Ruffin Drew Fletcher House

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name = Ruffin Drew Fletcher House
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location = Streator, LaSalle County, Illinois, USA
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built = 1890
architect = Unknown
architecture = Stick style
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added = August 5, 1991
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refnum = 91001000
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governing_body= Private owner

The Ruffin (R.D.) Fletcher House, also known as the George Allen Dicus, M.D. House, is a historic house in the city of Streator, Illinois. It was constructed in 1890 and is a good example of Stick architecture. The house was added to the U.S. National Register of Historic Places in 1991.

History

The Ruffin Drew Fletcher or simply, R.D. Fletcher House, was constructed in 1890. Ruffin Drew Fletcher took a job with the Chicago, Wilmington and Vermillion Coal Company in 1876 and moved to Streator, Illinois. The coal company constructed the house for Fletcher and he stayed in it until 1900 when he was transferred to another location and the house was sold to Dr. George Dicus.Bucholtz, Arthur and Felicia. " [http://gis.hpa.state.il.us/hargis/PDFs/200837.pdf Ruffin Drew Fletcher House] ", (PDF), National Register of Historic Places Registration Form, March 28, 1991, "Illinois Historic Preservation Agency", accessed May 15, 2008.]

Architecture

The Fletcher House exemplifies Stick style architecture through its decorative ornamentation and roof massing. It falls into a sub-category of Stick style houses that Virginia and Lee McAlester described as a gabled roof classification in their "A Field Guide to American Houses". The Fletcher House contains many of the specific elements described by the McAlesters

Outbuildings

There are two outbuildings on the property, a one-story wash house and a two story carriage house. Both structures were built at the same time as the house and both exemplify characteristics of Stick style. The outbuildings lack the ornamentation of the house but still contribute to the architectural significance of the Fletcher House.

Historic significance

The R.D. Fletcher House is a good example of Victorian Stick style architecture and maintains its 1890s architectural integrity. On a local level, the earliest changes to the house, such as the installation of electric fans, illustrates the life style of the upper middle class in Streator, Illinois. The Ruffin Drew Fletcher House was added to the National Register of Historic Places on August 5, 1991. [http://www.nr.nps.gov/iwisapi/explorer.dll?IWS_SCHEMA=NRIS1&IWS_LOGIN=1&IWS_REPORT=100000039 National Register Information System Query - State and city name=Streator, IL] , National Register of Historic Places, "National Park Service", accessed May 15, 2008.] Both outbuildings were included as contributing properties in the National Register listing.

Notes

References

*McAlester, Virginia & Lee. "A Field Guide to American Houses", Alfred A. Knopf, Inc, New York: 1984, pp. 254–61, (ISBN 0394739698).

External links

* [http://gis.hpa.state.il.us/hargis/Reports/Reports.aspx?RefNumVariable=200837&FormType=Short Ruffin Drew Fletcher House] , Property Information Report, "Illinois Historic Preservation Agency", accessed May 12, 2008.