McPike Mansion
Encyclopedia
McPike Mansion, or Mount Lookout, is a mansion in Alton
, which is part of the Metro-East
region of the Greater St. Louis metropolitan area in Southern Illinois, USA. Built in 1869 by Henry Guest McPike (1825-1910), it is situated on Alby Street on a site of 15 acres (60,702.9 m²), one of the highest points in Alton, which was called Mount Lookout. The structure appeared in the series Scariest Places on Earth
.
was considered one of the finest in quality at an exhibition of the Mississippi Valley
Grape Growers' Association, while his Diana was best on exhibition. McPike served as mayor of Alton and was a notable local businessman, involved in real estate and box making. He also served as the Librarian of the Alton-Southern Illinois Horticultural Society in the late 1880s. He died in 1910.
In 1925, the mansion was purchased by Paul A. Laichinger who lived there until his death in 1945. While the house was abandoned for years thereafter, there was some interest to demolish it and convert the land into a shopping center, though this fell through due to zoning issues. In the meantime, the house was ransacked for what was left behind, including its furnishings, wooden banisters and even the toilets, becoming a victim of vandalism and negligence.
The structure was listed on the National Register of Historic Places
on June 17, 1980 but was left derelict for many years, before being purchased by Sharyn and George Luedke in an auction in 1994. They had intended to convert it into a hotel, but contrary to earlier assurances at auction, they were unable to secure restoration grant money from any federal , state, or local agencies.
According to the owner, the mansion is allegedly haunted by the ghost of former owner and a former domestic servant.
Situated on Alby Street on a site of 15 acres (60,702.9 m²), one of the highest points in Alton, McPike named the estate Mount Lookout. McPike was an avid horticulturalist and added extensive gardens with orchards, shrubs and rare trees. Only 4.4 acres (17,806.2 m²) of the original estate remain of Mt. Lookout.
Alton, Illinois
Alton is a city on the Mississippi River in Madison County, Illinois, United States, about north of St. Louis, Missouri. The population was 27,865 at the 2010 census. It is a part of the Metro-East region of the Greater St. Louis metropolitan area in Southern Illinois...
, which is part of the Metro-East
Metro-East
Metro East is a region in Illinois that comprises the eastern suburbs of St. Louis, Missouri, United States. It encompasses five Southern Illinois counties in the St. Louis Metropolitan Statistical Area. The region's most populated city is Belleville at 45,000 residents...
region of the Greater St. Louis metropolitan area in Southern Illinois, USA. Built in 1869 by Henry Guest McPike (1825-1910), it is situated on Alby Street on a site of 15 acres (60,702.9 m²), one of the highest points in Alton, which was called Mount Lookout. The structure appeared in the series Scariest Places on Earth
Scariest Places On Earth
Scariest Places on Earth is an American paranormal documentary reality television series that originally aired from October 23, 2000 to October 29, 2006. The program was produced by Triage Entertainment for the Fox Family Channel, which is now ABC Family and owns the rights to the show...
.
History
Construction began in 1869. by the architect Lucas Pfeiffenberger. In that year, McPike's RulanderPinot gris
Pinot gris is a white wine grape variety of the species Vitis vinifera. Thought to be a mutant clone of the Pinot noir grape, it normally has a grayish-blue fruit, accounting for its name but the grape can have a brownish pink to black and even white appearance...
was considered one of the finest in quality at an exhibition of the Mississippi Valley
Mississippi River
The Mississippi River is the largest river system in North America. Flowing entirely in the United States, this river rises in western Minnesota and meanders slowly southwards for to the Mississippi River Delta at the Gulf of Mexico. With its many tributaries, the Mississippi's watershed drains...
Grape Growers' Association, while his Diana was best on exhibition. McPike served as mayor of Alton and was a notable local businessman, involved in real estate and box making. He also served as the Librarian of the Alton-Southern Illinois Horticultural Society in the late 1880s. He died in 1910.
In 1925, the mansion was purchased by Paul A. Laichinger who lived there until his death in 1945. While the house was abandoned for years thereafter, there was some interest to demolish it and convert the land into a shopping center, though this fell through due to zoning issues. In the meantime, the house was ransacked for what was left behind, including its furnishings, wooden banisters and even the toilets, becoming a victim of vandalism and negligence.
The structure was listed on the National Register of Historic Places
National Register of Historic Places
The National Register of Historic Places is the United States government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects deemed worthy of preservation...
on June 17, 1980 but was left derelict for many years, before being purchased by Sharyn and George Luedke in an auction in 1994. They had intended to convert it into a hotel, but contrary to earlier assurances at auction, they were unable to secure restoration grant money from any federal , state, or local agencies.
According to the owner, the mansion is allegedly haunted by the ghost of former owner and a former domestic servant.
Architecture and grounds
The mansion was completed in 1871. It is a three-storey red brick and white building, with white pillars supporting the porch. It contains 16 rooms and a vaulted wine cellar.Situated on Alby Street on a site of 15 acres (60,702.9 m²), one of the highest points in Alton, McPike named the estate Mount Lookout. McPike was an avid horticulturalist and added extensive gardens with orchards, shrubs and rare trees. Only 4.4 acres (17,806.2 m²) of the original estate remain of Mt. Lookout.
See also
- List of museums in Illinois
- National Register of Historic Places listings in Madison County, Illinois