H. C. Pitney Variety Store Building facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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H.C. Pitney Variety Store Building
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U.S. Historic district
Contributing property |
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| Location | Tampico, Whiteside County, Illinois |
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| Built | 1900 |
| Part of | Main Street Historic District (Tampico, Illinois) (ID882002602) |
| Added to NRHP | June 3, 1982 |
The H.C. Pitney Variety Store Building is an old shop building in downtown Tampico, Illinois. It was built in 1900. This building is special because the family of Ronald Reagan, who later became the 40th U.S. President, lived here.
From 1919 to 1920, the Reagan family lived in the apartment above the store. The building is now part of the Tampico Main Street Historic District. This district was added to the U.S. National Register of Historic Places in 1982. Being on this list means it's an important historical place.
A Look Back: The Store's History
This building was built in 1900 by a person named Ray McKenzie. It had two shop fronts. The H.C. Pitney Variety Store was like a general store that sold many different things. It operated in this building from 1911 to 1920.
H.C. Pitney owned the store from 1911 to 1914. During this time, he hired Jack Reagan as a clerk. Jack Reagan was Ronald Reagan's father. While Jack worked there, Ronald Reagan was born in an apartment across the street. After Pitney sold the store in 1914, the Reagan family left Tampico.
In 1919, H.C. Pitney bought the store back. Jack Reagan also returned to work for him. On August 25, 1919, the Reagan family moved into the apartment above the store. They lived there until December 1920. After the store closed, the Reagans moved to Dixon, Illinois.
Building Design and Features
The H.C. Pitney Variety Store building is made of brick. It has two floors. It stands connected to the building next to it, forming a block of shops. The Pitney Store building was built in 1900. The building next to it was built a year earlier.
The building has a metal cornice, which is a decorative ledge at the top. It also has two storefronts. The windows on the building are flat at the top. They have stone lintels (supports above the windows) and sills (ledges below the windows). The original shop fronts are still there. However, the old windows have been covered up and painted.
Why This Building Is Important
The H.C. Pitney Variety Store building is important because of its connection to Ronald Reagan. His family lived in the apartment on the second floor from August 1919 to December 1920.
Because of this history, the building was listed as a "significant" part of the Tampico Main Street Historic District. It joined the U.S. National Register of Historic Places on June 3, 1982. This means it's recognized as a valuable historical site.
