Col. Gustavus A. Palmer House facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Col. Gustavus A. Palmer House
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 Location in Illinois
Location in the United States
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| Location | 5516 Terra Cotta Rd., Crystal Lake, Illinois |
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| Area | 1.2 acres (0.49 ha) |
| Built | 1858 |
| Built by | Andrew Jackson Simon |
| Architectural style | Classical Revival, Greek Revival, Federal Style |
| NRHP reference No. | 85001127 |
| Added to NRHP | May 24, 1985 |
The Col. Gustavus A. Palmer House is a special old home in Crystal Lake, Illinois. It is important because of its history and unique design. Today, it is a museum where you can learn about the past.
Contents
Who Was Colonel Palmer?
Early Life and Land Grant
Gustavus A. Palmer was born in 1805 in Nunda, New York. He became a colonel, which is a high-ranking officer in the army. He served in a conflict called the Patriot War. Because of his service, the United States government gave him 80 acres of land. This land was in McHenry County, Illinois in 1845.
Building a Community
Colonel Palmer bought more land, making his total property about 300 acres. Because he owned so much land, the area became known as Palmer's Corners. The nearby area, Nunda Township, was even named after his hometown.
In 1850, Palmer was chosen as a Judge of Elections for the township. He helped combine his land with the nearby Village of Crystal Lake. This created the City of Crystal Lake as we know it today.
The Palmer House and His Legacy
Colonel Palmer also helped start the Nunda Masonic Lodge in 1855. His house was built in 1858. A local architect named Andrew Jackson Simon designed it. When the Masonic lodge building burned down in 1868, Palmer's house became a temporary meeting place.
Colonel Palmer passed away in 1884. His house is now home to the Crystal Lake Historical Society. It serves as a museum, teaching visitors about the area's history.
What Does the House Look Like?
A Mix of Styles
The Col. Gustavus A. Palmer House was built around 1858. Andrew Jackson Simon, who was a stonemason and architect, built it. The house mixes different popular building styles. It mainly shows influences from Neoclassicism, which is a style inspired by ancient Greek and Roman buildings.
Outside the House
The house is made of brick. It has a two-story front part and a one-and-a-half-story back part. It shows elements of the Federal Style, which was popular in early America. For example, it has a low-sloping roof and a special triangular shape above the main entrance called a pediment. This pediment has decorative tooth-like blocks called dentils.
The main entrance is not in the very center of the house. The windows are large. You can also see influences from the Greek Revival style. This is seen in the heavy stone sills and the stone pieces above the doors and windows, called lintels. The bottom part of the house, called the foundation, is made of cobblestone masonry. On the west side, there is an open porch.
The house has many windows, about thirty in total. They let in lots of light.
Inside the House
Inside, the walls are made of plaster. The floors are made of strong southern yellow pine wood. Interestingly, the house does not have any fireplaces.
The first floor has a common layout called a "sidehall" style. It has two large rooms, each with a smaller room inside. The main entrance and the staircase are on the south side. The back of the house gives access to the attic and the basement. The second floor has a different layout, with five rooms and a closet.
