Blair Historic District facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Blair Historic District
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Washington Street
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 Location in Illinois
Location in the United States
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| Location | Parts of 1st, 2nd, 3rd, A, B, High, Illinois, Main, and Washington Sts. in Belleville |
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| NRHP reference No. | 15000523 |
| Added to NRHP | September 18, 2015 |
The Blair Historic District is a historic district located in downtown Belleville, Illinois. The district encompasses a mainly commercial area on the west side of the downtown area; it includes 78 buildings, 57 of which are contributing buildings. The entire district is located within the original plat of the city, which was established following a land donation from George Blair in 1813. The oldest buildings in the district date to circa 1850; development continued from then on into the early twentieth century. Most buildings in the district are two-part brick commercial blocks designed in popular contemporary styles such as the Italianate, Second Empire, Classical Revival, and Romanesque Revival. The Reichert Business Block, a three-story structure at 200 West Main Street, has a particularly significant Second Empire design; the building features a mansard roof with dormers and a decorative cornice and has been described as the district's most elaborate building. Two Classical Revival buildings, the 1911 United States Post Office Building and the 1924 Turner Hall, also have a commanding presence in the district; the post office was designed by Supervising Architect James Knox Taylor.
The district was added to the National Register of Historic Places on September 18, 2015.
