The Morrison Historic Preservation Commission (MHPC) has applied to nominate an appropriate portion of the community’s commercial district to be listed on the National Register of Historic Places. With the assistance of our consultants, the MHPC has spent months researching and writing the substance of our application. In the hopes that the community will find the information contained therein both interesting and informative, we will be running, one at a time, in no particular order, over the next year, the architectural and historical description of each building included. We hope you enjoy installment #43.
Note: The National Register of Historic Places is literally a listing of spaces, structures, or areas recognized to be of National historic, cultural or architectural importance. It is kept by the United States Department of Interior, but the program is largely administered by an individual State’s preservation authority. In Illinois, this is the Illinois Historic Preservation Agency. The term “contributing” means that the structure lies within an historic district and adds to the architectural or historic significance of the same as a whole. If it is within the boundaries of the district, but does not so supplement, it is deemed “non-contributing.”
221 W. Main Street, Date: c. 1990, 2007–Non-contributing
Description: This is a freestanding, one-story building with a gable front and vinyl siding exterior. The small building is located at the rear of the landscaped lot with a gabled-roof, covered brick walkway (aluminum and PVC posts), connecting the entrance with the sidewalk. The symmetrical main elevation (north) has a residential-style paneled and glazed (with applied muntins) modern door, flanked by two double-hung vinyl windows with a four-over-four applied grid. The overhanging eaves of the gable feature decorative brackets and truss. The gable over the walkway entrance features similar details. One side elevation (east) has three double-hung windows. The other side elevation (west) has a small, rectangular, bay window with a cross gable roof and decorative brackets and details. The rear elevation (south) has a slightly off-center unglazed door and one double-hung window to the west.
History: Located on a lot once occupied by a local blacksmith, the present edifice began as a small hut or shed for a car lot, operated by Bruce and Peggy Mills. It was acquired by the City of Morrison in 2006 and renovated in 2007 to its present appearance–intended to evoke a sense of a railway station to celebrate Morrison’s historical roots and ties with the railroad (Shive-Hattery, architect; Al and Randy’s Construction, contractor.) Since that time it has housed the Morrison Area Development Corporation and Morrison Chamber of Commerce.