By Diane Koch

The Roper home, which was built on the river across from the YMCA Log Lodge, is 100 years old this year. It was built by George Denny Roper in 1904. The architects that designed the home were Pond and Pond from Chicago. It is now the home of Loyd and Diane Koch.

George Roper was born in Springfield, Illinois, on February 5, 1855. His father was George S. Roper, a Major in the Army and a friend of General Ulysses S. Grant. His mother was Louisa Brown. While playing as a young boy, George fell between the railroad tracks just as a train was coming. The train would have passed safely above him, but he threw out his arm and the train severed it just above the elbow. His parents encouraged him to do work around the house just as if he had both arms. Because of this, he became very good at using only one arm.

In the early 1880's Mr. Roper started his stove manufacturing company near Kent Creek and the Illinois Central Railroad. It was known as the Eclipse Gas Stove Company. His company grew rapidly and in 1919 it was merged with three other companies; American Foundry Company, Rockford Vitreous Enamel Manufacturing Company and the Trahern Pump Company. The name was changed to the George D. Roper Corporation. . It became the largest gas stove manufacturing plant in the world with its home in Rockford and another branch in California. Roper gas ranges were sold in every city in. the United States and in many foreign countries.

George Roper was a very civic-minded man and served as chairman of the Rockford City Plan I Commission. He was known as the father of the City Plan which called for a boulevard drive running along the east side of the river. He was instrumental in getting the Jefferson Street Bridge built and it was almost named the Roper Memorial Bridge. The City Plan was never passed and is still collecting dust on a shelf at City Hall.

On December 11, 1888, George married Miss Kate Butterworth (the daughter of one of Rockford's pioneer families). They had one son; Mabon P. Roper.

The home has 25 rooms; most of them with a wonderful view of the Rock River. There are five fireplaces, with tile from a different country in Europe on each one. The woodwork throughout the home is beautiful, with quarter-sawn oak hardwood floors, walnut paneling, solid oak t beams in the living room, and oak and walnut; pocket doors. It has some wonderful old leaded glass windows in the front of the house. The Roper's spared no expense on their home; the kitchen had walls lined with lead for fire protection. They also lined the floor in the sunroom with lead and drains that went outside. If the windows were left open in the sunroom and it rained the water would run out and not hurt anything. Some of the furniture was built at the same time the home was built and is carved to match the woodwork in the house.

George Roper died at his home on November 11, 1925 at the age of 70. He had been sick for about two years with a heart ailment. The funeral was held at the home with the Rev. Charles Parker Connolly of Christian Union Church officiating. He is buried in Greenwood Cemetery. Kate died September 25, 1934, at the age of 73.

From 1904 to 1935, the home at 1019 Franklin was occupied by some of the Roper family. During the years of 1935 and 1936 the home stood vacant. From 1937 to 1940, several different people occupied the home. George Dobler, who lived at 1031 Franklin Place, owned the home for a short time and rented it out. For 5 years, from 1940 to 1945, a Dr. Shellenberger, his wife Mary and their five daughters rented the house. In 1945 the home was sold to Elmer and Helen Glaser who ran it as a boarding house. Walter died in 1961 and the house was sold to F. L. Magoon and his wife Hazel. They moved out of state in 1965 and the house was, sold to Jane and Mark Tull. The Tulls turned the home into 7 apartments. Loyd and I bought the home in 1976 from the Tulls with the agreement that they could have the basement apartment for 5 years. They ended up staying 12 years. After living in the home for about 18 years, we turned it back into a one family home, and have lived in the home for 28 years. It truly is one of the finest older homes in Rockford.