Old Stone Hotel facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Old Stone hotel
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 Location in Illinois
Location in the United States
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| Location | 110 W. Main St., Warren, Illinois |
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| Area | 1 acre (0.40 ha) |
| Built | 1851 |
| Architect | F. Tisdall (builder) |
| Architectural style | early Georgian style/Federal style |
| NRHP reference No. | 75000665 |
| Added to NRHP | April 16, 1975 |
The Old Stone Hotel is a historic building in Warren, Illinois. It was built way back in 1851! People also know it as the Warren Community Building or the Warren House Hotel. This special building started its life as a stagecoach station. Imagine a time before cars, when people traveled by horse-drawn coaches!
The hotel was built near where two important stagecoach paths crossed. These paths were close to the border between Illinois and Wisconsin. Because of its history, the Old Stone Hotel was added to the U.S. National Register of Historic Places in 1975. This means it's a very important historical site!
History of the Old Stone Hotel
The Old Stone Hotel, also called the Warren House Hotel, was built in 1851. A builder named F. Tisdall created this important stagecoach station. Even today, the building looks much like it did long ago. It even has a white picket fence around it, just like in the old days.
When the hotel was built, two major stagecoach routes met near Warren. One was the Chicago-Galena Trail. The other was the Sucker Trail. This trail went all the way from St. Louis to Wiota, Wisconsin. People used it to reach lead mining areas.
Building Design and Style
The Old Stone Hotel was built in an early Georgian style. This is a type of architecture that was popular a long time ago. The building is made from big blocks of limestone. Its outside look has not changed much from when it was first built.
Inside, some parts have been updated. For example, the east side of the first floor was changed into a large ballroom. But many other parts of the first floor still look original. Upstairs, there is an apartment for the building's caretaker. This used to be where the station owner lived when it was a stagecoach stop. The old ballroom on the third floor is now used as offices for the village government.
Why the Hotel is Important
The Old Stone Hotel was a very important stop for travelers. It was located right where two major stagecoach routes met. Many famous people stayed there, including Ulysses S. Grant. He later became a U.S. President and lived nearby in Galena. He visited the hotel many times!
In recent years, the building was fixed up and is now used as the Warren Community Building. On April 16, 1975, the U.S. National Register of Historic Places officially listed the Old Stone Hotel. This means it is recognized as a special place in American history.
