Henry D. Barber House facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Henry D. Barber House
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The Henry D. Barber House in Polo, Illinois.
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 Location in Illinois
Location in the United States
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| Location | 410 W. Mason St., Polo, Illinois |
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| Area | 0.7 acres (0.28 ha) |
| Built | 1891 |
| Architect | Joseph Lyman Silsbee |
| Architectural style | Classical Revival/Romanesque Revival |
| NRHP reference No. | 74000770 |
| Added to NRHP | March 28, 1974 |
The Henry D. Barber House is a special historic home located in Polo, Illinois. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in March 1974. This means it's an important building that is protected for its history. A famous architect named Joseph Lyman Silsbee designed this house. He was a well-known architect from Chicago. He even taught another famous architect, Frank Lloyd Wright! The house was built for Henry D. Barber, who was an important banker in Polo. Some people also call it Silsbee's Barber Mansion.
The house still has many of its original features. For example, it has a beautiful glass mosaic fireplace. This fireplace was designed by Louis Tiffany, a very famous artist. The main entrance, called the foyer, has solid old wood columns. These columns are decorated with hand-carved details. The windows in the house are also very special. They were designed by Silsbee himself. These windows have unique intersecting circles made from solid wood and individual glass panes.
Outside, there is a special part of the porch called a carriage deck. This part of the porch was extended. It made it easy for people to get in and out of carriages or onto horses. The property also has two cisterns and a well. These were used to collect and store water for the house. Inside, each of the eight fireplaces has a unique hand-carved mantel. They also have detailed cast iron inserts. Every room, even the closets, has working radiators. These radiators are very decorative and are original to the house. The Silsbee's Barber Mansion was custom-designed for Henry Barber. It is truly one of a kind. This house was the first building designed by Silsbee to be placed on the National Register of Historic Places.
House Design and Style
The Henry D. Barber House was built around 1891. It had a few small changes made in 1899. The house is made of brick and limestone. It was designed in the Classical Revival style. This style often uses ideas from ancient Greek and Roman buildings. The famous Chicago architect Joseph Lyman Silsbee created its design.
Why This House Is Important
The Henry D. Barber House was added to the National Register of Historic Places on March 28, 1974. It was recognized for its importance in architecture. Joseph Lyman Silsbee was a very important architect. He designed many buildings in Chicago. These include the Lincoln Park Conservatory. He also designed the inside of the 'Palmer Castle'. This was the home of Bertha and Potter Palmer in Chicago. The Henry D. Barber House shows Silsbee's amazing design skills.
Silsbee's Barber Mansion
