The hobbs History
A Timeline of the
Hobbs Building
1895: Albert Hobbs commissioned the construction of the Hobbs Building designed by Architect James E. Minott and built by Levi Hull Waterhouse.
1895-1926: The Hobbs family operates their furniture store
1926: Albert Hobbs dies
1929: The Hobbs Building is sold at auction for $55,000
1949: The Hobbs Building is purchased by the Aurora Catholic Salvage Bureau
1980: The wood and copper dome is refurbished with asphalt shingles
2016: The dome is removed from the Hobbs Building
2016: The city of Aurora takes ownership of the building
2019; JH Real Estate begins $15 million renovation of the Hobbs Building after 40 years of vacancy
2022: The Hobbs Building gets its first new residents
About the Architect
J.E. Minott designed the 1894 Aurora Fire Station, which had a dome similar to the one atop the Hobbs Building’s corner turret. Minott’s other local buildings include the German M.E. Church at 523- 525 W. Downer, the Professor Quereau home at 149 S. Fourth, the Thomas Tevelin mansion on the corner of West Park and Locust, and the F.B. Rice home at 461 W. Downer. Minott established his architectural firm in Aurora in 1872 and passed away in 1920.
About the Builder
Levi Hull Waterhouse built the Hobbs Building. Waterhouse is credited with building many of Aurora’s historic brick structures prior to 1900, including the Silver Plate Factory, County Poorhouse, Aurora Watch Co., Bishop Hotel, along with various churches and schools. Waterhouse was also a prominent builder in Chicago.
This Information is from the Aurora Public Library archives. If you have supporting documents or history to add please email us at documents@jhrealestatepartnersllc.com.
Before
Before February 2012 ©Mattheux Photo
After (Current)
Our renovation includes 2N. River-12 N. River, as shown above. The Hobbs Building was built in 1895 at 2 N. River St. The two buildings adjacent, now joined as one building at 6 N. River and 12 N. River were built in 1901 and 1912 as International Harvester Showrooms.