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Tinsley Building
The Tinsley Building, 6th and Adams, Springfield
The Tinsley Building, constructed circa 1840-1841 in Springfield, once housed Abraham Lincoln’s law offices. Situated on a prominent corner of the Old State Capitol square in Springfield, the building was also the location of Seth Tinsley’s three-story dry-goods store. From 1843 to 1852, Lincoln shared offices with Stephen T. Logan and William Herndon in the south part of the building. First restored in the late 1960s by a group of local citizens, the building was listed in the National Register of Historic Places in 1978. The building is one of the best examples of a Greek Revival commercial building in the state of Illinois. Current research on the building is leading an effort to fully restore the dry goods store and law offices in time for the bicentennial of Lincoln’s birth in 2009.
Art Deco was a popular modernistic style in the decorative arts and architecture from the mid 1920s until World War II. Utilizing new materials and design motifs, buildings were adorned with faceted, stepped, and zigzag forms. Chevron, sunburst, floral and other motifs were expressed in a highly decorative yet two dimensional manner. The Senior Services Building is an excellent and compact representation of this style, with its faceted pylons and parapet along the two street facades. Built in 1930 as the Citadel for the Salvation Army, this building was constructed out of crisply cut Bedford limestone.
For more information on the Tinsley Building visit the official site.
Tips for construction of cardstock models:
- Print the model pages out in color onto cardstock. Normal weight paper will be too flimsy. Larger, more challenging buildings can take many sheets of cardstock. For example, the Gardner Museum takes 10 sheets; Old Main requires 17; while the Old State Capitol requires a substantial 41 sheets (not for the faint-hearted). Smaller less complex buildings are better for first-time or younger builders. The Thomas Lincoln home and the Berry-Lincoln Store each only require 2 sheets; most of the Main Street buildings take 5 sheets or less of cardstock.
- Although not required, you may wish to print out a second copy (plain paper is fine) as a reference guide. Once you start cutting out your cardstock model pieces you may find it helpful to be able to read all of the notes and arrows on a second, uncut, plain-paper copy.
- Use sharp scissors or a slim, handled, craft-knife when cutting. A metal straight-edge will assist when you cut.
- Although standard white “school” glues will work, some similar “craft” opaque white glues dry more quickly and with less warping. Clear plastic-model glues, rubber cement, or glue sticks don’t work as well.
- When gluing, lightly glue the tabs only, not the receiving surface. Be careful not to use too much glue or the paper may warp or pucker.
- Let the model dry after gluing each piece before attempting the next. You may find that you want to space construction out over more than one day.
- To make the crispest edges, lightly score along the inside of fold lines before folding.
- Glue the roof on last.
- Enjoy Building Your Own Illinois historic building and check back again for additional buildings.
