Elijah P. Curtis House facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Elijah P. Curtis House
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 Location in Illinois
Location in the United States
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| Location | 405 Market St., Metropolis, Illinois |
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| Area | less than one acre |
| Built | 1870 |
| Built by | Fardell, Joseph Alexander |
| Architectural style | Classical Revival |
| NRHP reference No. | 78001172 |
| Added to NRHP | June 9, 1978 |
The Elijah P. Curtis House is a special old house in Metropolis, Illinois. It is located at 405 Market Street. This house was built in 1870 for a man named Elijah P. Curtis. It was designed in the Classical Revival style.
This historic house was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1978. Today, it is home to the Massac County Historical Museum. It is a great place to learn about the history of the area.
Who was Elijah P. Curtis?
Elijah P. Curtis was born in 1834. He moved to Massac County when he was young. Curtis became a lawyer in 1860. He worked as a lawyer before the Civil War began.
When the war started, Curtis helped organize a group of volunteer soldiers. These soldiers were the first Union regiment from Massac County. In 1863, Curtis was promoted to the rank of major. After the war ended, he continued his work as a lawyer.
Building the Historic House
Elijah P. Curtis had his house built in 1870. The builder was Joseph P. Farrell. Farrell was a local artist known for his excellent work. He built the house with great care.
The house has been kept in very good condition over the years. It was officially recognized as a historic place on June 9, 1978. This means it was added to the National Register of Historic Places. The Massac County Historical Society now owns the house. They use it as the Massac County Historical Museum.
What Does the House Look Like?
The Curtis House is a two-story building made of brick. It is designed in the Classical Revival style. This style often looks like ancient Greek or Roman buildings.
The front of the house has a large, two-story entrance porch. This porch is called a portico. It has tall, eight-sided columns that hold it up. Both the first and second floors of the porch have a fancy railing called a balustrade. The very top of the portico has a triangular shape called a pediment.
The main doors on both floors look the same. They have small windows above them, called transoms. They also have windows on the sides, called sidelights. Flat, decorative columns, called pilasters, stand next to the doors. On each side of the portico, there are two large windows on both floors. These windows have two sashes that slide up and down. Brick pilasters separate these windows.
Inside the house, the rooms are arranged in a balanced way. There are two main rooms on each floor. A central hallway and staircase connect everything.
