Dean-Hey Heritage

Home of Abram & Ruth Hey

Grandpa sold his stocks in September, 1929 to pay for this house. Was it luck? Was someone watching out for him? Was he savvy? Anyway, think how close he came to not having a nice house. For us grandchildren, who can forget the distinctive features of this house? 2 different stairs to the same open landing, the grandfather clock on yet another landing, the fireplace with the hole where ashes magically disappear, the quaint little library, antique phones, cuckoo clock, and magic clothes chute.


Read features of Hey Home Architecture and Decoration,
by Susan Hey Cherry.


(Go to bottom of page for Abstract, Warranty Deeds, Lot Sketches, and Receipts.)

1513 1st Avenue, Sterling, Illinois

After Grandma Hey passed away in 1976, daughter Susan Hey Cherry and her family lived in the Hey Home until 2011. Because Uncle Ed was very sick, it was "time to say good-bye" to the scene of so many fond memories. Aunt Sue gave us a final tour of the home. For a lasting reminiscence, their daughter, Charlene, photgraphed many of the home's features. You can see them all in this slide show.


The following photos are Charlene's and are a sampling of those on the slide show.

Back Yard

Back Yard

Winter Home

Dining Room

Hand-Painted Dining Room Design

Four Flight Stairs from Below

Grandfather Clock on Lower Landing

Four Flight Stairs from Above

Breakfast Nook

Cuckoo Clock opposite Breakfast Nook

Second Floor Telephone

Clothes Chute:
2nd Floor to Basement
(just right of and below phone)
Cool! Drop dirty clothes in chute on second floor. Magically appear in basement ready for wash. But the Cherry grandkids (Grandma Hey's great grandchildren) found an even better use: Drop Beanie Babies down the chute, and catch them below.

Basement Telephone

We used a modern dial phone. How quaint this antique. How fun to lift the handset, crank the ring, shout into the mouthpiece of this old fashioned phone, and wait for a voice from the basement.

Hall

Vestibule from the Stairs


Fireplace
Snoopy (Gram's Puppy) Watching the Fire

Susan and Ed's Winter Wedding
at the Ornate Front Door

Library

Washington and Lincoln Portraits

The home featured music, reading, and culture. Grandpa's historical maps were intriguing. The many books beckoned to be read. And a patriotic home with respect for the great presidents.

Grandma's Wonderful Grand Piano

Library Maps

Abstract, Page 1
Lot 1 subdivided in 1843

Abstract, Page 2

Conveyance by David Martin
to Grandpa Hey
in 1929 for $2,000

Grandpa Hey bought Lot 1 in 1929 for $2,000. Stipulation: Any house built had to cost $4,000. In 1935 for $250, he would buy the east section of Lot 13 for what we would know as "the back yard."

Lot Sketches
Grandpa bought Lot 1 where the house sits in 1929.
He bought the east edge of Lot 13 in 1935.

Lot 1 Warranty Deed

Lot 13 Edge Warranty Deed

Receipts on Lot 1, 1929
To pay for Lot 1, Grandpa signed a promissory note on March 30, 1929 for $2,000. He paid it off the same day.

Storm

Back of Card: "New print from old negative. It's likely this was the 75 MPH windstorm that took down Illinois State Police Radio Tower."

Receipts on Lot 13, 1935
To purchase the east edge of Lot 13, Grandpa signed a promissory note for $250 on April 13, paid $50 in cash, and the remaining $200 on July 1 with a bank loan.