Owen Lovejoy House facts for kids
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Owen Lovejoy Homestead
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Owen Lovejoy Homestead, c. 1905
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 Location in Illinois
Location in the United States
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| Location | Peru St. (U.S. Route 6), Princeton, Illinois |
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| Built | 1838 |
| NRHP reference No. | 73000690 |
Quick facts for kids Significant dates |
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| Added to NRHP | May 24, 1973 |
| Designated NHL | February 18, 1997 |
The Owen Lovejoy House is a special historic house museum located on East Peru Street in Princeton, Illinois. It was built in 1838. For many years, it was the home of Owen Lovejoy (1811–1864). He was a very important abolitionist and a congressman. An abolitionist was someone who worked to end slavery. A congressman is a person elected to make laws for the country.
Owen Lovejoy was the brother of Elijah Lovejoy, another abolitionist who was killed for his beliefs. Owen Lovejoy openly helped people escape slavery through the Underground Railroad. This was a secret network of safe houses and routes. His house even has a hidden room where people escaping slavery could hide. In 1997, the house was named a National Historic Landmark. This means it is a place of great historical importance to the United States. You can visit the house for tours during certain times of the year or by making an appointment.
Contents
The Owen Lovejoy House: A Secret Stop on the Underground Railroad
What Makes This House Special?
The Owen Lovejoy House is on the edge of Princeton, Illinois. It is a one-and-a-half-story house made of wood. It has a sloped roof and a style called Greek Revival. A porch with a sloped roof covers the front left side of the house. This porch also wraps around to the left side.
At the back of the house, there is a section that sticks out. On the second floor, there is a secret attic space. People believe this space was used to hide people escaping slavery. It is a triangular room along the back of the main house. The way the walls are built around the back staircase hides this room. It seems like the space was built this way on purpose. It would not be easy to use it for regular storage.
Owen Lovejoy: A Champion for Freedom
The main part of the house was built in 1835 by Butler Denham. He bought the land here the year before. The house was made bigger soon after, and again around 1850. Butler Denham was from Massachusetts and worked as a farmer. He died in 1841.
His wife, Eunice, later married Owen Lovejoy. Owen Lovejoy was a strong abolitionist lawyer from Maine. He was very important in organizing efforts to end slavery in Illinois. He also helped start the state Republican Party in 1854 with Abraham Lincoln. Lovejoy was known for openly talking about how he helped people escape slavery. He gave speeches about it to the public and even in the United States Congress.
From Home to Museum
The Lovejoy family owned the house until 1931. Then, a couple bought it. They tried to fix it up and open it as a museum. But their efforts did not work out, and the house started to fall apart.
The city of Princeton bought the house in 1971. Over the next year, it was greatly repaired and restored. Since then, the city has operated it as a history museum. It helps people learn about Owen Lovejoy and the important role his home played in the fight against slavery.
See also
