Strawn House, Jacksonville, Illinois by myoldpostcards Explore #49 on May 9-10, 2020. This Second Empire style mansion, with its mansard roof and dormer windows, was built for Phebe Gates Strawn, the widow of cattle king Jacob Strawn. Designed by Isaac Coleman, a local architect, construction began in 1880 and was completed in 1882. When it was finished, the mansion quickly became the showplace of the city. When Mrs. Strawn died in 1906, the mansion was left to her three living sons for as long as at least one of them wanted to Iive there. After that, it was to be given to the Jacksonville Female Academy for use as an art gallery and art school. However, the academy closed in 1903 and, after Mrs. Strawn’s death in 1906, the disposition of the house was left to the court to decide. Finally, in 1910, the court allowed the three sons to buy the house from the institutions it determined were eligible to receive the proceeds from the sale of the house. In 1915, Dr. David Strawn bought the interests of his two brothers in the house and donated the mansion and many of its furnishings to the Art Association of Jacksonville. At the time he presented the house to the Art Association, Dr. Strawn began an art library which grew with the years. Many noteworthy art exhibitions were held in this house after it was converted into a museum. One-hundred and five years later, the mansion remains the home of the Art Association of Jacksonville and the David Strawn Art Gallery. Source: Art in Architecture, Journal-Courier, August 24, 2015 www.myjournalcourier.com/news/article/Art-in-architecture... https://flic.kr/p/2iZgMnn
