Buel House facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
|
|
Buel House
|
|
|
U.S. Historic district
Contributing property |
|
 Location in Illinois
Location in the United States
|
|
| Location | Madison and Columbus Streets, Golconda, Illinois |
|---|---|
| Part of | Golconda Historic District (ID76000726) |
| Added to NRHP | October 22, 1976 |
The Buel House is a historic home located in Golconda, Illinois. It sits right on the Ohio River. This house was built in 1840 and is now a special historic site. The Illinois Historic Preservation Agency owns it. The Pope County Historical Society helps to run it.
Contents
What is the Buel House?
The Buel House was first owned by a man named Alexander Buel. He was a tanner, which means he made leather from animal skins. Back then, the Ohio River was a busy highway. Many goods, including animal hides and leather, traveled up and down the river. Even Jesse Grant, the father of famous President Ulysses S. Grant, worked in the leather trade along this river.
A Family Home for Many Years
The Buel family lived in this house for a very long time. They owned it from 1840 until 1986. That's 146 years! This makes the Buel House special. It shows us what a typical family home was like for many generations. The family lived there through important times, like the American Civil War.
The Buel House and the Trail of Tears
There's a local story that the Buel House was part of the Trail of Tears. This was when the Cherokee people and other Native Americans were forced to leave their homes. However, the house was built in 1840. The main forced march through Golconda happened in 1838. So, the house itself wasn't there yet. But it's true that the Cherokee people did walk through Golconda. They would have passed the spot where the house was later built.
Becoming a Historic Site
The Buel House became a nationally recognized historic place in 1976. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places. It is part of the larger Golconda Historic District. You can find the Buel House at Madison and Columbus Streets in the center of Golconda.
