The Rippon-Kinsella Home was built in 1871 in the Italianate style by John Rippon, a Springfield industrialist who came to Springfield from Connecticut in 1854.  He owned the Excelsior Machine Works.  The land on which the Home was built on the north side of Springfield was originally owned in the 1830's by Ninian Edwards, in whose home Abraham Lincoln and Mary Todd were married; and Stephen Logan and John Stuart, two of Lincoln's law partners and prominent Springfield attorneys.       

      The Home was purchased in 1899 by Richard "Dick" Kinsella, who remodeled it in 1905 in the Classical Revival style, adding a columned wrap-around porch.  Dick Kinsella was a local businessman, sports promoter and political boss.  He came from a working class Irish family and became a talent scout for the New York Giants.  Kinsella owned a semi-pro baseball league and developed Springfield's first baseball stadium.  He operated a paint and wallpaper business downtown and rose to political power in the Sangamon County Democratic machine.  The Illinois State Journal described him as "much feared and admired."  He was the Sangamon County campaign manager for Henry Horner's successful bid for Governor in the 1930's.  Governor Horner

was a frequent visitor at the Kinsella Home for strategy planning meetings during the campaign.  One can imagine the "smoke-filled rooms"  (the inn is now a smoke-free environment).  Dick Kinsella lived here with his wife Katherine and their sons Robert and James until his death in 1939 at the age of 77.

      The current owners Dave Ridenour and Roger Schmitz acquired the House in 2005.  Please join them on the half-acre grounds nestled in a quiet neighborhood near Lincoln Park and experience the elegance of a romantic Victorian retreat.  The Home is within walking distance of Oak Ridge Cemetery where the Lincoln Tomb is located and is minutes from downtown and other Lincoln sites including the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum, the Lincoln Home National Historic Site, the Old State Capitol and Frank Lloyd Wright's Dana-Thomas House.
       The common areas on the ground floor of the Rippon-Kinsella Home are furnished with antiques and include a living room with overstuffed art deco furniture and a fireplace.  It is an ideal spot for quiet conversation or to listen to some soft jazz.  The den features a massive oak bar and an antique Victrola record player.  Relax on the leather sofa by the fireplace with a glass of wine and a good book.  A full breakfast is served each morning in the formal dining room or outdoors on the patio, weather permitting. Breakfast includes fresh fruit, homemade muffins or bread, omelets or casseroles or raisin, apple and walnut waffles, sausage or bacon, juice, coffee and tea.

     When you reserve all of the guestrooms, the inn is available for meetings, weddings, receptions and parties for small groups up to thirty, with seating accommodations in the dining room for groups up to ten.  Please inquire regarding hourly rates. Larger groups can be accommodated outside and there is an ornate wrought-iron wedding gazebo.