Morris Downtown Commercial Historic District facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Morris Downtown Commercial Historic District
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| Location | Liberty St., roughly bounded by the RR, Illinois St., Fulton and Wauponsee Sts and Franklin, Morris, Illinois |
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| Area | 24 acres (9.7 ha) |
| Built | 1911 |
| NRHP reference No. | 05001603 |
| Added to NRHP | January 31, 2006 |
The Morris Downtown Commercial Historic District is a special area in downtown Morris, Illinois. It is a collection of old buildings that are important to the town's history. This district includes 116 buildings and one monument. Most of these, 105, are commercial buildings, meaning they were used for businesses. Out of these, 87 are considered "contributing properties." This means they help show the historical importance of the district.
Contents
Morris's Early Days
The historic district tells the story of Morris, Illinois as a "canal town." A canal town is a place that grew because of a canal. Morris was built along the Illinois and Michigan Canal. This canal was a waterway that helped transport goods and people.
How Morris Got Started
The town was named after Isaac N. Morris, who was in charge of the canal. Morris became the main town, or county seat, for Grundy County in 1841. A year later, the town's layout was officially planned.
Growth and Transportation
The first buildings in the district were built in the 1850s. This was soon after the canal was finished. Later, the Chicago, Rock Island & Pacific Railroad also came to Morris. This happened in 1848 and 1853. With both the canal and the railroad, Morris became a very important place for transportation.
Early Businesses in Morris
Businesses started to grow north of the canal. They were mainly along Illinois (which was first called Canal Street) and Washington Streets. Here, you could find places like livery stables for horses, blacksmiths who worked with metal, and shops that made harnesses. Lyman Ray, who later became a high-ranking official in Illinois, opened the town's first dry goods store.
Becoming a Historic Place
The Morris Downtown Commercial Historic District was added to the National Register of Historic Places on January 31, 2006. This means it is officially recognized for its historical value.
Buildings and Styles
The buildings in the Morris Downtown Commercial Historic District are mostly made of brick or sandstone. They are generally similar in size. This gives the downtown area a look that is common for a small town business district.
Architectural Styles You Can See
The buildings show many different ways of building and decorating. These are called architectural styles. Some of the styles you can see include:
- Commercial
- Italianate
- Queen Anne
- Classical Revival
- Renaissance Revival
- Tudor Revival
Important Public Buildings
The district also has two important government buildings. These are the Grundy County Courthouse and the Morris Post Office. There is also an old station for an interurban railway. This was a type of electric train that connected towns.
