Lewis Steward House facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Lewis Steward House
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 Location in Illinois
Location in the United States
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| Location | 611 E. Main St., Plano, Illinois |
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| Area | 2 acres (0.81 ha) |
| Built | 1854 |
| Architectural style | Italianate |
| NRHP reference No. | 03001200 |
| Added to NRHP | November 28, 2003 |
The Lewis Steward House is a historic home located in Plano, Illinois. It was once the residence of Lewis Steward, a very important early settler in Kendall County. Steward was a co-founder of a big company called Marsh, Steward & Company. He also ran for a top job as the leader of Illinois and was elected to the United States House of Representatives, which is part of the U.S. government.
The Story of Lewis Steward
Lewis Steward was born in Wayne County, Pennsylvania. When he was a child, his family moved to Kendall County, Illinois. Lewis helped his father on their farm. Later, he started his own farm.
In 1862, Lewis Steward teamed up with C. W. and W. W. Marsh. They created a company called Marsh, Steward & Company. Together, they invented a special machine called a harvester. This machine helped farmers gather crops much faster.
Later, a man named William Deering bought their company. It then became part of a much larger company called International Harvester. Even after selling his part of the business, Steward stayed in Plano.
Lewis Steward was also interested in politics. In 1876, he ran to become the Governor of Illinois. This is the highest elected position in the state. He didn't win that election, but he continued to be active in business. He started a leather factory and a shoe factory in Plano.
In 1890, Steward ran for a seat in the United States House of Representatives. This is where laws are made for the whole country. He won and served one term. He tried to win the same seat in the next two elections but was not successful. Lewis Steward passed away on August 27, 1896.
What the House Looks Like
The Lewis Steward House was built in 1854. This was soon after Steward convinced the Chicago, Burlington & Quincy Railroad to build a train station in Plano. The property is about two acres in size. It sits at the corner of East Main and North East Streets.
The house is a one-story building made of wood. It is designed in the Italianate style. This style often features tall windows and decorative details. The house sits on a strong stone foundation.
Around 1875, two more sections were added to the house, on the east and west sides. These additions have brick foundations that are made to look like the original stone. The house also has a tall lower level, sometimes called a garden level.
The main front door has windows on either side. A small porch with a sloped roof covers the entrance. This porch has two posts with angled corners. The concrete steps leading to the porch are new. However, the wooden railings and the main posts at the ends of the railings are original.
Above the front door, there is a window with three sections. It has thick decorative frames around it. A part of the roof sticks out over the porch. Underneath this roof section, there is a window with two panes of glass. The lower level of the house has several windows that let light into the garden area. In 2012, Chet and Mary Kay Sergo bought the property. They opened it as The Homestead 1854 thehomestead1854.com. It is now a place for weddings, team building, and special events.
