J. Spence Properties, LLC

06/02/2026

I love a find. Portion of a 45 record, buried in the dirt under the concrete that we cut out. Must have been from Teen Town days, but who knows. (And when I say “we” cut out, that means my brother, but I hauled it out of the building). :)

05/31/2026

I have always wondered who "Montgomery" was of "Montgomery's Place" - the tavern that was housed in my building in early 1900s (or even earlier). I never had a photo or name and I spent some Saturdays going through micro-film of Carterville Heralds (at SIU's Morris Library) to see what I could find - nothing. Then I get a message from Tim Bogard that said a photo of "Montgomery's Saloon" was posted by one of his family members on Facebook. I will be meeting at some point with owner so I can get a higher-resolution file of the photo, but wow, what a great photo and now I know his name, John Will Montgomery! I zoomed in and could see the coffered tin ceiling that I unfortunately had to remove due to repair needs in the ceiling (but I've reused the tin ceiling in the space). I couldn't read the sign well and I wondered what the frame photo was, so I searched online. I found the exact same sign online (photo included) and used that with AI. It represents Lemp Brewery which was the largest brewery in St. Louis in 1870 and famous for its Falstaff label. It closed in 1919 due to family tragedies, Prohibition and changing beer markets. I found a photo of the framed photo shown, it is of Lemp Brewery. I also found a bottle that the brewery used in 1900.

AI is cool, but obviously didn't get a lot right and I don't have unlimited changes with it (or patience). I will fiddle with it later (such as - the bartender needs to pour over/near the glass, the bar back at the top is not right, it's missing the columns on bar back, etc.), but I couldn't wait any longer to post this. The only thing that I knew about this tavern was that it had a dancing monkey that would go to the city well (was in front of what is now Heather's Bakeshop) to drive up business and tips (noted in The History of Carterville book). Now I know the owner and have a visual of the bar. What a fantastic find for me.

05/28/2026

This may not be exciting to most viewers, but it is exciting to me. I created a plan for the back room of my building at 102 N. Division St, and floors have been marked for plumbing needs (aka concrete cutting). My brother, Shawn Spence, to the rescue again on one of my projects, cutting concrete and jackhammering when he can fit in schedule (rain days). Then I get a workout after full-time job, loading the pieces into my truck and taken away. Adding two new bathrooms in this area, plus a mop sink and simple kitchen sink. No commercial kitchen thank goodness, just a break room basically. Nice to be making progress at this building. Check out one of the photos that shows how thick this concrete is. 😳. While the building is much older than this, I know the concrete was poured in 1958, because Ford Hoppie Harris wrote his name in it, as well as the parents of Wanda Gentry (they managed Teen Town). No photo of that, hard to read. Things get ugly before they get pretty. 🤩

05/25/2026

Doyle Volner, brother to my grandma, Opal Talley, was a flight navigator in the Army during WW 2. I have the letters that he wrote to my grandma during the war, and it only gives a slight glimpse what this generation went through during that time. My grandfather and Uncle Doyle opened a soda shop and confectionery after the war and it is the building in downtown Carterville that I am currently renovating (located at 102 N. Division, next to Pizza and Pasta Express). I ran out of changes with AI, or I would have directed that he was wearing a leather jacket and gloves. 🤦‍♀️ Still, pretty incredible what AI can do with photos. Thanks to veterans like my Uncle Doyle and Uncle Glen (brothers) for their service.

05/12/2026

Getting my mojo back and have been cleaning brick on weekends and a few nights. Not going to be a quick job given Type A personality. Someone asked me recently what was involved with doing this. I use a wire brush for grills, a metal scraper, cleaner made for bricks, water, sponge, acid brush. Brick by brick, scrub, scrape, sponge off, scrub some more, etc. Let’s not forget I had to take down layers of paneling and then hammer drill plaster made with horse hair off all the walls just to get to the brick. 😳 My arms better get some muscle after this. 😂💪🏼🙌🏻

04/30/2026

Folks who appreciate, invest and labor for historic preservation need to stick together, especially in Southern Illinois. I had this huge shelving unit from the days of Ruby Crosthwaite’s Wallpaper and Gift Store that was housed in my building at 102 N. Division in Carterville (probably from 1960s, late 1950s? A local can correct me if I am wrong.) I wanted to keep this unit, but it didn’t really make sense for my floor plan. I saw on Facebook that my friend Russell Brown in Mount Vernon is restoring an historic building in their downtown with plans for custom boots. I offered it to him for free and he said it was just what he needed. Russell is doing some cool things in his town and he led the renovation of the Granada Theater also, which is awesome - check it out if you have never been. ,

04/27/2026

Getting my mojo back for working on 102 building now that 131 building is on course with new tenant. Cleaning this brick is going to be a bear, but I am sweating and getting a workout and that feels good.

04/26/2026

Sneak peek at the menu and some clarification. Sort of like a food hall…the building that I renovated at 131 S. Division St. in Carterville is more than 5,000 sq. ft and it is suited to have more than one food and beverage offering while also providing options for small private events. The building is now named 62 Social House. In the building, customers can enjoy Velvet Moon Coffee Shop, or book an event with Velvet Moon Events. In late spring, a restaurant and bar offering named Monty & Co will open, a new venture led by Doug Robinson of Keepers Quarters. I am certain the menu will be creative and delicious. Thanks to Doug Deaton for his management and vision of these exciting offerings for not just Downtown Carterville, but for the region. Also thanks to Doug Robinson and Chandler Deaton for leading these concepts and all of your hard work.

04/21/2026

Excited! Phase One of this space opens tomorrow (Wednesday). Note their hours in the post. 🙌🏻👏🏻🧋☕️

✨✨ TOMORROW WE WILL BE OPEN✨✨

131 S Division St. Carterville!

We’ve excited and a little nervous, but most of all SO GRATEFUL to be in this amazing town, in an incredible building with so much history.. we are blessed to be able to serve you! 🌙☕️

Facebook is having some issues with hours, so I’ll post them here:

⏰Wednesday- Friday: 6:30am - 1pm
⏰Saturday & Sunday: 8am - 1pm

We will have a coffee menu and pastries available! We can hardly wait! An amazing new chapter is starting 🤍🌙

04/20/2026

WEDNESDAY folks! ❤️👏🏻👏🏻😎☕️🧋

✨✨THANK YOU!✨✨

A huge thank you to everyone that stopped by the shop today! It was just what we needed to work through some kinks, get a good flow and feel behind the coffee bar here in Carterville! Thank you for your support and patience! 🤍☕️

We will be back and OPEN, Wednesday the 22nd from 6:30am - 1pm! We will ALSO be open at our 618 Taphouse location!!!

**we will not have our pre-order/online ordering option available for Carterville just yet, but it’s coming!!

Thank you again, and we can’t wait to see you this week! 🫶🏼🌙