Thomas A. Beach House facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Thomas A. Beach House
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 Location in Illinois
Location in the United States
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| Location | 402 E. Hickory St., Fairbury, Illinois |
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| Area | 1.5 acres (0.61 ha) |
| Built | 1872 |
| Architect | Thomas A. Beach (builder), T.D. George (mason) |
| Architectural style | Italianate |
| NRHP reference No. | 83000324 |
| Added to NRHP | July 28, 1983 |
The Thomas A. Beach House is a special old house in Fairbury, Illinois. It was built in 1872 and is a great example of a building style called Italianate architecture. This house is so important that it was added to the U.S. National Register of Historic Places in 1983.
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What is the Thomas A. Beach House?
The Thomas A. Beach House is a two-story building made of brick. It has a basement and a tall tower in the middle. This house is a really good example of the Italianate style. It has many features that make it stand out.
Cool Features of the House
The house has a central tower, which is a key part of the Italianate style. It also has double brackets under the roof edges, which are decorative supports. The roof hangs out quite a bit, and the windows are long and thin. All these details make the house look very Italianate.
The house still looks much like it did when it was first built. A garage was added in 1951 at the back, but there haven't been many other big changes.
Similar Houses
The Beach House looks a bit like the Morse-Libby House in Portland, Maine. It's also similar to the Fugate House in Fairbury. Interestingly, the same person, T.D. George, was the mason (bricklayer) for both the Beach House and the Fugate House.
Who Lived in the House?
The Thomas A. Beach House was built by Thomas A. Beach himself in 1872. He lived there until he passed away in 1911. The front part of the house was finished in 1872. The back part was added later, in 1886. A front porch was also added around 1900.
After Thomas Beach died, his granddaughter, Alma Lewis James, lived in the house. She was a local writer and historian. The house stayed in the Beach family until 1981.
Why is This House Important?
The Thomas A. Beach House is important for two main reasons: its amazing architecture and its connection to Fairbury's history.
Architectural Importance
Because it's such a great example of Italianate architecture, the Beach House is often compared to other famous Italianate buildings. Many of its design elements show how well it was built. For example, its brick walls are triple thick, with air spaces inside to help keep the house warm or cool.
Historical Importance
The Beach family was very important in Fairbury. They helped shape the town's politics and economy. Thomas Beach was a local banker and was involved in the town government and schools. His granddaughter, Alma Lewis James, wrote books about family history and a history of Fairbury itself.
Because of its beautiful architecture and the Beach family's contributions to Fairbury, the Thomas A. Beach House was added to the U.S. National Register of Historic Places on July 28, 1983.
Images for kids
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This plaque shows why the house is important enough to be on the National Register of Historic Places.
