The Heyl Addition

One subdivision in Washington was never built. If it had been, it would have completely changed a portion of the city as we know it today. That subdivision is known as the Heyl Addition.

In 1929, champion horse mogul George Heyl announced the development of part of his land on the west side of Main Street into a subdivision.  This area was right across the street from his pony farm.  The road for the subdivision would connect with North Main Street and Lincoln Street.  Heyl employed Henry Hett and got to work on a model home for the subdivision at the corner of Main Street and the new subdivision street.

This house, completed in 1929, still exists at 706 N Main.

The section laid out forty-eight lots, which were planned to be sold for $250 to $500 each.

Then something happened. It could have been the Great Depression or George Heyl's sudden death in 1932; we don’t really know. Heyl was not in the best health in the years leading up to his death, which could also have affected progress on the subdivision.

You can still see the 48 lots that were laid out in current GIS maps of the city.  The road to the east would have crossed the then-existing railroad tracks and intersected with North Main Street.  The development of this area, if it had come to fruition, would have greatly affected the later creation of Washington Park and the current Lincoln School property.

Interestingly, Park Boulevard and the Heyl Addition still appeared on city maps as late as 1967.