George and Elsie Mattis House facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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George and Elsie Mattis House
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 Location in Illinois
Location in the United States
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| Location | 900 W. Park Ave., Champaign, Illinois |
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| Built | 1926 |
| Architect | George Ramey |
| Architectural style | Georgian Revival |
| NRHP reference No. | 10000993 |
| Added to NRHP | December 7, 2010 |
The George and Elsie Mattis House is a special historic home located at 900 West Park Avenue in Champaign. It's known for its beautiful design and interesting past. This house was built in 1926, but it has a secret: it was constructed around an even older house from 1893! Even though it used parts of the old house, the new design was so big that it became a completely new building.
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A Look at the Mattis House
The George and Elsie Mattis House is a great example of Georgian Revival style. This style was popular in the 1920s and looks back to grand homes from the 1700s in England.
Who Designed and Built It?
A well-known local architect named George Ramey designed this house. He was very good at creating impressive buildings. The house was built by a company called the English Brothers. They were famous for building many important buildings, like schools and businesses, all over Illinois.
Special Features of the House
The Mattis House is a two-story building made of brick. It has several cool architectural details:
- Quoins: These are special stone blocks that stick out a little at the corners of the house. They make the building look strong and fancy.
- Belt Course: You'll see a band of limestone that goes all the way around the house between the first and second floors. It's like a decorative belt!
- Front Entrance: The main door is very grand. It has flat columns, called pilasters, on each side. Above the door is a decorative section called an entablature. This part includes fancy carvings like an egg-and-dart cornice, which looks like eggs and arrows.
- Roof Details: The house has a sloped roof, called a hip roof, made of slate. From the roof, you can see special windows called dormers. These dormers have triangular tops, known as pediments, which add to the house's classic look.
A Place in History
The George and Elsie Mattis House is important because of its architecture and history. On December 7, 2010, it was officially added to the National Register of Historic Places. This is a list of places in the United States that are considered important to our country's history and should be protected. Being on this list means the house is recognized as a special part of American heritage.
