Collinsville Financial Planning Center

DesPain Investment Solutions and DesPain Financial Corporation are both located in a newly restored historic home in downtown Collinsville.

This old house was constructed around 1870, shortly after the Civil Ward ended. It was built by Captain Newsted, an attorney, who lived next door. He built the house for his landlady, Mrs. Roebeck, and for her adopted daughter, Elsie. The original kitchen of this home was in the basement, with a dumbwaiter to the dining room above. The two windows on the side porch had low paneled doors, so when the sash was raised, the door would open and one could walk through.

In 1905, the Eckart family moved into the house. Richard Eckart was a prominent druggist and President of the Collinsville School district for 13 years. In the mid-1920’s, the house underwent major renovation. A kitchen was added in the southwest corner. The stairway and fireplace seen today were erected in what had been the front parlor. The small dormers on the second floor changed to a broad Dutch dormer. The two Eckart daughters, Ruth and Dorothy, never married and remained in the house for 70 years. Dorothy was the librarian at Collinsville High School for 28 years. In 1975, the house was purchased by Joseph and Anastasia Denap.

When Don and Peggy DesPain bought the home in November 1995, it was infested with termites and its structural soundness was questioned. Even months after the conversion to an office began, many believed it should have been razed. On November 1, 1996, the renovation was complete and the building became The Collinsville Financial Planning Center. Today, much of its originality still remains, including full dimension lumber fastened by square nails. Thank goodness it was saved, conserving its place in Collinsville history for many years to come.

The above picture was taken in the late 1800’s by Evans Studio of Collinsville.