William H. Roberts House facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
|
|
William H. Roberts House
|
|
 |
|
 Location in Illinois
Location in the United States
|
|
| Location | 523 Main St., Pecatonica, Illinois |
|---|---|
| Area | less than one acre |
| Built | 1883 |
| Architect | Winchester, John; Hebard, Henry |
| Architectural style | Italianate, Queen Anne, Gothic Revival |
| NRHP reference No. | 79000877 |
| Added to NRHP | September 6, 1979 |
The William H. Roberts House is a historic home in Pecatonica, Illinois. It was built in 1883 for Dr. William H. Roberts. This house is special because it mixes three different old building styles: Italianate, Queen Anne, and Gothic Revival. It was Dr. Roberts' home and his doctor's office. Today, it's the only building in Pecatonica listed on the National Register of Historic Places, which means it's a really important historical site in the United States.
Contents
A Look Back: The House's Story
The William H. Roberts House was built in 1883. It cost $3,240, which was a lot of money back then! People thought it was one of the nicest homes in Pecatonica. The house is on Main Street, close to Pecatonica's downtown area. This spot made it easy for Dr. Roberts to see his patients.
Dr. William H. Roberts was a physician and surgeon. He died at age 33 in 1886 after an illness. He was well-liked and respected in Pecatonica.
What Makes This House Special?
This two-story house was built in three parts: front, center, and back. The front part is covered with special pressed brick from Indiana. The other two parts use simpler brick. The windows and doors have fancy trim made from Joliet stone.
The Roberts House was built when building styles were changing. The Italianate and Gothic Revival styles were becoming less popular. The Queen Anne style was becoming very popular. This house shows parts of all three styles. It even has touches of the Eastlake style, which is a type of Queen Anne.
Italianate Style
The house mostly looks like the Italianate style. Its special round roofs and their decorative supports (called brackets) are Italianate. The way the house has different shapes and lines on its bay windows and porches is also Italianate. Even the round window in the attic shows this style.
Gothic Revival Style
When it was first built, the house had some Gothic Revival parts. This included the Joliet stone trim. It also had medieval-looking spears on the roof peaks. These spears have been taken off since then.
Queen Anne Style
The Queen Anne style parts of the house are influenced by the Eastlake style. These include the fancy iron fences, which have cool geometric shapes and swirls. The main front door has etched and frosted glass. There are also carved flowers on the porch and bay windows. The thin wooden poles (spindles) along the porch rails are also Queen Anne. The iron fences, especially, show the medieval look of the Eastlake style.
Why Is This House Important?
The William H. Roberts House is the only home in Pecatonica from the 1880s that has been identified as historically important. Before 1900, not many fancy homes were built in the village. In 1974, the Illinois Historic Sites Survey said the house was important for its architecture. They called it a "substantial Italianate residence."
The Roberts House was added to the United States National Register of Historic Places on September 6, 1979. It is still the only property in Pecatonica on this important list.
