Paul W. Dillon Home facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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The Dillon Home
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The back of the Dillon Home
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| Location | Sterling, Illinois |
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| Built | 1857 |
| Architectural style | Italianate |
| NRHP reference No. | 80001417 |
| Added to NRHP | October 9, 1980 |
The Paul W. Dillon Home, also known as the Dillon Home, is a special old house in Sterling, Illinois. It used to be the home of a successful businessman named P.W. Dillon. He was the president of a big company called Northwestern Steel & Wire Company for many years. This historic home was added to the National Register of Historic Places on October 9, 1980. This means it's an important place worth protecting.
Contents
A Look Back: The Home's Story
Early Days and Design
The land where the Dillon Home stands had many owners over time. However, once the house was built, only seven owners have owned it. Six of those owners actually lived inside its walls.
The main part of this beautiful Victorian home was built in 1858. It was designed in the Italianate style. This style often features tall windows, wide eaves, and decorative brackets.
The Dillon Family Moves In
The home was eventually bought by Washington M. Dillon. After he passed away, the house went to his son, P.W. Dillon. This became P.W.'s childhood home.
In 1904, P.W. married Lucretia Blackman Dillon, who was often called Crete. They raised their three children in this very house. As their family grew, they made some changes to the home.
Changes and Special Features
P.W. replaced a small, open porch on the south side of the house. He built a much larger, enclosed two-story porch there. The porch on the northeast side was also enclosed.
The only other big change to the house was an elevator. It was put in during 1972. The home looks very grand because Crete, P.W.'s wife, loved to travel. She collected many unique items and old-fashioned furniture from different time periods.
Becoming a Museum
P.W. and Crete lived in the home for 50 years. Crete passed away in 1970. Ten years later, P.W. passed away in the same house where he was born.
What makes the Dillon Home special as a museum is that it still has all its original furniture and belongings. After P.W. passed away in 1980, the home and land were given to the Sterling Park District.
The Dillon Home opened to the public as a museum on November 18, 1980. Visitors can now explore the house and see how the Dillon family lived.
The Steam Engine Display
The year after the home opened, something exciting was added to the south lawn. A large train engine, called Baldwin Steam Engine #73, was moved there. It came with a tender (which carries fuel and water) and a caboose (the last car on a freight train).
This engine used to work at the Northwestern Steel & Wire company. It was the very last working steam engine in the United States used in a factory setting before it was retired. It's a cool piece of history to see at the Dillon Home.
