Chick House facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Chick House
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 Location in Illinois
Location in the United States
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| Location | 119-123 S. Main St., Rockford, Illinois |
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| Area | less than one acre |
| Built | 1857 |
| Architectural style | Greek Revival, Italianate |
| NRHP reference No. | 97000031 |
| Added to NRHP | February 7, 1997 |
The Chick House is a very old building in Rockford, Illinois. It was built way back in 1857! For many years, it was a busy hotel.
Local people helped pay to build it. It was first called the Griggs House. Later, in 1888, a man named Thomas Chick bought it. He changed its name to the Chick House.
The building has a special look. It mixes two old styles: Greek Revival and Italianate. The Chick House is important to Rockford's history. It is listed on the U.S. National Register of Historic Places. This means it's a special historic place.
History of the Chick House
The Chick House is in downtown Rockford, Illinois. It's right across from the BMO Harris Bank Center. It was built in 1857. Three people from Rockford helped pay for it. They were Dr. R.P. Lane, Thomas D. Robertson, and Charles H. Spafford.
The building started as a hotel called the Griggs House. It stayed a hotel for many years. In 1888, Thomas Chick bought the hotel. He decided to call it the Chick House.
Through the early 1900s, parts of the building were rented out. Different shops and businesses used the space. Mr. Chick also rented other buildings nearby. This gave the hotel more rooms for guests.
In 1902, a room at the Chick House cost about $1.50 a day. Another hotel, the Nelson House, cost $2.00 a day. In 1903, a local newspaper said both were top hotels in Rockford. The Chick House was popular with travelers and people staying for a long time.
After Thomas Chick passed away, his wife sold the hotel in 1923. A man named John A. Saye bought it. At that time, the Chick House was the oldest hotel in Rockford. It was one of 23 hotels in the city.
The hotel closed for a while in 1928 for updates. During this time, an office supply store, a hardware store, and a shoe store used parts of the building. In 1929, the hotel reopened. It was renamed the Elms Hotel. It stayed open until 1951.
In 2004, the city of Rockford bought most of the Chick House. They wanted to fix up the old building. The city made some important repairs. They put in new windows to keep out rain. They also added a green awning on the front. This helped protect the building.
What Does the Chick House Look Like?
The Chick House has a simple and useful design. It was built to be a hotel, so it's very practical. It has three stories and is made of brick. The front of the building faces Main Street. The side faces Elm Street.
The building mixes two styles: Greek Revival and Italianate. It looks quite different from the fancy building next to it. That building is called the Stewart Building. The Chick House was originally shaped like an "L." But over the years, more parts were added. This filled in the back of the building.
The simple design of the Chick House has some nice details. These details are from the Greek Revival style. For example, the building is very balanced. Its windows, stone sills, and decorative moldings show this balance.
The mix of Greek Revival and Italianate styles is interesting. It shows how building styles changed in the 1850s. The narrow windows on the front are Italianate. So is the brick pattern near the roof. The windows also have rounded tops and decorative frames.
Why is the Chick House Important?
The Chick House is very special. It is one of only three commercial buildings left in downtown Rockford that were built before the American Civil War. It is also the only one that still looks mostly the same as it did back then. The other two old buildings have been changed a lot.
The Chick House is the only 19th-century hotel building still standing in Rockford. Its unique look and its importance to Rockford's businesses make it historic. Because of this, it was added to the U.S. National Register of Historic Places in 1997. The city of Rockford also calls it a local landmark.
