John H. Addams Homestead facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
|
|
John H. Addams Homestead
|
|
 |
|
 Location in Illinois
Location in the United States
|
|
| Location | 425 N. Mill St., Cedarville, Illinois |
|---|---|
| Area | 5.5 acres (2.2 ha) |
| Built | 1846; 1854 |
| Architect | John H. Addams (builder) |
| Architectural style | Federal style |
| NRHP reference No. | 79000871 |
| Added to NRHP | April 17, 1979 |
The John H. Addams Homestead, also known as the Jane Addams Birthplace, is a historic home in Cedarville, Illinois. It's located in Stephenson County, in the United States. This property covers about 5.5 acres (2.2 hectares). It includes a house built in the 1840s in the Federal style. There's also a special type of barn called a Pennsylvania-style barn. You can also see parts of John H. Addams' old mill complex here.
John H. Addams built the house in two main parts, first in 1846 and then in 1854. He added a few small changes in the 1870s. The house was updated a lot in the 1950s to make it more modern. This homestead is important because of its connection to industry and politics. A very famous person, Jane Addams, was born in this house on September 6, 1860. She later won the Nobel Peace Prize.
History of the Addams Homestead
The John H. Addams Homestead is a 5.5-acre (2.2-hectare) property. It has the main house, a Pennsylvania-style bank barn, and what's left of the Addams Grist Mill. John H. Addams came to Stephenson County in 1845. He bought the Cedar Creek Mills from Mr. Van Valzah, who had owned the mill since 1837.
John H. Addams started building the brick house in 1846. It was designed in the Federal style. The smaller, northern part of the house was built first in 1846. Then, in 1854, he added the larger southern part. This new section included the main entrance in the middle. Addams made more changes in the 1870s. He added a chimney and a bay window to the southern part of the house. He also put a porch over the central front door.
In 1956, Thomas Ennenga bought the home. He made many modern updates to the house. The front porch was removed during this time. A gable-style dormer window was added to the roof. The porch at the back of the house was also replaced.
Building Styles and Features
The homestead also has a special barn and parts of Addams' old mill. The barn is a banked barn, which means it's built into a slope. It's about 60 feet (18 meters) long and 40 feet (12 meters) wide. The barn has three and a half stories. It's located to the east of the house.
A ramp leads into the south side of the barn. This ramp goes to the threshing floor inside. On the north side of the building, there's a part that sticks out, called a cantilevered forebay. Instead of regular windows, the barn has louvered vents. The whole building sits on a strong limestone foundation.
Most of Addams' grist mill is gone now. But you can still see some parts of it on the property. Along Cedar Creek, you can find the remains of the mill's limestone foundation. The old dam and the mill race (a channel for water) are also still there. The mill pond used to hold water, but it has dried up and is now a grassy area. The original mill building was four stories tall.
Why This Place Is Important
John H. Addams was a very important business leader and citizen in early Stephenson County. He owned a grist mill, which grinds grain into flour. He also had a saw mill for cutting wood and a linseed mill. His grist mill became one of the biggest in northern Illinois.
Besides his mills, Addams was involved in many other businesses. He held positions in banks and railroad companies. In 1867, he helped start the Mutual Fire Insurance Company. John H. Addams was also active in politics for much of his life. He was chosen as a delegate for the state constitutional convention several times. He also served as an Illinois State Senator.
His daughter, Jane Addams, was born in this house on September 6, 1860. Jane Addams later became famous for her work helping others. She won the Nobel Peace Prize for her efforts.
In the 1970s, the Illinois Historic Sites Survey recognized the house. They noted its importance as the birthplace of Jane Addams. The U.S. National Register of Historic Places also recognized the house. They added it to their list on April 17, 1979. They noted its importance to both industry and politics/government.
