Holy Hill tour gives history, architectural lesson

ELGIN -- Jerry Turnquist isn't sure at what point the name "Holy Hill" came to describe the many downtown churches, but it has become part of the city's rich heritage.

"We know Elgin as a city that has a riverboat and had a heritage of the Elgin Watch Factory ... but really, over 100 years ago back in the 1880s, the newspapers referred to Elgin as the City of Churches," the local historian said.

Turnquist and Anthony Rubano, an architect with the Illinois Historic Preservation Agency, will give more insight into Holy Hill during a walking tour on Saturday.

"It's a history and architectural tour," Turnquist said.

The idea for a tour came from Downtown Neighborhood Association of Elgin's development coordinator Jennifer Benson. She knew Turnquist had done a tour about five years ago and thought it would be a good fit for Preservation Week.

The walking tour begins at 2:30 p.m. at First Congregational Church, 256 E. Chicago St., and will focus on 10 churches, including St. John's Lutheran Church, St. Paul's United Church of Christ, First United Methodist Church, Episcopal Church of the Redeemer, First Congregational Church, Iglesia Carismatica Puerta De Sion, Iglesia Principe De Paz, Seventh Day Adventists-Agape, New Beacon House and Vineyard Christian Fellowship of Elgin, all in the immediate area of East Chicago and Villa streets and Highland and Dundee avenues.

Holy Hill was started after Elgin's founding father, James T. Gifford, began offering free lots to anyone who wanted to build a church in the city's downtown, Turnquist said. Gifford's goal was for Elgin to become a city of churches, which it did.

Gifford used his log cabin, built at Prairie and Villa streets, as the city's first church. His brother, Hezekiah, commissioned the Union Chapel Church to be built at Chapel and DuPage streets but was later moved a block away. Turnquist believes that building is now La Roca grocery store.

Congregations began building more churches after that, Turnquist said.

Elgin has more than 80 churches, including a Buddhist temple, an Islamic temple and a Universalist Church built in the shape of a pocket watch, Turnquist said.

"If you come to Elgin, we will find a church home for you," he said.

Churches have moved and changed over the years as new congregations have opened in older church buildings.

"There is an interesting story about First Congregational Church," Turnquist said. "Something interesting was dug up."

That something will be shared with those on the tour.

To participate, RSVP by Thursday by calling (847) 488-1456 or e-mailing jbenson@elginil.org.