This magnificent side gabled Georgian Revival house was built some time between 1927 and 1928. The Harris house was built by George Ramey, a notable Illinois architect who we've talked about before.
This house does have a PACA Survey on file with the Champaign County Historical Archives. Note the east side gabled change from the above photo to the present day, where the left wing has now been enclosed.
Bruce was the son of Newton Harris, the founder of Champaign’s First National Bank. Bruce Burnham Harris was also Vice-President and President of the bank in his lifetime. He graduated from Yale University and was the fourth generation to work for the bank since its founding. He later moved to St. Paul, Minn. He died 8 Mar 1975. Clara Ottis was born Sept 5, 1904 in St. Paul Minnesota. In the 1930 Federal Census they lived here with little Bruce, Jr and their three servants; Gertrude, Celia, and Nellie.
In 1934, this residence was noted as VACANT in city directories, but the home's longest living family arrived shortly. Matthew and Miriam McClure lived in this Georgian revival until the 1960s. Matthew was a professor and eventually the Dean of the college of Liberal Arts at the University of Illinois. As a teen, Miriam was active in women's basketball and continued her educational pursuits as an adult. The McClure's did not have any children, but other lodgers and a servant are listed as residing with them at this address through the city directories that spanned their time here.
After the McClure's, it appears that this residence was bought by the University to house many of it's professors and employees. The stretching grounds and towering ceilings must have hosted many parties with engaging conversations.
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