Matthew T. Scott House facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Matthew T. Scott House
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 Location in Illinois
Location in the United States
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| Location | 227 1st Ave., Chenoa, Illinois |
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| Area | less than one acre |
| Built | 1855- 1st part, 1863 2nd part |
| Architectural style | Colonial Revival |
| NRHP reference No. | 83000331 |
| Added to NRHP | February 10, 1983 |
The Matthew T. Scott House is a special old house in Chenoa, Illinois. It was once home to Matthew T. Scott, who founded Chenoa, and his wife, Julia Green.
The house was built in two main parts. The first part was finished in 1855. It was a simple "I-House" style building. This section was used as living space for the caretakers. The front part of the house was added later in 1863. This section was built in the "Georgian" style. Today, the house has several rooms decorated to look like they did long ago. It also has a special room for the Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR) and a Chenoa history room. This house is important because it shows us what homes were like in that time period.
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History of the Matthew T. Scott House
The Matthew T. Scott House has a rich history. It was home to important people.
Julia Green Scott: A Woman of Influence
Julia Green Scott was Matthew T. Scott's wife. After her husband passed away, she became a successful landowner. She also helped start the Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR). The DAR is a group for women whose ancestors helped gain American independence. Julia Green Scott later became the President General of the DAR. This was a very important leadership role.
Famous Visitors and Family Connections
Julia Green Scott's sister, Letitia Green, married Adlai E. Stevenson I in this very house in 1866. Adlai Stevenson was a lawyer who traveled a lot for his work. He later became a member of Congress. He also served as the Postmaster General for President Grover Cleveland. This job meant he was in charge of the country's mail system. Later, he became the 23rd Vice President of the United States. He served during President Grover Cleveland's second term.
Adlai Stevenson and his cousin, James Stevenson Ewing, often visited the house. James Ewing was a U.S. minister to Belgium. Adlai Stevenson and Letitia Green fell in love at the house. They got married there in 1866. Their first child, Lewis Green Stevenson, was also born in the house in 1868.
Preserving a Piece of History
Years later, Mrs. Elizabeth Stevenson Ives bought the house. She was a great-niece of Matthew T. Scott. She worked to restore the house to its original beauty. The house was officially added to the U.S. National Register of Historic Places on February 10, 1983. This means it is recognized as an important historical site. You can find the Scott House on 1st Avenue in Chenoa, Illinois, in McLean County, Illinois.
