Construction of this 6,200 sq. ft. Italian Villa Style home was begun in 1854 on a 69-acre tract of land that ran from N. Second St. to Parkview Ave. Based on word-of-mouth reports from the time, as well as a stoned-up doorway in an outside wall of the basement, it is quite possible that, early in its life, the house was used as a “station” on the Underground Railroad to aid escaping slaves before and during the Civil War.

Attorney Lysander (Mary) Jacoby moved into the home in 1862. The Jacobys, it seems, were a rather private family, and despite having a large circle of friends, they had little to do with outside community affairs. Lysander quietly resided in the home, until his death in 1900, twenty-two years after the passing of his wife.

Charles (Clara) Burr, a very successful retail distributor of groceries and other provisions, purchased the home in 1900. Subsequently, they made extensive renovations to the home and grounds with the intent of making it “one of the attractive points in the city.”

Col. Fred C. Glover owned the home from 1914 – 1919. The Glover’s tenant Major H. W. Bartlett was Field Director of the Red Cross at Camp Grant. Major Bartlett was “a tenant” until March of 1920 when he was transferred to Detroit.

Then came the colorful Dr. Robert (Clara “Bess”) Bourland who purchased the home and property in 1919. Unlike the Jacobys, the Bourlands were highly engaged in the social and political activities of Rockford, and were recognized for their various humanitarian ventures. As one example of their social connectedness, the Bourlands hosted several visits by Clarence Darrow, the defense attorney in the famous Scopes “Monkey” Trial (evolution vs. creation) depicted in the movie Inherit the Wind.

Following the Bourlands the home was owned by The John A. (Mary) Frost family. The Frosts had 4 sons. John (Jack) was an account executive for the advertising firm of Howard H. Monk and Associates on Main Street.

Doctors Magnus and Ann Agustsson resided in the home from 1975 to 1979. Magnus was a pediatric surgeon and Ann was a well-known psychiatrist in Rockford who headed a psychiatric clinic under her name after she remarried, to another physician, Dr. James Mathers. Ann also performed for a number of years with the community’s elite Bach Chamber Choir.

In 1979 Rick (Karen) Nielsen, world renowned rock guitarist and lead singer with the Rock and Roll Hall-of-Fame band Cheap Trick, purchased, and once again began restoring and updating the home. However, restoration was complicated in 1980 when a fire broke out in the tower and second floor of the home. Eventually, the beauty and luster of the home was restored and the Nielsens lived and entertained there for about eight years before they sold the home to Dr. Peter (Lynda) Marks who spent the next thirty years there. Thanks to the Nielsens, the home is now registered on the National Registry of Historic Homes.

At the time of this writing, this three-story home, despite all of the renovations and updates, still echoes the times gone by. It is now situated on a 2.4-acre lot and features an in-ground pool, three car garage, 6 bedrooms, a tower and loft, master suite, a magnificent modern kitchen, bar, sunroom and in-home theater.CLICK HERE for more photos of the house. CLICK HERE for more articles and obituaries on this house.