UW Health to Demolish Briggs Mansion in Rockford

The fate of Rockford's historic Briggs Mansion has finally been revealed, and many people in this community are not happy about it.

The History Of Briggs Mansion

I've lived my whole life in the Rockford area, and honestly, the thought of losing the Briggs Mansion makes me sad. Every time I drive by this big, beautiful brick home on East State Street, I can't help but wonder about all the stories those walls could tell.

Google Street View

Briggs Mansion was built in 1863 during the Civil War by C.C. Briggs, a Vermont native and local businessman, and is one of Rockford's oldest and once grandest homes.

According to Briggsmansion.com:

Mr. Briggs was a newspaper man and was prominent in New England's anti-slavery movement. He participated in the underground railway and even purchased a slave himself, simply to grant the man his freedom. Upon moving to Rockford he established the bank of Briggs, Spafford and Penfield which would become Third National Bank. The Briggs family resided at 1244 E. State St until the late 1880s.

Over the decades, this house has been cherished by many families, but in recent years, it has sat vacant and is really starting to show its age.

I may not know much about preserving historical buildings, but I do know it costs a LOT of money to do it properly. However, I still believe they are worth saving.

Sadly, that won't be the case for Briggs Mansion.

Demolition of Briggs Mansion

Today this post from 14th Ward Alderman Mark Bonne came across my news feed, and I'd be lying if I said it didn't upset me a little.

I had heard that UW Health has purchased Briggs Mansion, and I assumed they would be utilizing the building as an extension of its Rockford campus. I was wrong.

According to WIFR, UW Health released a statement Wednesday that said:

For 115 years, SwedishAmerican Hospital has been a strong and trusted part of this community, and honoring our past is an important part of who we are and how we serve. Regarding 1244 East State Street, we acquired the property and surrounding land last month as part of long‑term plans for expansion. The building has been vacant and deteriorating for many years, has become unsafe, and is not listed on a historical registry. The previous owners are currently working to remove select items from the property, such as the chandeliers and mantels. Demolition of the building is anticipated to begin in May. While it is unfortunate that the building cannot continue to be used, our long-term plans for growth will allow us to better serve patients and the community for generations to come.

Is there anything that can be done to save Briggs Mansion? It doesn't sound like it. I guess we'll just have to drive by it a few more times to say goodbye.