ENDANGERED: CAIRO'S HISTORIC BUILDINGS THREATENED BY AGE, NEGLECT AND LACK OF MONEY

Bill Harrell can trace his family tree back to the pre-Civil War era in Cairo and Alexander County.

Harrell, an electrician and Cairo native, likes the city located at the confluence of two of the nation's great rivers -- Mississippi and Ohio.

At one time, Cairo, because of its location on the water, created dreams of a great city. Economists and writers praised the hopes of the budding city. An 1880s article, which appeared in Century Magazine, predicted Cairo would someday be a booming metropolis like Memphis, Cincinnati, even Chicago.

It didn't happen.

"I've watched the town during its recent decades of decline and depression," said Harrell. "But, it is still a fascinating city and full of history."

Cairo, once a bustling community of 20,000-plus population, has dwindled to less than 5,000 residents, but many historic buildings and sites remain.

The Landmarks Preservation Council of Illinois (LPCI) is aware of the demise of Cairo over the past four decades, and of its many historic buildings.

Now in its 27th year, the statewide grassroots advocacy organization works with citizens throughout the state to help preserve threatened building and sites, and provides some financial assistance through its Endangered Building Grants.

The Cairo Ohio River Commercial District, which includes as many as 32 "restorable" buildings, has been placed on the preservation council's list of "Ten Most Endangered" Historic Places.

"Many of these buildings are still standing," said Maureen Carroll, outreach coordinator for the LPCI. "Some are in disrepair, threatened by negligence, deterioration, lack of maintenance, insufficient funds for restoration."

Each year, the council selects the ten most endangered historic places in Illinois, hoping to prompt interest in their preservation.

Over the past two years, the LPCI helped preserve a Frank Lloyd Wright home that had been scheduled for demolition in Glenco and helped save a historic hotel in Dixon, which has now been transferred into a senior citizen's independent living complex.

Cairo, said Carroll, is interesting because so many people want to try and bring it back.

Hopefully, the additional publicity of being on the "endangered list" will stimulate even more interest in "turning now into then" for the Cairo Ohio River Commercial District, which includes an area from 2nd to 18th Street, along Commercial, Ohio Levee St. and Washington. Also included on the list are some buildings on 7th and 8th Streets.

"We're excited that the area has been placed on the endangered list," said Cairo Mayor, James Wilson. "These historical buildings become more important to the city each year."

Wilson said the city had already been making plans to preserve some of the downtown buildings.

"We're looking into purchasing four or five of the buildings and starting preservation of them," said Wilson. "Once we get them `up to snuff,' we plan to lease them out at reasonable rates for people to open certain businesses -- possible antique and collectible operations, even just for weekend operations."

Hopefully, the city, which has already restored some streets downtown, can obtain some grants for further preservation.

Harrell is a big supporter of preservation activity. He has purchased and improved two of the buildings which are on the LPCI list.

"I purchased the old Alexander County National Bank building, constructed in 1865. "It's solid old building at the corner of Commercial and 8th St," said Harrell, who installed a new roof when he first purchased the building. The first floor of the building was occupied until recently.

Harrell has also been working to preserve the old Buder House, 210 7th St., a home constructed in 1888 by E. A. Buder, a native of Austria, who became a successful businessman in Cairo as a watchmaker and silversmith. Buder also played host to President Theodore Roosevelt when the president visited Cairo in 1907.

Other Cairo residents have also been taking initiates to preserve the old buildings. One of those is Tom Beadles, who owns the former Board of Trade Building that occupies 212-thru-218 addresses on 7th St.

The Board of Trade building, circa 1915, housed the Board of Trade, Western Union, a couple of railway companies, and later was home to the Cairo Elks Club.

The city is currently engaged in the preservation of the Gem Theater, on 8th St.

The old theater opened in 1910, featuring vaudeville.shows. It was damaged by fire in 1934, but reopened two years later.

The Gem eventually became part of the Rodgers Theaters Group, which owned theaters from Carbondale, Ill. and Cape Girardeau south to Florida.

A number of the buildings in the Cairo Ohio Industrial District are on the National Register of Historic Places:

-- The old Saddlery Building at 702 Commercial, circa 1896.

-- Alexander County National Bank building, built in 1865.

-- A building stretching form 818 to 902 Commercial, originally site of Rennie Vulcan Iron Works. Circa 1890s.

-- Old firehouse at 1711 Commercial, constructed as a paid fire company in 1875.

-- The Buder House, 210 7th Street, building in 1888.

--Rough and Ready Fire Station Number 3, 710 Washington Ave., built in 1868.

-- Steamboat shop and foundry, 901 Ohio Levee St., built in 1878.

10 MOST ENDANGERED SITES

The 10 most endangered historic places in Illinois:

*Cairo Ohio River Commercial Street District, including more than 20 buildings.

*The Henry G. McPike Mansion, Aloton, constructed in 1869.

*The Elks Clubhouse and Telegraph Buildings, Alton. A demolition permit has been issued for the two buildings.

*E. St. Louis Mound Group, one of five major Mississippian mound centers, with as many as 45 mounds.

*Henke-Buck Farmstead, Waterloo, a 70-acre antebellum family farm.

*Village of Hinsdale, founded in 1830, a 19th century suburban development which includes 1860s farmhouses, 1880s Victorians, 1930s Tudors and Sears Catalog homes.

*Wagner Farm, Cook County, 20-acre family farm in urbanized Glenview.

*Berwyn National Bank, Cook County, pre-Depression Era bank, city officials threatening to tear down.

*Paul Schwelkher House and Studio, Schaumburg, Cook County, faces long-range demolition plans.

*Springdale Cemetery and Mausoleum, Peoria, established in 1855, later used as gurial grounds for thousands of Civil War dead.