The area of the I and M Canal at Channahon is interesting.  It is in this region that the DuPage River crosses the Canal.  The planners considered multiple options for this site.  Originally, an aqueduct was considered as was used at  other river crossing sites.  However this was rejected as too expensive.   Second consideration was a feeder canal.  This was built.  The contractors were Harris and Johnston.  It extended from the DuPage River near Minooka to the I and M canal near Lock 7.   Eventually the feeder was taken down.  A dam was built across the DuPage River between Lock 6 and 7.  A control gate was made adjacent to the 7th Lock.  This allowed water to flow from the River into the canal.   This gate is still present.

This ranch style home was built in 1954

There are two bedrooms and one bathroom

This home was built in 1923. It is an airplane style craftsman house

     Jack West was an architect who practiced in Sarasota, Florida and briefly in California.  He was one of the members of the Sarasota School of Architecture.  He was born in Illinois in 1922.  After serving in World War II, he attended Yale University School of Architecture.  He graduated in 1949.  He moved to Sarasota.  His first position was with the firm of Twitchell and Rudolph as a draftsman and then an architect. He opened his own firm in 1951.  He formed a partnership in 1953 — 1954 with Ralph Twitchell.  From 1956 to 1960, he was in a partnership with Elizabeth Boylston Waters.  In 1965, he joined Rolland W. W.Seller to do U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development work. In 1966 West partnered with engineer Al Conyers to create the firm of West and Conyers /Architects and Engineers which lasted into the 1990’s.

   The so called Round House was built in 1960.  It was constructed for Dorothy and Hilton Leech.  They were prominent artists.  The building was designed to be used as an art studio and residence.  The architects were Jack West and Elizabeth Boylston Waters.  Location Sarasota.

   Nakomis Beach Pavilion.  Architect Jack West.  Listed in the National Register of Historic Places in May 28, 2013.  Nokomis, Florida

     Knott’s Glass House.  This house was built in 1953.  It is located in Yankeetown,Florida.  It features a flat roof, extreme use of glass and an open floor plan.  The architects were Ralph Twitchell and Jack Webb

   Jack West’s last project was renovation of the Nakomis Beach Pavilion

     Jack West died in October 24, 2010.

Galt Preserve is located at 3841 Stringfellow Road. The preserve features 2.5 miles of hiking trails and boardwalks. It is located in Saint James City on Pine Island just south of Pine Island Flatwood Preserve.

Edward Tim Seibert was born in Seattle, Washington on September 27, 1927. In 1942, the Seibert family moved to Sarasota. Young Seibert followed his father into the navy during and shortly after Wold War 2. 

    After the war Seibert attended Stanford University to study art. He transferred to the University of Florida to study architecture.

After graduation, Seibert interned in the office of Paul Rudolph in Sarasota. He was exposed to Rudolph’s design philosophy and a architectural approach.

One of his first projects was a studio for Philip Hiss 1953. Hiss was a real estate developer.

    Seibert’s house on Siesta Key was built by the architect personally in 1952. The house has 2 wings–one for sleeping and bathing and the other for the living and dining areas. There is a screened garden area.

    In 1955, Seibert opened his own firm–Seibert Associates. While working here, he came into contact with his fellow Sarasota peers such a as Gene Leedy and Victor Lundy.

     Over the period of 40 years, Seibert designed hundreds of buildings both commercial and residential along Sarasota Gulf Coast

Seibert was an accomplished sailor. He also designed many sail boats.

     Tim Seibert died at Boca Grande, FL.  in 2018