Antoinette Forrester Downing (July 14, 1904 – May 9, 2001) was an American architectural historian and preservationist who wrote the standard reference work on historical houses in Rhode Island . She is credited with spearheading a movement that saved many of Providence 's historic buildings from demolition in the mid 20th century and for her leadership was inducted into the Rhode Island Heritage Hall of Fame in 1978.
31-651: Antoinette Forrester was born in Paxton, Illinois , in 1904, to Jay and Myrtle E. (Hartley) Forrester. She grew up in Springer, New Mexico , and developed an early interest in architecture and art. After studying art and English literature at the University of Chicago and receiving her B.A. in 1925, she went on to study architecture at Radcliffe College . She married art historian George Elliot Downing and moved to Rhode Island in 1932, beginning her career as an historical preservationist
62-459: A couple of years later. After researching the state's historic buildings, she published a survey, Early Homes of Rhode Island (1937). Covering 17th, 18th, and early 19th century houses, it became the standard reference on Rhode Island buildings of those periods. Downing later worked with the newly formed Preservation Society of Newport County to develop a program to document and publicize the historic buildings of Newport. These efforts resulted in
93-682: A high of 85 °F (29 °C) in July, although a record low of −25 °F (−32 °C) was recorded in January 1999 and a record high of 102 °F (39 °C) was recorded in June 1988. Average monthly precipitation ranged from 1.40 inches (36 mm) in February to 4.38 inches (111 mm) in May. As of the 2010 United States Census , there were 14,081 people, 5,676 households, and 3,798 families living in
124-776: A long train ride, Taft delivered a speech in the Pells Park Pavilion in favor of U.S. entry into the newly formed League of Nations . Taft's appearance is a testament to the Paxton Chautauqua , which was held in Pells Park from 1905 to 1930, attracting musicians, speakers and entertainment from all over the United States. Taft is one of four U.S. Presidents to visit Ford County, joining William McKinley ( Gibson City in 1897), Richard Nixon ( Melvin as vice president in 1957), and Gerald Ford (Melvin in 1974). From 1865 to 2007,
155-628: A publication coauthored with Yale architecture professor Vincent Scully , The Architectural Heritage of Newport, Rhode Island (1952). The book won the Alice Davis Hitchcock Award , offered by the Society of Architectural Historians for the year's most distinguished work in architectural history. In the 1950s and 1960s, Downing focused on preserving buildings in her College Hill neighborhood of Providence. Though many of these buildings were run-down and under threat of demolition to accommodate
186-417: Is a city in and the county seat of Ford County, Illinois , United States. The population was 4,450 at the 2020 census. The town was initially named Prairie City in the late 1840s, then Prospect City by an Illinois Central Railroad official in 1855. However, as Wilbur W. Sauer says that residents noted the town was "all prospect and no city." In 1859, it was renamed for Sir Joseph Paxton , architect of
217-472: Is land and 0.01 square miles (0.03 km ) (or 0.23%) is water. Paxton is directly served by three major highways (I-57, U.S. Route 45, and Illinois Route 9), the Illinois Central Railroad, and a municipal airport with a 3,500 feet (1,100 m) landing strip. As of the 2020 census there were 4,450 people, 1,663 households, and 1,075 families residing in the city. The population density
248-673: The Paxton Daily Record was published in Paxton, making the paper one of the longest-running daily newspapers of its size in the state of Illinois. Today, the Ford County Chronicle , a digital publication managed by the former paper's staff, continues to publish local news, sports and other event information. Due to Paxton having the highest elevation points in the area, the Illinois Central Railroad dug out ground so that
279-794: The Rhode Island Historical Society . Downing's restoration efforts have been recognized by awards from the American Institute of Architects and the National Trust for Historic Preservation. She has received honorary degrees from Brown University, the University of Rhode Island, and Roger Williams College. In 1978, she was inducted into the Rhode Island Heritage Hall of Fame. In the 1980s, the Antoinette F. Downing Fund
310-409: The 5,676 households, 30.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 52.8% were married couples living together, 9.8% had a female householder with no husband present, 33.1% were non-families, and 29.2% of all households were made up of individuals. The average household size was 2.41 and the average family size was 2.95. The median age was 42.4 years. The median income for a household in
341-728: The Buckley-Loda Rockets district in 1990 formed the current Paxton-Buckley-Loda School District, known as the PBL Panthers. The school is a member of the IESA and IHSA for interscholastic sports and activities. The Ford County Courthouse in Paxton was built in 1906, and boasts many murals painted by the Works Progress Administration during the 1930s. On June 22, 1919, former President William Howard Taft visited Paxton while on his way to Champaign . After disembarking from
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#1733144057558372-699: The College Hill Historic District. Around 750 houses were restored in the district, and Downing's report became a model for other community-based historic restoration and renewal projects nationwide. As a direct result of Downing's efforts, Providence has one of the most extensive collections of habitable 18th- and 19th-century houses in the United States. Downing went on to become chair of the Rhode Island Historical Preservation and Heritage Commission in 1968, serving in that capacity for more than three decades. Under her leadership,
403-602: The Courthouse, it will be turned into a museum. Another local building on the National Register of Historic Places is the Paxton Carnegie Library , which was built in 1903. The community has many homes built in the late 19th century, some of which are now part of an historic homes walking tour. Many of the home owners have won awards from various preservation and restoration societies for their efforts in maintaining
434-515: The Crystal Palace , who was a major shareholder in the Illinois Central Railroad, which in 1856 was the longest span of railroad in the world ( Chicago to Cairo ). It was rumored that Paxton was interested in organizing an English settlement in Illinois. The colony never materialized, but the town kept the name. Founded in 1859, Paxton celebrated its sesquicentennial in 2009. Augustana College
465-524: The GOP was mortally divided and Progressive Theodore Roosevelt carried the county over the more conservative official nominee William Howard Taft ; in 1932, at the height of the Great Depression, Franklin D. Roosevelt in the first of his four campaigns became and has remained the only Democrat to carry Ford County. Since 1968 no Democratic presidential candidate has topped 36% of the county's vote, and since
496-614: The Historic Brick Water Tower & Ford County Historical Society Museum, which opened on July 4, 2007. The 80-foot (24 m) tall brick water tower was built in 1887 and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places . The Paxton Foundation, a local historical preservation group, is currently restoring the Old Ford County Jail and Sheriff's Residence, built in 1871. Located on West State Street adjacent to
527-416: The age of 18 living with them, 49.07% were married couples living together, 13.41% had a female householder with no husband present, and 35.36% were non-families. 33.61% of all households were made up of individuals, and 13.89% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.99 and the average family size was 2.34. The city's age distribution consisted of 26.1% under
558-462: The age of 18, 6.7% from 18 to 24, 24.5% from 25 to 44, 24.5% from 45 to 64, and 18.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38.9 years. For every 100 females, there were 94.5 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 94.1 males. The median income for a household in the city was $ 51,716, and the median income for a family was $ 71,359. Males had a median income of $ 47,169 versus $ 28,233 for females. The per capita income for
589-476: The architectural heritage of these important landmarks. The Paxton Area Chamber of Commerce and PRIDE in Paxton, a member of the Illinois Main Street Program, currently promote local businesses and events in the historic downtown district. According to the 2021 census gazetteer files, Paxton has a total area of 3.04 square miles (7.87 km ), of which 3.04 square miles (7.87 km ) (or 99.77%)
620-404: The city was $ 26,734. About 8.4% of families and 11.5% of the population were below the poverty line , including 21.5% of those under age 18 and 1.9% of those age 65 or over. Ford County, Illinois Ford County is a county located in the U.S. state of Illinois . According to the 2020 United States Census , it had a population of 13,534. Its county seat is Paxton . Ford County
651-573: The commission identified 50,000 historic buildings around the state, some 15,000 of which have been listed on the National Register of Historic Places . Downing also consulted for the city of New Bedford, Massachusetts, in the 1960s on a project to revitalize the district around the city's famed Whaling Museum . In the 1970s, she became a board member of SWAP (Stop Wasting Abandoned Property), an organization dedicated to managing urban renewal in ways that do not displace resident populations. Antoinette Downing died in 2001, aged 96. Her papers are held by
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#1733144057558682-472: The county first formed only three Democrats – all in landslide national victories – have managed 40% of Ford County's votes. After the Libertarian Party's success in the 1998 election for Ford County Sheriff and other countywide offices, it achieved established party status . At the time this made Ford County the only county in Illinois with three established parties. Due to its second place showing over
713-528: The county was $ 48,667 and the median income for a family was $ 62,819. Males had a median income of $ 43,849 versus $ 30,136 for females. The per capita income for the county was $ 23,401. About 5.4% of families and 8.3% of the population were below the poverty line , including 8.3% of those under age 18 and 8.8% of those age 65 or over. Ford County is one of the state's most consistently Republican counties; since its 1859 organization it has voted for Republican presidential candidates in all but two elections. In 1912,
744-530: The county. The population density was 29.0 inhabitants per square mile (11.2/km ). There were 6,282 housing units at an average density of 12.9 per square mile (5.0/km ). The racial makeup of the county was 97.1% white, 0.6% black or African American, 0.3% Asian, 0.2% American Indian, 0.6% from other races, and 1.1% from two or more races. Those of Hispanic or Latino origin made up 2.1% of the population. In terms of ancestry, 35.7% were German , 15.5% were Irish , 13.6% were American , and 10.4% were English . Of
775-540: The expansion plans of Brown University and the Rhode Island School of Design , Downing recognized their historical value and with other area residents organized the Providence Preservation Society to save them. Her report on the neighborhood, College Hill: A Demonstration Study of Historic Area Renewal (1959), was adopted as the blueprint for restoring the neighborhood and led to the founding of
806-399: The railroad could move at the same elevation, but underneath the city of Paxton. When the railroad was cut (around the 1920s), several bridges were built across the railroad to connect the east and west sides of Paxton. Presently, there are three vehicular bridges, which are located at Holmes Street, Pells Street and Patton Street, and a pedestrian bridge at Orleans Street. The town also hosts
837-483: Was 1,462.37 inhabitants per square mile (564.62/km ). There were 1,999 housing units at an average density of 656.92 per square mile (253.64/km ). The racial makeup of the city was 90.16% White , 0.83% African American , 0.31% Native American , 0.31% Asian , 0.00% Pacific Islander , 1.75% from other races , and 6.63% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 5.08% of the population. There were 1,663 households, out of which 31.7% had children under
868-615: Was established by the National Trust for Historic Preservation to support historic preservation efforts in Rhode Island. An interview with Downing forms part of the National Historic Preservation Program Oral Histories project housed at Cornell University. Downing's husband, George E. Downing (1904-1977), was chair of the art department at Brown University from 1949 to 1963. The couple had two children, Jay and Grace. Paxton, Illinois Paxton
899-489: Was located in Paxton from 1863 to 1875, aided by a community effort led by recent Swedish immigrants to fund educational and cultural opportunities for citizens. An early public high school was established in 1872; it served the surrounding area for the next several decades, culminating in the formation of a community high school district in May 1920. The local school's mascot was the Paxton Mustangs until consolidation with
930-528: Was named after Thomas Ford , the Governor of Illinois from 1842 to 1846. According to the US Census Bureau , the county has a total area of 486 square miles (1,260 km ), of which 486 square miles (1,260 km ) is land and 0.6 square miles (1.6 km ) (0.1%) is water. In recent years, average temperatures in the county seat of Paxton have ranged from a low of 14 °F (−10 °C) in January to
961-573: Was part of the Champaign – Urbana , IL Metropolitan Statistical Area until 2018, when the Office of Management and Budget removed the county from the area. Ford County was formed February 17, 1859, making it Illinois's "newest" county. It was created at the behest of some residents of Vermilion County , who complained to the General Assembly that they lived too far from the county seat . Ford County