Pettengill–Morron House facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Pettengill–Morron House
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 Location in Peoria County, Illinois
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| Location | 1212 W. Moss Ave. Peoria, Peoria County, Illinois |
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| Area | less than one acre |
| Built | 1868 |
| Architect | Charles Ulricson |
| Architectural style | Second Empire |
| NRHP reference No. | 76000724 |
| Added to NRHP | April 2, 1976 |
The Pettengill–Morron House, also known as the Morron House, is a really old and beautiful house in Peoria, Illinois. It's built in a special style called Second Empire. You can find it in the historic Moss-High neighborhood.
This house is so important that it's listed on the National Register of Historic Places. It's also a special historic landmark for the city of Peoria. Today, the Peoria Historical Society runs it as a museum. You can visit and learn about its past!
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The House's History
The house was first built in 1868. It was for a man named Moses Pettengill. He owned a hardware store. Moses moved to Peoria from New Hampshire in 1833.
When Moses arrived, Peoria was very small. There were only about 150 people. Most homes were log cabins. Moses and his wife Lucy lived in a different house at first. That was from 1836 to 1862. Their first home was where the Peoria Civic Center is now.
Building the Morron House
The first house on this spot was built in 1862. It cost $5,000 to build. Sadly, this house was destroyed by a fire. The fire happened on December 13, 1865.
A new brick house was built in 1868. This new house cost $12,000. It was built in the Second Empire style. Later, in 1900, a new porch was added. It was in the Colonial Revival style. A porte-cochere was also added. This is a covered entrance for carriages.
The house's original address was 464 Moss Avenue. Peoria changed its addresses in the 1950s. The last person to live in the house was Miss Jean Morron. She lived there from 1953 until she passed away in 1966. The Peoria Historical Society bought the house in 1967.
Why This House Is Important
The Pettengill–Morron House is a very important historical site. It was added to the U.S. National Register of Historic Places on April 2, 1976. This list helps protect important places.
The house is also part of the West Bluff Historic District. This whole district was added to the National Register in December 1976. In December 2021, the house became a City of Peoria Local Historic Landmark. This means the city also recognizes its special history.
In 2020, the house received a grant. This money came from Landmarks Illinois. It helped pay for important repairs.
The House as a Museum
The Peoria Historical Society takes care of this house. They also manage the Judge Flanagan Residence. Both are now historic house museums. This means you can visit them.
The museum has many old items. These are from the Pettengill family. Moses Pettengill's relative, Daisy Peirce Hale, donated them. The collection includes old paintings. These paintings were fixed up and are now in the museum. There is also a diary from Blanchard Pettengill. It tells about his life growing up in the house. Other family records are also on display.
