When Susan Lawrence and family moved to the neighborhood, it looked a lot different than it does now. The three houses across the street from the Dana-Thomas House (302, 306 and 308 E. Lawrence) were originally built as two-story homes. They were destroyed in the fire of 1916, and the current houses were built around 1930.
When Susan Lawrence Dana started the remodel, her neighbors at 306 E. Lawrence Ave. were Mr. and Mrs. Rufus W. Lavely. Rufus W. Lavely was a salesman at Fred & J. Buck’s Hat Store when he married Lucinda C. Rankin in March of 1891. The Lavelys owned several properties in the area of W. Grand Ave. (now MacArthur Boulevard) between Governor and Monroe; between Washington and Jefferson; between Monroe and Adams; and at the corner of Doyle Ave. and Washington.
It is interesting that the real estate transactions are listed in the newspaper as being sold by “Lucinda C. Lavely and Rufus W., her husband.” A tax list from 1895 names Lucinda C. Lavely, not Mr. Rufus Lavely. Women normally would have been mentioned as “Mrs. Rufus W. Lavely,” so did she own the property? Her father, an early settler in the Athens area, did “invest largely” in real estate in Illinois, Missouri and Iowa.
In September of 1901, Rufus and Lucinda moved from 203 W. Adams St. to 306 E. Lawrence Ave.. A few months later, Rufus and Melton Saunders, formerly with Fred & J. Buck’s Hat Store, opened up their own hat, shirt and glove store located at 513 North side of the square (Washington Street).
Rufus and Lucinda moved to an apartment at 921 S. Fifth St. on Nov. 1, 1903. Do you think the Lavelys moved because they were not in favor of the new house that was being built across the street? The partnership with Lavely and Saunders was dissolved in March of 1908, and Rufus continued with business as a sole proprietor. He carried “a complete line of gents furnishing goods.”
The Lavelys moved several more times, and lived at 530 S. Sixth St., 838 S. Fifth St., 1142 W. Lawrence Ave., 1200 S. Fourth St., 417 E. Cook St., 704 S. Second St., and 830 E. Monroe St.. They also continued to sell properties, including lots in Isaac Key’s subdivision.
July of 1928 brought some changes. Springfield Dry Goods Co. wanted to expand. George Pasfield agreed to build them a three-story building at 511-513 E. Washington St.. After 28 years of having his haberdashery at that location, Rufus was forced to leave. His newspaper advertisements had a headline of “Forced-Out Sale!” He did open a new location at 518 E. Monroe St.
Rufus was no stranger to the business world. His grandfather, William Lavely, opened a grocery store in 1848, which he owned for 20 years. He was elected mayor of Springfield in 1853 and also served as the supervisor of Springfield Township and the city weigher. When Rufus ran for Park Board president in March of 1929, a newspaper article stated that he was a household name (having been in the hat business for 40-plus years) and had a stellar reputation. It also claimed “Mr. Lavely does not need the office of board member, but people need him.”
Rufus filed voluntary bankruptcy in the fall of 1931, probably due to the Great Depression. He was working for Roberts Brothers Clothiers at 523 E. Washington St. by May of 1934. Lucinda died on May 24, 1939, and Rufus, 77, died on April 29, 1946.
The Lavelys were supportive of the community and donated to funds such as the Fetzer plant campaign, the Leland Hotel Build fund, donated food to the Good Fellows Club for Christmas dinners for those in need, participated in fundraisers during the war, and participated in bridge whist tournaments. Did they ever play cards with Susan? Did they socialize with Susan when they lived here? Did they disagree with her “remodel”? Is that why they moved out of the neighborhood halfway through her “remodel”? These are all questions that will remain unanswered.
The house that Mr. and Mrs. Lavely lived in was destroyed by fire in October of 1916. The current house, which is owned by the Dana-Thomas House Foundation, will be demolished soon. It was gutted prior to the purchase by the Foundation and is not cost-effective to do all the necessary repairs. The lot will become a green space, with the most beautiful view in town.
