C. H. Moore House facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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CH Moore Homestead DeWitt County Museum
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 Location in Illinois
Location in the United States
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| Location | 219 E. Woodlawn St., Clinton, Illinois |
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| Area | 10 acres |
| Architectural style | Second Empire, Italianate |
| NRHP reference No. | 79003112 |
| Added to NRHP | March 23, 1979 |
The C. H. Moore Homestead in Clinton, Illinois, is a really special old house. It's one of only two places in DeWitt County that are listed on the National Register of Historic Places. This means it's an important historical site! The C. H. Moore Homestead DeWitt County Museum was added to this list in 1979.
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The Story of the C.H. Moore Homestead
The C. H. Moore Homestead was first built by John and Minerva Moore Bishop. Mr. Bishop was a successful businessman in Clinton, selling grain and lumber. The house was finished after the Civil War ended. Later, Mr. Bishop sold the house to his wife's brother, Clifton H. Moore.
Clifton H. Moore was a very smart and educated man. He was the first lawyer to start his practice in Clinton in 1841. He even worked on cases with Abraham Lincoln in the DeWitt County court. A judge named David Davis, who later became a United States Supreme Court justice, was often in charge of these cases.
Moore's Amazing Library
In 1887, a new part was added to the west side of the house. This was built to hold Mr. Moore's huge collection of books. When he passed away, he owned about 7,000 books! This was the biggest private book collection in downstate Illinois at the time.
The library room is two stories tall. It has a curved ceiling and special designs painted on the walls. There are unique "four-season windows" on the upper level. An iron railing goes around a balcony that hangs in the air. Many of the original furniture pieces and paintings from Moore's time are still there. After his death, his book collection was given to the city of Clinton. You can now find these books at the Vespasian Warner Public Library.
Moore lived in the house until he passed away in 1901. The house was not taken care of for many years. Then, in 1967, a new group called the DeWitt County Museum Association bought it. They worked hard to fix it up and make it beautiful again.
The Apple 'N Pork Festival
To help raise money for the house, the DeWitt County Museum Association started a festival. This event is called the Apple 'N Pork Festival. It was first held in 1967. It happens every year on the last full weekend in September.
C.H. Moore Homestead DeWitt County Museum
The C. H. Moore Homestead DeWitt County Museum is the main attraction of the Apple 'n Pork Festival. This festival has grown to be one of the biggest in central Illinois. The museum includes the beautifully restored Victorian mansion.
There are also special exhibits to explore. You can see the Kent Collection, which has many interesting items. The original carriage barn is still there. You can also walk through lovely gardens. There's even a copy of an Indiana-style covered bridge!
The museum has a working blacksmith shop. There are three barns filled with old farm equipment, tools, buggies, and sleighs. You can also see antique cars and items from the railroad. There's even a working telephone display to check out!
