CITY OPENS ANCHOR OF 'MILLIONAIRE'S ROW'

CAIRO, Ill. -- They called it "Millionaire's Row."

The Civil War was over, reconstruction was starting, and Cairo, Ill., a city located at the confluence of two of the nation's greatest rivers -- the Mississippi and Ohio -- was part of the boom.

Riverlore, a stately, three-story, 11-room, brick mansion, with a special "captain's walk" on the roof, was constructed under the guidance of a river-loving businessman, Capt. William Parker Halliday.

In 1865, Riverlore was the first of three giant brick, mansions built on the divided, tree-lined, cobblestone street which was to become Washington Avenue. Magnolia Manor was constructed in 1869 and Windham in 1876.

Other large homes followed, and a three block area -- 1600 through 2800, of Washington Avenue -- eventually became known in Cairo as Millionaire's Row.

All three of the historic mansions are still intact.

Riverlore, privately owned until November 1999, is across the avenue from Magnolia Manor, now owned by the Cairo Historical Society. Less than a block away is Windham House, still under private ownership.

Riverlore once included an acre -- an entire city block -- of landscaped grounds, filled with magnolias, flowering trees shrubs and a 100-year-old gingko tree. Sometime in 1950s history, a portion of the block was sold off, but still maintains about three-fourths of an acre.

The city bought the mansion for $250,000, less than half of its appraised value of $700,000.

Riverlore, which is open for daily tours year-round, is decorated in its Christmas finery now. The cost of the mansion tour is $5 per person or for groups of 10 or more, $4 per person.

"We've had hundreds of visitors to the mansion during the holidays," said Cairo Mayor James Wilson. "The home is about 85 percent furnished, but we're still looking for a few things."

Future plans for the mansion include bed and breakfast service, weddings, receptions and private parties. "We hope to include the mansion on the list of places to tour," said Wilson. "Plans call for Riverlore to be self-supporting."

The city has used a couple of grants to help in the furnishing, and "we have a number of corporate and individual sponsors," said Wilson. "The mansion compliments Magnolia Manor, Windham House and some other tourist attractions in the city."

Entering Riverlore, visitors pass through elaborately carved double doors, with beveled leaded glass inserts. On the first floor is the front entry and sitting area, dining room, parlor, library, kitchen, sun room, hallway and powder room.

An overall stairway winds more than three stories, to the captain's walk on the roof.

The second floor contains three guest bedrooms, and a master bedroom.

The third floor contains a sitting area, office and library, across from the theater.

One of the most talked about rooms in the mansion is on the third floor, where a completed theater was constructed.

The theater originally had gas footlights, a stage, curtain, wings and backdrops. The walls were decorated with French wallpaper covered with stylized figurines depicting the four seasons.

The gas footlights were later converted to electric.

The story is that a young girl wanted to become an actress, and her parents installed the theater so she could put on her own plays.

This sounds plausible. Adelaide Rendleman, daughter of Dr. Rendlemen, eventually had a stage career in New York and Hollywood, where she was known as Adele Rondell.

The theater is still there with the stage, theater seating and a large projector for home theater.

"The old mansion is in great condition," said Wilson. "It has three levels and a basement." The property is surrounded by an antique wrought-iron fence, gates and a brick wall. The gates are electronically controlled.

Wilson said Riverlore is not only the oldest mansion in town but "one of the most picturesque."

The city has established a "Riverlore Society" to provide guidance for the mansion.

The city is also hoping to put together a one-day tour of five buildings on the National Register of Historic Buildings -- Riverlore; Magnolia Manor, which once welcomed Union Gen. Ulysses S. Grant; Windham House; The Cairo Public Library, known by many as Saffron Library; and the Custom House Museum.