East Rockford Historic District facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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East Rockford Historic District
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The Romanesque Old Y.M.C.A. Building
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| Location | U.S. 20 and U.S. 51, Rockford, Illinois |
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| Area | 6.8 acres (2.8 ha) |
| Built | 1855 |
| Architect | Multiple |
| Architectural style | Classical Revival, Late Victorian, Italianate |
| NRHP reference No. | 80001422 |
| Added to NRHP | March 20, 1980 |
The East Rockford Historic District is a special part of Rockford, Illinois, United States. It's a historic commercial area, which means it was once a busy place for businesses and shops. Many old and important buildings are found here. This district shows how Rockford grew and changed over many years.
Contents
A Look Back at Rockford's Beginnings
Rockford, Illinois, was first settled around 1834. As the town grew, the east side of the Rock River became a lively business area. This is where the first post office and hotels were built.
State Street, which runs through the district, became a very important road. It connected Rockford to other towns like Belvidere and Galena.
Early Growth and the Railroad
In 1852, the first bridge in Rockford was built on State Street, crossing the river. This was the only bridge until 1890. Also in 1852, the Galena and Chicago Union Railroad reached the east side of Rockford. The train tracks were built along the river. This train line helped the area's economy grow a lot.
By 1860, State Street was full of businesses from the train tracks all the way to Second Street. One building from this time, at 324–30 East State Street, is still mostly the same today.
Building Booms and Slowdowns
After the American Civil War and a tough economic time called the Panic of 1873, building slowed down for about twenty years. But things got better in the late 1870s. This led to the construction of the Nash–Superior–Van Zandt Block.
In 1889, State Street was paved, which brought another wave of new buildings. These included a building for the YMCA and the Germania Hall. The beautiful, Romanesque Revival YMCA building was a major landmark on the east side for many years.
Another economic slowdown, the Panic of 1893, again slowed down new construction. After this, much of Rockford's new development happened on the west side of town.
New Landmarks in the 20th Century
Rockford's first City Hall was started in 1904 and finished three years later. The Rockford Wholesale Grocery Building, built in 1909, was another important east side building from this time.
In 1911, the YMCA building became the East Side Inn, which stayed open until the 1970s. The 1920s, known as the Roaring Twenties, brought another period of growth for the district. Many important buildings were constructed during this time.
Just before this period, the Midway Theater opened on the east side in 1918. It was designed by J. E. O. Pridmore and featured a tall tower. The Manufacturer's National Bank, standing 95-foot (29 m) tall, was built in 1925. The even taller Faust Hotel, at 175-foot (53 m), was completed in 1927. The last major building in the district was the Morning Star Newspaper Building, which also had a seven-story tower.
Important Buildings in the District
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Many buildings in the East Rockford Historic District are important because of their history and architecture. They help tell the story of the area. Here are some of them:
- Rockford Wholesale Grocery Building, built in 1909
- Morning Star Newspaper Building, built in 1932
- Old Y.M.C.A. Building, built in 1889
- Germania Hall, built in 1890
- 324–30 East State Street, built around 1855-60
- Old City Hall, built in 1907
- Nash–Superior–Van Zandt Block, built in 1879
- Manufacturer's National Bank, built in 1925
- Shumway Market, built around 1920
- Midway Theater, built in 1918
- Faust Hotel, built in 1927
