Wilson House 1858

---

Wilson House in Moline, IL is located at 604 21st Street and owned by Sean Vogler. The Greek Revival Style building was built in 1858 and still stands strong. The brick house was built by Jonah and Hulda Thomas who sold it shortly after building it. After some ownership changes, James Wilson bought it in 1864. The property is known as the Wilson House as the Wilson family lived there for most of the time. Fence, garage, barn, work house, porches, and so on are some of the extensions performed on the house. The original woodwork, brick, and windows are still good and need restoration. The building is rumored to be connected to the Underground Railroad.

The property is close to Moline downtown and next to the I-74 bridge. Wilson House was used as a stationary store for several years by subsequent buyers. Due to the recent I-74 Bridge project, all the surrounding properties were either demolished or bought by the Iowa and Illinos Department of Transportation. Since Wilson House was a Historical Building, it was left untouched by the bridge work. The previous owners were seeking to sell the Wilson House as it was getting harder to restore and maintain it.

Sean Vogler, a Moline resident saw the opportunity to restore and improve the Wilson House to use it as the new office for their rapidly expanding business Olde Town Group. Sean has experience in historical renovations and is working with the Moline Preservation Society, City of Moline, and Rock Island County Preservation to restore the building. The grants are approved for the facade improvement and brick and window restoration. Sean is working actively and hired a Project Manager extensively to monitor the Wilson House restoration.

Moline Preservation Society designates the house as a Historical Building. The building is 159 years old but is still inhabitable after the extensive renovations. You can buy the miniature from the Moline Preservation Society's store in downtown Moline. The members of the Wilson family and the entire local community are eagerly waiting for the tours and restoration updates of the oldest standing building in Moline.

---

Wilson House Restoration

Olde Town Group is one of the largest roofing and home improvement companies in the Quad Cities. They are a family owned business and offer services in roofing, siding, deck, home improvement, kitchen/bath remodel, and so on. Olde Town Group offers products and services that are rated top in the area. They are licensed, bonded, and insured in Iowa and Illinois and are expanding their services to other states as well.

Olde Town Group has extensive experience in historical renovations such as the Lambrite-Iles-Petersen House in Davenport, local churches, old houses and apartments, asbestos roof removal, brick restoration, and so on. Residential, commercial, and government renovations are undertaken by Olde Town Group. Their roofing division Olde Town Roofing has completed several high-profile residential and commercial projects in the area.

Olde Town Group partners with financing institutions to get best rates for their customers and offer insurance claim processing assistance if needed. Call 309-738-5550, 309-517-1676, or 563-723-9940 for more information about the historical renovation services and Wilson House restoration updates by the Olde Town Group.

---

Roofing . Siding . General Contractor

---

Roofing Division: Olde Town Roofing

Historical Renovations for the protected buildings are crucial projects as they involve several layers of grants, approvals, and permits. For the Wilson House, several rejuvenation programs and interior standards are being employed for its rehabilitation. However, to retain its original old look, different modifications are being undertaken.

Here are some plans for the Wilson House restoration.

The building has been cleared by the structural engineers and is okay for restoration similar to other buildings in downtown Moline. If any of the items are not possible, they will be replicating the historic look with modern materials approved by the City of Moline and the Moline Historic Preservation Commission.

The plans for the interior restoration and renovation will be released as the work progresses.

---

---

---

During restoration, the crew discovered a tunnel from basement to the middle of the property. It was rumored that the Wilson House was connected to the Underground Railroad and the owners suspect that the tunnel was part of it. Wilson House is very significant to the city’s early residential and commercial history and Olde Town Group wants to rehabilitate it and help showcase its story.

---

Wilson House restoration work has started and is progressing rapidly. The oldest house is undergoing extreme cleanup including cutting the trees and clearing the old barns. Work is being carried out in multiple phases and simultaneously planning is also going on for more updates.

---

---

Wilson House will be open for tours shortly and follow their Facebook page for dates and times. Updates are posted continuously to keep the community informed of the daily progress.

604 21st Street
Moline, IL 61265

P: (309) 517-1676
C: (309) 738-5550

E: owner@wilsonhouse1858.com

---