Church, commanding beautiful views of the bluffs and river on the north, highlands on the east, the pine rocks, mills, bridges and town on the south, and of the river itself. “A stone wall is being constructed along the river bank, earth filled in against it and terraced up to the building. The wall is substantial, as is all the masonry, and was laid by (Jr. John Hurbert). “Along the north of the wall is terraced back for a croquet ground twelve feet above the river. Along the south part of the wall are built boat houses and a boat landing indicating the Dr’s intention to enjoy the river. “From the boat landing stone steps ascend to the east porch. This porch is three stories high and twelve feet wide by forty in length, overlooking the river and will be a pleasant place to set the dinner table on a sultry summer day. “The south end of the porch extends out beneath the overhanging branches of a fine old hickory tree, which shades a well house, where milk and butter may be kept in good condition. “In the basement are the kitchen, living room, bath room, cellar, fuel room, pantry and china closet. On the principal floor, a recessed porch on the west opens into a hall twelve feet square, in which are coat closets and doors opening into the principal apartments and staircase. “There are two parlors on the east connected by sliding doors and
Images supplied by Otto Dick
ABOVE: Mix’s home was located in the 300 block of North Third St. in Oregon. The residence was demolished and is now an apartment building. TOP RIGHT: The east porches of Mix’s home overlooked the Rock River. BELOW LEFT: H.A. Mix was a medical doctor. BELOW RIGHT: In this undated photo, Dr. Mix sits in his art studio located in his home.
opening into a plaza, commanding an extended view of the river. A library on the south west connects with the hall parlors and has a private entrance to a balcony on the south, while a sleeping room on the north-west completes the principal floor. “The chamber plan contains four eloquent sleeping rooms and the attic five.
“The house is built of brick, two story Gothic style in architecture, planned by G. O. Guernsey of Chicago and executed by Henry Peers, one of our ablest and best mechanics, who is making this first class job and the manner in which he is doing it, indicated that he knows just how to do this kind of work. “The plastering is particularly fine glistens like marble. Center
pieces decorate the ceilings. Credit Davis and Laughlin, the plasterers whose work cannot be surpassed here or elsewhere. “The view from the roof is very pleasing overlooking as it does the whole of beautiful Oregon with its majestic encircling bluffs.” I’ll mention once more the wording in these early stories is very interesting.
