205 Hardwick St.--Lott/Yetter House

Adrian Lott was a shop keeper in downtown Belvidere who inherited a small house at 205 Hardwick St. from his uncle's estate in 1826. The roof was raised to include a full-height third floor.

At the turn of the century, lumber and coalyard owner Peter S. Yetter purchased the property and added on to the back of the house, incorporating his knowledge of and access to wood by including beautiful built-in cabinets and cupboards, beadboard siding, and pine floors in the kitchen and bathrooms.

The house was in the Yetter family for over 100 years, passing to Yetter's divorced daughter and thence to her daughter, who became Mrs. Hawes not long after she "accidentally" left her pocketbook at the local pharmacy on Water St. and it was returned to her by the bachelor proprieter, Albert C. Hawes. (One of the stained glass windows of the Methodist church two doors down is in memory of Peter S. Yetter.)

The house retains many features of the original, with its wraparound porch and unique full length balusters, diamond window on the third floor, offset two-story bays capped with slate tiles, and full-length windows affording the residents unfettered views of the park.

The house has seen some recent restoration, with the third floor finished and painted for the first time and the original and still operational dumb-waiter frequently raised and lowered with its foot-pedal to impress guests.