The Riggs family has called one Winchester house home for over 120 years
by Lynn Colburn
Not many families can claim to have lived in the same house for 121 years, but for the Riggs family of Winchester, their home on Jefferson Street has been a place of love, history and tradition spanning seven generations.
Currently owned by Sue Riggs, the home has been in the family since 1904. Sue and her late husband, Jim Riggs, moved into the house on March 17, 1974. Jim, who worked for Alsey Refractories for 53 years, was known for his dedication to his family, his work and his love of walking, regardless of the weather.
He passed away in 2023, leaving behind a legacy deeply intertwined with the family home and the community.
A house filled with history
The Riggs home is more than just a residence — it is a living museum of family and local history. Among its treasured pieces is a Civil War-era desk that was restored by Sue’s brother-in-law, as well as barrister bookcases from the law office of Jim’s great-grandfather and grandfather.
The home holds numerous artifacts from James Milton Riggs, Jim’s great-grandfather. A well-known figure in Scott County, James M. Riggs was a farmer, teacher, sheriff, lawyer, state’s attorney, judge and even a U.S. Representative in Congress from 1883 to 1887. He lived in the brick house that still stands behind the Jefferson Street home.
Incredibly, framed invitations to historical events such as the dedication of the Statue of Liberty (1886), the opening of Niagara Falls State Reservation (1885) and the Brooklyn Bridge opening (1883) still hang on the walls of the Riggs’ Winchester home. Land grants signed by former Presidents James Monroe and Andrew Jackson also remain preserved in the house.
Generations of memories
Ralph Milton Riggs, son of James Milton Riggs and wife Sarah, built the family home in 1904. The second floor of the home was added in 1912. Ralph served as Scott County’s State’s Attorney for three terms. He was also the president of the Bank of Winchester.
After Ralph, Richard “Dick” Riggs and wife Jessie (the parents of Jim Riggs), moved into the home in 1952, keeping much of the original furniture pieces including the dining room table and chairs and beds. They owned the Red & White Grocery Store in Winchester for many years before Dick worked for the State of Illinois.
When Jim and Sue Riggs moved into the home in 1974, they embraced its history while making it their own. They also continued to use the original furniture.
Their children (Becky, Bill, Sarah and Sam) grew up there, and now the house is filled with memories of grandchildren and great-grandchildren (currently seven – all girls) who still gather for the family’s cherished “Sunday Night Supper Club.”
This tradition, spanning over 30 years, continues to bring together multiple generations for a meal every Sunday, either at the family home or at the family cabin in Alsey that was built in 2009, often with friends of all ages joining them.
In addition, Jim and Sue Riggs were always up for grand adventures with the family. When their children were young, summer family vacations were comprised of traveling to different states, camping, canoeing, horseback riding and enjoying themselves.
There were also annual scuba diving trips to Bonaire with friends, hunting trips and visits to several countries once their children grew into adults. When Jim retired at 73, they still took trips with their kids and grandkids whenever possible. Sue says, “Where there is one generation of us [Riggs], there is usually four generations.”
The home’s architectural charm
The house boasts intricate inlaid flooring with one-inch wooden boards, beautiful pocket doors and stunning, wooden ceiling beams that reflect the craftsmanship of the early 20th century. When Sue and Jim moved in, they covered the floors in wall-to-wall carpet due to the risk of splinters in the family’s feet. But after learning about refinishing techniques, they restored the original flooring, placing back the home’s original oriental rugs.
The upstairs landing holds an antique knockdown armoire from the home’s earliest days, a piece that had to be disassembled and reassembled when new carpeting was installed. Other heirlooms include an antique side-by-side curio desk that has been in the house since it was built and hallway portraits of past generations, including Jim’s great-grandfather, James Milton Riggs, and his wife. Jim’s father, Richard “Dick” Riggs, was even born in a bed that is still in a bedroom upstairs.
A family built on faith, fitness and tradition
Faith, family and fitness are the core values that have shaped the Riggs family across generations. All four current generations of the family attend First Christian Church in Jacksonville, continuing a legacy of strong faith.
The family’s love for fitness is just as deeply rooted. Jim’s dedication to daily walks inspired many, and four generations of the family have even participated in 5K races together. Competitiveness must run in their genes. On Jim’s 85th birthday, the family and friends surprised him by organizing a 5K fast-paced walk around Winchester in his honor. His belief in staying active has been passed down, encouraging a lifestyle of health and wellness for future generations.
A lasting legacy
The Riggs home in Winchester stands as a testament to more than just longevity; it embodies the perseverance, dedication and love that has defined this remarkable family. With each new generation, the walls of the home continue to echo with stories of the past, blending history with new memories.
As Sue Riggs gets ready to leave her cherished and well-preserved family home with all its history, bridging the past and the future with every passing year, she hopes its legacy will inspire a new owner to keep the home’s history alive and that it will bring another family as much love and memories for generations to come.
The Riggs family generously plans to share many of the marvelous historical documents they have accumulated with the Scott and Morgan county museums so that generations to come can understand more about both areas’ history.
We wish Sue and her family the best. We appreciate all that the Riggs family has to share from the past and look forward to what the next generations have in store for the future.
