1517 39th Street - 1918

Designed by local architects Benjamin Horn and Olof Cervin, this Dutch Colonial influenced house was one of the 1918 World War I Homes built here. The 1918 project was a nationwide effort to combat housing shortages. Shortages here were due to Arsenal expansion and resulted in 217 homes being built in Rock Island.

Although they were built quickly, these homes were of high quality construction, due to the efforts of local contractor, Henry W. Horst, as well the city's insistence on quality. As a result, these homes included basements, quality wood floors, many windows, as well as gutters and downspouts. Economical construction costs were still realized because of the overall project scale.

Notice the special features of this beautifully maintained home. The exterior has a graceful gambrel roof, original wood siding, multipaned windows (even wood storm windows), while the interior features a built-in china cabinet and ceiling molding.

Although the front porch was enclosed at a later date, the original columns remain, and the house still has its original street appearance. It is interesting that the front porch was not intended for access to the house; rather the side door, which opens onto a central hallway serves that function. The newer addition at the rear of the house is barely visible from the street, adding to the functionality of the home without detracting from its design.

Before leaving, be sure to look at the other designs Horn and Cervin made for Rock Island. Then see how many of the 217 homes you can find in the area between 30th and 46th Streets and 14th to 18th Avenues. Horn and Cervin also created similar homes in Moline, near 23rd Avenue at 25th Street while the architectural firm of Temple and Burrows designed different styles homes for Davenport as part of the 1918 project.