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Three Great Programs in June

Garden Walk with Town and Country Gardeners

This year’s Garden Walk will take place on Saturday, June 11 from 1-4 pm. Tickets on the day of the event are $20 and can be purchased at the Historical Society’s office on the square between 12:30 and 3:00. This year’s Garden Walk features the following gardens:

910 Eldridge Street
607 Avon Circle
1009 Dallas Road
201 Whistling Strait
22223 Grosenbach Road

Antiques and Appraisals: What’s it Worth? – Saturday, June 18
from 10am – 2pm

Author and appraiser Kate Bateman will return to the Historical Society for an antiques roadshow-style event on Saturday, June
18. You bring in your antique treasures, Kate will talk with you about your item and provide an appraisal estimate. This is an open-house type event; come anytime between 10:00 and 2:00 for your chance to meet with Kate. Yes, Kate will talk about the items so that others in the room can hear her descriptions and stories. This program’s fees are: $10 for the first item you bring in, $20 for up to 3 items.

More About Kate

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Matching Gift Opportunity

Board member Jennifer Essig has generously offered to match every donation made to the Historical Society to refinish the original hardwood floors on the second level of our building, up to $5,000, that is made from now until June 30. Let’s take advantage of this generous offer and make those floors beautiful once again! To make a donation to our capital campaign Click the button below

Walldogs Mural Added to Washington’s Square

Our wonderful Walldogs painter, Anat Ronen, completed our latest historically themed mural on Sunday, September 19. We are so pleased with the results! The mural, located on the west-facing wall of 106 S. Washington Square, pays tribute to the three bandstands that stood in the center of Washington Square from 1885 through 1959. The Historical Society will gladly and gratefully accept donations to help cover the cost of the mural and artist-related expenses for the duration of her stay in Washington. If you wish to make a donation for the mural, please send it to:

Washington Historical Society

P.O. Box 54

Washington, IL 61571

Dr. Harley Zinser Home

105 Zinser (Est. 1858)

Constructed in 1858, the home of Dr. Zinser features a Greek Revival structure and was designed to be a single family home with an office in the east parlor. Additions to the home were added later in the 1880’s and early 1900’s. It was officially listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2002.

Though the Zinser House was owned by the Washington Historical Society for many years, today it is back in private ownership by a member of the Zinser Family. The House is a home once again.

Hiram Price Home

109 Burton (Est. 1867)

Although exact building records are questionable, the home at 109 Burton was originally built at 102 Burton in 1867 with an Italianate Structure by Hiram Price. Price served as Mayor of Washington from 1899-1901. In 1915, the home was purchased and moved to 109 Burton by Henry Denhart which later accommodated the First National Bank’s Money Store. After some renovations in recent years, the house still stands as a single family home in Washington. [1]

116 N. Elm

116 N. Elm (Est. 1898 or 1906)

The exact age of this historic home is unknown, however it is believed to have been constructed in either 1898 or 1906. It is a foursquare house and has been well-preserved over the years. Its past owners have included two Washington Mayors: John G. Gorin and Richard F. Tanton. [1][2]

Israel Zinser Home

307 E. Jefferson (Est. 1878)

Moving his family to Washington to become the City’s primary pharmacist, Israel Zinser built this house in 1878 for his family. The home has kept the same look and feel as it did in its day for over 130 years, the only exception being the porch that was added to the home in the early 20th century. The home remains in the Zinser family, as it has for five generations. [1][2]

Holland Home

312 S. Market (Est. Mid-1800's)

Like many historic homes, the exact date of construction on the home at 312 Market is hard to place. The front portion of the main level was constructed in 1870, and the upstairs and rear of the home were added in 1893. Still, the home has some pretty big historic significance for Washington, with its history dating back to the Matthew Holland, son of Hollands Grove Founder (later re-named to Washington), William Holland.[1]

What We Do

Acquire, Preserve, Display

The mission of this Society is to acquire, preserve, and display Washington’s history.