- Union House
Infobox nrhp
name = Union House
nrhp_type =
caption =
location = Orangeville, Stephenson County,Illinois , USA
nearest_city =
lat_degrees =42
lat_minutes = 28
lat_seconds = 7
lat_direction = N
long_degrees = 89
long_minutes = 38
long_seconds = 51
long_direction = W
area = >1 acre
built = 1849
architect =John Bower (builder)
architecture =Gothic Revival ,Greek Revival
added =May 11 ,2000
visitation_num =
visitation_year =
refnum =00000472
mpsub =
governing_body = Private OwnerThe Union House, also known as the John Bower House, is a small, mostlyGothic Revival house in downtown Orangeville,Illinois ,United States . The house, the first brick home in Orangeville, was built in 1849 by village founder John Bower. It was purchased by Samuel Hutchins in 1885 and it remained in the Hutchins family until 1951. The house blends elements of Greek and Gothic Revival architecture and is the only example of Gothic Revival found in the village of Orangeville. The house was added to the U.S.National Register of Historic Places in 2000.History
The Union House was the first
brick house in Orangeville and erected by village founder John Bower. Bower came to Stephenson County in 1844 and, onOctober 16 ,1846 , bought the land that would be platted as Orangeville from John H. Curtis for US$950. Bowers built the Union House in 1849 on a portion of what eventually became Orangeville in 1851. By 1885 Dr. Samuel Hutchins, and his wife Amanda, owned the Union House and used it as a home and a medical office for Hutchins early in his career. William Hutchins inherited the home and lived in it until he died in 1926. His sister Katherine Hutchins took ownership of the building following William's death. When Katherine died in 1944 her mother Linda inherited the house and it was deeded to Robert and Florence Shafer in 1951. The Shafers in turn sold it to Val and Opel Schreiner. The Schreiner's owned the house when it was nominated to the U.S.National Register of Historic Places in 2000.Buford, John C. " [http://gis.hpa.state.il.us/hargis/PDFs/205596.pdf Union House] ," (PDF ), National Register of Historic Places Nomination Form,29 November 1999 , HAARGIS Database, "Illinois Historic Preservation Agency". Retrieved9 October 2007 .]Architecture
The Union House utilizes a combination of
Greek Revival andGothic Revival styles. The Greek Revival influence is found in the doorway, which matches almost exactly the description put forth by Virginia and Lee McAlester in their 1984 book, "A Field Guide to American Houses". The McAlester description for Greek Revival doorways mentions, elaborate door surrounds flanked by decorative glasssidelight s and topped byfanlight s, and ornate wood or masonry encasements surrounding the door.McAlester, Virginia & Lee. A Field Guide to American Houses, Alfred A. Knopf, Inc, New York: 1984, p. 180, 197, (ISBN 0394739698).] The Union House features these characteristics, though does not feature the recessed doorway the McAlesters call "not uncommonly" found in Greek Revival doorways.Besides the front entrance, the house is cast in the Gothic Revival style, popularized in the
United States through various publications from the late 1830s–1850s. The Union House matches descriptions put forth by McAlester as well as in the Galena Historic Preservation Guidebook. McAlester describes decorativebargeboard s, steeply pitchedgable s, and cross gables, with windows usually extending into the gables; all elements which are present on the Union House. The pointed arch windows described by McAlester are not present on the Union House. The Union House is of the centered gable variety described by McAlester. The Galena guidebook also describes steeply pitched roofs, cross gables and decorative bargeboarding. The original decorative bargeboarding on the Union House remains in place.ignificance
The Union House, along with being the first brick house built in Orangeville, is the only example of Gothic Revival architecture found in the village. It is important locally because it was constructed by the village founder, John Bower. The house is also a good example of the crossover from Greek to Gothic Revival and blends elements from both style. The house's local significance, combined with its architectural importance qualified it for listing on the U.S.
National Register of Historic Places onMay 11 ,2000 . [http://www.nr.nps.gov/ National Register Information System] , National Register of Historic Places, "National Park Service". Retrieved9 October 2007 .]ee also
*
Charles Fehr Round Barn
*People's State BankReferences
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