The Johnson County Genealogical & Historical Society would like to announce the completed sale of the Paul Powell House, located at 404 West Vine Street in Vienna, to Jacobsen & Associates LLC, also of Vienna. The Society has occupied the structure since 2000 under the umbrella of the Paul Powell Trust, who recently transferred the deed to the Society before the dissolution of the trust, after almost 50 years of oversight following Powell’s death in October 1970.
While Paul Powell was the Mayor of Vienna in 1930, he is more famously known for being Illinois Representative 1930 to 1963. He was also Speaker of the Illinois House from 1949 to 1951 and again 1959 to 1963, followed by Illinois Secretary of State 1969 to 1970.
Plans for the historic Powell structure, built circa 1890 by Paul Powell’s father, have not been finalized, but possibilities include bed and breakfast, commercial business, or private residence. The Powell estate has been purchased privately by the Jacobsens and will be offered for public sale through the Vienna Town Square Mall, if not kept and re-used in the bed and breakfast scenario.
The Genealogical & Historical Society has recently purchased the old Hacker Building on the Square, located at 120 North 4th Street, and plans to move their Society to this building after some renovation/upgrade work this spring/summer. The historic Hacker Building dates back to around 1900, and the open floor plan, single level layout is well suited to their vision forward, including a Virtual Museum, genealogical library, bookstore, etc. The Society plans a Grand Opening later this summer.
