Abstract:  The City of Edwardsville Illinois began to develop in the early 1800s.  The City quickly began growing after the War of 1812 due to an influx of European settlers.  Col. Benjamin Stephenson, who served as a congressional representative for the Illinois Territory from 1816 to 1818, built his house in Edwardsville in 1820.  The house still stands today and is a living history museum.  The Weir House, which today is the home of the Madison County Historical Society and also a museum, was built in 1836, by Dr. John H. Weir, a physician and surgeon.  Both houses demonstrate the construction methods and materials available at the time.   A brief history of the early development of the City of Edwardsville, these two homes, the materials and methods used to build them, and the people who lived in them, will be presented.  

Key words:  building techniques, building materials, preservation, conservation, masonry, timber

Learning Objectives:

?Understand construction materials and methods used for residences in the first half of the 19th century in Edwardsville, Illinois

?Become familiar with at least two historic residential structures in Edwardsville, Illinois.

?Understand how early residences were planned and constructed.