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 #33.
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.”
219 E. Main Street, Date: 1860, 1893–“Contributing”
Description: This is a two-story frame building with a rear-facing L plan and painted brick veneer. The symmetrical main elevation (north) is of the addition (1893) and has five historic, segmental arch openings per story, with stone sills, double-hung windows (historic wood on first story, vinyl on second,) and a non-historic residential style center door with a blocked transom. A bracketed, galvanized sheet-metal cornice with finials is at the top. The gabled rear elevation (south) is of the framed original structure with asbestos siding (historic clapboard underneath.) Window and door openings are a mixture of historic and modern materials, infill, and utilities. Second story openings have segmental arches, while two gable openings have pointed arches. The original structure is narrower. Two bays of the hipped-roof brick-veneered front addition are visible to the north.
History: The original part of the building (constructed in 1853-54 as a Congregational Church) was moved from Unionville, IL, during the winter of 1859-60. It became a hotel known as the Franklin House and later the Carlton House. The building was heavily remodeled and expanded in 1893 by James Ritchie, including the veneered front. From 1930-42, the building served as Morrison’s first hospital, sponsored by Dr. William J. Maurits. Since then it has been a residence, rooming house, apartments, and offices. From 1989-2000 it was the home of the Morrison Historical Society. Current tenants are Relax! Therapeutic Massage and First Wealth Financial Group, LLP.