The Brinkerhoff Home – often referred to as “the Castle” 

The Home, a Victorian Italianate mansion was originally commissioned for construction in 1868. It was designed by the noted architect Elijah Myers. Completed in 1869, the home at 1500 North Fifth Street served as the residence to George Brinkerhoff (1839 – 1928) and his wife, Isabella (1843 – 1894), and their children (three sons and three daughters).

At a cost estimated to be between $25,000 and $30,000 for its construction outside the city limits (the far north end of the city), the home made an impressive statement of the owner’s place in the local society.  During the approximately 69 years that George resided at his home, he was engaged in many successful business ventures.  Within a few years of his arrival to Springfield, George had studied law and was successful in passing the Illinois bar examination.  He used his legal expertise in his affairs which included an insurance company, ownership in a farm loan agency, and a very thriving greenhouse business.  In fact it was the latter of his business dealings, that of a horticulturist, that gave George his greatest pleasure.  As the property surrounding the home was several acres in size, George decided to build a large greenhouse complex to the south and east of his house (where Becker library now stands).  Stretching out from the south and east of the house towards Keyes Avenue, the greenhouses furnished local florists with an abundance of fresh flowers for their customers.  For several years, from the 1890’s to the first years of the twentieth century the Brinkerhoff property was also home to a small dairy! 

The red brick structure in addition to being a family home, with 4400 square feet of living space for the family, served as a signal to the local populace that Mr. Brinkerhoff was a successful business man of the community.   After having graduated from Gettysburg College, Pennsylvania, George who was originally from Pennsylvania chose to come to Springfield to begin his professional career.  Shortly after arriving in Springfield he was introduced to a local attorney and soon began a short-lived friendship with Abraham Lincoln.  But the impression the young business man made upon the Lincoln family did endure as upon Mr. Lincoln’s final return to Springfield, Mrs. Lincoln asked George to serve as one of the honorary pallbearers for her husband. 

The Brinkerhoff Home was the site of many social events prior to the untimely death of Isabella Brinkerhoff in 1894.  The Brinkerhoffs initially had six children but one of their sons died in infancy.  Of the remaining five children only the two surviving sons married.  The three daughters, one of whom died at the age of 34, remained home to tend to their father upon the death of Isabella.  In the ensuing years after Isabella’s death, George continued to manage his greenhouse and truck garden business.  Upon his death in 1928 his two sons took over the family businesses which still included insurance and banking interests.

Enter the Ursuline Nuns to the picture  

The total property owned by George Brinkerhoff prior to the construction of his home extended to the south of what is now Eastman Avenue and north to Black Avenue with the west and east boundaries made by Fifth and Sixth Streets respectively.  At the time of the property’s purchase Keys Avenue, which dissected the property in half from east to west, was open between Fifth and Sixth Streets.  In 1864 the Ursuline Nuns, who had first arrived in Springfield in 1857, required a location for their expanding presence in the community.  Their intention was to build a convent.  The Ursulines expressed interest in a portion of the Brinkerhoff property bound by Keyes and Eastman Avenues between Fifth and Sixth Streets.  George sold that property to the Ursulines in 1864 for their convent.  Prior to the time of his death in 1928, George had determined that his beloved home would serve as a good anchor to the Ursulines’ north end presence.  Consequently he left instructions with his surviving daughters that upon his death the home could be transferred to the Ursuline Convent.  By 1929 that was accomplished.   

Beginning in 1929 the “Castle” as it was affectionately known by northenders, was the original site for the Ursulines’ Springfield Junior College.  That same year began a long line of uses for the home.  For several years the home was used as the only location for the College, with the first floor serving as classrooms and the upper floors as dormitory and office space for the school’s administration.  The basement was altered to allow for its use as classroom space too.  With the eventual construction of the college’s primary buildings, the home took on other uses: the basement served as the first location for plays for the Springfield Theatre Guild; and, the living quarters served as the site for the convent’s primary school.  At the conclusion of World War II the home was used for additional classroom space to help with the burgeoning number of students made up of returning veterans attending college on the GI bill.   

The Home’s Survival 

The home serves as a testament to Elijah Myers ability to design and construct a very sound structure given that literally thousands of people have crossed its threshold for sundry purposes.  While the home was designed to enable the Brinkerhoff family to entertain friends and acquaintances, Myers did not imagine the multiple uses the house has experienced.  Nor did Myers foresee the home being struck by lightening in 1960.  The tragedy occurred during a spring storm when lightening struck the house’s tower causing a fire which destroyed the widow’s watch.  As a result of the damage the college capped off the tower.  Steam heat had been added to the home shortly before the convent took possession but years of escaping steam had severely damaged some of the home’s thick plaster ceilings and walls.  By 1977 the college board of trustees was considering razing the home.  The sole female lay trustee, Doris Bucari asked if the home could be saved and restored.  The notion of saving the home met with opposition by some of the trustees/businessmen of Springfield.  Doris sought to prevent any action regarding the home until she could make a proposal to “save” the home.  She was determined that the house would not be a victim to the wrecking ball but rather be returned to serve as a jewel of the college’s campus and preserved as a historic site for the city.  Joined in her quest by several of the Ursuline Nuns, dear friends and several historical preservationists a “society” was formed.  Their purpose was to restore the “Castle” to its original beauty. 

The Brinkerhoff Home Corporation  

Since its inception in 1977 the Brinkerhoff Home Corporation (a non profit organization), made up of faithful members and volunteers, has worked endless hours to return the home to its proud glory of the 19th century.  Through various means of securing funding, via grants, gifts, fund raisers, fairs, and rental of the home for special events, the home has truly been reborn.  With the tower being restored to its distinctive glory in 1984, new roofs added, sandblasting of the bricks, replastering of the ceilings, interior painting, and the acquisition of antique furniture – each costing considerable funding - all has been made possible by businesses assisting with various projects, interested persons lending their expertise, concerned folks wanting to be a part of a preservation project, and neighbors becoming involved.   

The George M. Brinkerhoff Home was named to the National Register of Historic Places in December, 1978.  And with all things regarding historical preservation, funds are required for repair, maintenance and additionally required restoration.  Consequently, because of various means including having the home available for rent for special events, the “Castle” is once again a local treasure.