Cairo, Alexander County, Illinois Riverlore was built in 1865 for Capt. William Parker Halliday who was the president of Cairos first bank. His earlier steamboat career prompted him to build a Captains Walk atop the third story of the house. This beautiful 11-room mansion is located at 2723 Washington Avenue also known as Millionaires Row and was built in 1865 by Capt. William Parker Halliday. This stately white French Second Empire Style, has had only four owners and was purchased by the city of Cairo in 1999 to be preserved and open to the public. It is located in downtown Cairos Historic District, and is nestled quietly in Cairo’s residential section at 28th and Washington Avenues. More information regarding tours or renting this lovely facility may be obtained by calling 618-734-0731. Riverlore Mansion History Riverlore is an 11 room brick home built in 1865 by Captain William Parker Halliday, a prominent Cairo businessman and riverboat captain. Captain Halliday resided at his beloved Riverlore for some 34 years. The grounds cover 3/4 of an acre and with its exquisitely maintained, landscaped grounds complete with magnolias, flowering trees, shrubs and a 100 year old Gingko tree, it is by far the most picturesque mansion in the Cairo community. Originally the mansion covered the entire City block, but portions were sold over time to the First Southern Baptist Church. The home is comprised of three floors and a basement. On the first floor is the front entry and sitting area, family room, parlor, kitchen, sunroom, dining room, hallway and powder room. An oval central stairway with a curved cherry balustrade winds more than three stories encompassing some 38 feet to the slate mansard roof which is capped by an ornamental iron railing. Cairoites have always called this the Captains Walk after Captain Halliday since it is said that he viewed both of his cherished rivers from atop Riverlore’s roof. The second floor has three guest bedrooms, a guest bath, sitting room, a master bedroom, and a luxurious bath complete with a sunken tub. The third floor has a sitting area, an office, a library, and a unique theater complete with a stage and 18 movie seats. It is said that the daughters of the second owners, the Rendlemans, performed plays on the stage for the residents of the Cairo community. One daughter, Adelaide, even went to New York for a time to perform on stage, but returned, married and lived at Riverlore for many years. The Rendelmans are responsible for the development and landscaping of the grounds. Adelaide recounted that pictures taken of the house about 1900 show only greenery around the house and scattered clumps of elephant ear ferns. She said that her mother planned the original landscaping and selected all the flowers, shrubs, and trees which were planted during the ten years beginning about 1905. The yard was enclosed at this time, on the street side by a low white picket fence. The front walk and walks around both sides of the house were made of brick laid in a herringbone pattern. The small active fountain forms the center of the plantings in the southeast yard. In the backyard, there is giant Gingko tree which was planted after a Rendleman family visit in 1913 to New York where they admired the ginkgos that had planted by the Chinese Ambassador to the United States at Grant’s Tomb.
Posted on: Mon, 07 Jul 2014 21:57:08 +0000
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