The Morrison Historic Preservation Commission (MHPC) is applying 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 #21.
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.”
101 E. Main Street, Date: 1864–“Contributing”
Description: This is a two-story corner brick building with painted brick exterior. The storefront of the main elevation (north) is asymmetrical, with two, large display windows (aluminum, stack bond brick bulkheads) to the west and recessed, first-story and upstairs entrances to the east. The doors are full glass aluminum with small transoms, and they are separated by a narrow glass block window on top of a brick bulkhead. The entire transom area is covered with painted aluminum siding. The upper story features four, rectangular, double-hung wood windows with stone sills, faux (painted) window hoods, and shed-shaped fabric awnings with returns and valances. The windows appear to be smaller than original. At the top is a bracketed, galvanized sheet-metal cornice, which wraps around the corner and continues along the side elevation (west). This elevation likewise has four window openings with matching windows and awnings. Near the north end is a straight run (south) exterior staircase to the basement with a steel pipe railing. Above it and at the corner is a repainted historic sign for the Central Saloon. The rear elevation (south) has an entrance flanked by two window openings on the first story and four window openings on the second story. The windows and awnings match those of the other elevations.
History: It was built by John E. Bennett as a shoe and clothing store. The property was purchased by Reuben P. Hollinshead and J. A. West in 1881 and continued as a clothing store into the 1890’s. In 1890, Hollinshead patented a mustache protector (patent #435,748), made of German silver and manufactured by H. Thomas & Bros. of Chicago, IL. This unique accessory was likely available for purchase at his clothing store. During the 1950’s the ground floor was occupied by Coast to Coast Hardware Store. The basement was home to the Central Saloon and also functioned as a “sample room” for traveling salesmen. In the early 1880’s it held the offices of Farmer’s Exchange. The upper story was used for various offices such as a homoeopathist (J. H. Grav, 1889-99) and a print shop (1910’s). Current tenants are Stephanie Deckro Interiors and Stephen A. Deckro, Attorney.