464 S 3rd St
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The original owner of the parcel at 464 S 3rd St was Mary Jane Francis, who purchased it from School District 12 in 1890.In 1893 she sold the property to her friend and business partner William Dinkel for $1.It is likely that the home was built in 1904 - William Dinkel's effort to impress his Southern bride Sallie. William was one of Carbondale's original settlers and the proprietor of Dinkel's Mercantile in the heart of town. Sallie Dinkel was also a key figure, pushing for the arrival of electricity in Carbondale. Their daughter Anne Margaret and her husband Wallace DeBeque would later live just two blocks away, and she would eventually run the store. Details regarding the original lot owner, Mary Jane Francis, include the fact that she lived south of town at her property "Bide-a-Wee". From a wealthy Philadelphia family, she was either widowed or divorced at a young age and came to Carbondale to invest in mining and the town. She originally provided the land for the school district, and evidently bought some of it back. Mary appeared in the census with Henry or Harry Van Syckle. In 1900 he was referred to her ranch manager, and in 1910 as her nephew. Upon her death in 1914 it was revealed that he was actually her 15-year-younger cousin and husband. Scandal aside, Mary Jane Francis was know as Carbondale's "fairy godmother", donating land and funding both for the school district and the Odd Fellows Hall. She was also known for assisting the poorer people in the community. Historic sketches by Anne Margaret Dinkel show that the Late Victorian shingle style home once had a two story enclosed porch on the south side. Indoors, the grand scale of the parlor with ornate woodwork, as well as the large red stone fireplace, provide insight into the importance of this home and its owners. Records show that the home was originally white, and there are early photographs of William with his Collie in front of this iron fence.
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Backstory and Context
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Sources
Carbondale Historical Society
Town of Carbondale 2010 Architectural Survey (Reid Architects, Inc.)