207 West Elm Street, Urbana

Edward Ater, who was a judge, tax collector and Mayor of Urbana, built the Ater-Jaques House in 1857.  The house was later owned by Frank J. Jaques and his wife, Eliza, the founders of the Urbana Free Library. In 1995, the Urbana Free Library made public plans to construct a library addition and to remove the Jaques House. Because of the house’s status as a National Register-listed property, the rarity of its pre-Civil War Italianate design, and the age and fragility of the structure, PACA members advocated a southern expansion/addition so that the house could remain on its original site.

In 1995, PACA member Art Zangerl wrote a guest commentary in The News-Gazette proposing that the house be incorporated into the library’s expansion plans. The library board, however, decided that the house was hampering fund-raising efforts and began a heavy push to relocate the structure.  In November 1998, PACA took out a full-page advertisement advocating against the move and organized a vigil in front of the house. City Council meetings surrounding the issue were frequent and heated. In November 1998, the Council voted to endorse the westward expansion of the Library, thus approving the removal of the Ater-Jaques house. In March of 1999, the Council provided Robert Spencer $50,000 in grants and loans to move the house to a proposed site at 709 West Main Street.

In June of 1999, while being removed from its foundation in preparation of the move, the Ater-Jaques House collapsed. Although no one was injured, the structure was a complete loss.

219-225 North Neil Street, Champaign (1871-2008)

The National Register-listed Bailey-Rugg Building, also known as the Metropolitan Building, was purchased in 2006 by Jeff Melander, Bob Balisrud and George Grubb.  These three immediately began an extensive restoration-renovation project that would have thoroughly transformed the building.  Its facade was cleaned and repointed, the massive entablature was repaired, with the missing elements replaced and repainted.  All of the tall elegant round-headed windows were sent off to be painstakingly restored and those that were beyond help were faithfully reproduced and reinstalled.  The two upper floors were gutted and twelve beautiful loft apartments were being built, each of them taking advantage of the soaring ceilings and magical light.  An elevator was discretely installed and a new lobby created in a space that few had seen in thirty years:  a thirty-foot cube of space that once linked Robeson’s Department store with the Metropolitan.

A month or two away from completion disaster struck.  The Bailey-Rugg Building burned to the ground on the morning of November 7, 2008.  The cause of the fire remains undetermined.  By the time the first fire trucks arrived, the building was completely engulfed in flames.  Smoke, burning debris, and fine orange dust billowed into the sky.  Hot embers threatened other nearby buildings including the Orpheum Theatre and the PACA warehouse.  Fires at other downtown buildings were only averted by quick thinking employees. The Walker Building, south of the Bailey-Rugg, suffered extensive damage to its roof and third floor.  It was later demolished for structural and safety reasons.

The Joseph Busey House was a significant example of the Queen Anne style.  It was the home of Carrie Busey, secretary to four Champaign school superintendants.  Carrie Busey Elementary school was named for her in 1957.