The former Israel Stowell Temperance House at 67 E. Walworth St., is the city's oldest surviving structure, but after years of neglect, it may be too far gone to save.
Volunteer Henry Hibbler sorts and packages books from a collection that he estimated to number over 50,000 when clean up began at the Temperance House which is being donated to the Delavan Historical Society by Ed Chesko who's book collection is housed in the building.
Photo By: Cat Szalkowski-Patneau
A collection of thousands of books, among them many rare and collectible works, is being cleared out from the Temperance House in Delavan where they were being housed as part of a book business run by Ed Chesko. The Israel Stowell Temperance House, built in the 1800's, has been donated to the Delavan Historical Society.
Photo By: Cat Szalkowski-Patneau
It may be too late to save the oldest building in Delavan, the former Israel Stowel Temperance House. The city has deemed it unsafe and has condemned the property.
Photo By: Dan Plutchak
It may be too late to save the oldest building in Delavan, the former Israel Stowel Temperance House. The city has deemed it unsafe and has condemned the property.
Photo By: Dan Plutchak
A crumbling foundation is just one of the reasons that a condemnation order has been issued for the former Israel Stowell Temperance House, 67 E. Walworth St., Delavan. The deteriorated building is believed to be the oldest in the city and likely the only temperance hotel remaining in the state.
Photo By: Bill Olmsted
A missing piece of siding has exposed the framing of the former Israel StowellTemperance House, 67 E. Walworth St., Delavan. The deteriorated building is believed to be the oldest in the city and likely the only temperance hotel remaining in the state. The building is slated for demolition later this year.
Photo By: Bill Olmsted
Boxes of books sit stacked next to a staircase in the Israel Stowell Temperance Hotel before a September, 2010 book sale. The building is believed to be the oldest in Delavan.
Photo By: Dan Plutchak
Delavan Historical Society President Patti Marsicano, left, organizes books Thursday morning outside Delavan's Israel Stowell Temperance House for a weekend book sale.
Photo By: Dan Plutchak
Efforts continue to save the historic Israel Stowell Temperance House in downtown Delavan. Dan
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