North Geneva Historic District

Last updated
North Geneva Historic District
North Geneva HD.JPG
A house in the North Geneva Historic District
USA Illinois location map.svg
Red pog.svg
Usa edcp location map.svg
Red pog.svg
LocationRoughly bounded by railroad tracks, Fox River, Stevens and W. State Sts., Geneva, Illinois
Coordinates 41°53′23″N88°18′30″W / 41.88972°N 88.30833°W / 41.88972; -88.30833 Coordinates: 41°53′23″N88°18′30″W / 41.88972°N 88.30833°W / 41.88972; -88.30833
Area72 acres (29 ha)
Architectural style Greek Revival, Italianate, Prairie School
NRHP reference # 82002549 [1]  (original)
16000898  (increase)
Significant dates
Added to NRHPAugust 1, 1979
Boundary increaseJuly 10, 2017

The North Geneva Historic District is a set of 161 buildings and structures in Geneva, Illinois. Of those, 150 contribute to the district's historical integrity. The district was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1979, and was slightly enlarged in 2017.

Geneva, Illinois City in Illinois, United States

Geneva is a city in and the county seat of Kane County, Illinois, United States. It is located on the western side of the Chicago suburbs.

Illinois State of the United States of America

Illinois is a state in the Midwestern and Great Lakes region of the United States. It has the fifth largest gross domestic product (GDP), the sixth largest population, and the 25th largest land area of all U.S. states. Illinois is often noted as a microcosm of the entire United States. With Chicago in northeastern Illinois, small industrial cities and immense agricultural productivity in the north and center of the state, and natural resources such as coal, timber, and petroleum in the south, Illinois has a diverse economic base, and is a major transportation hub. Chicagoland, Chicago's metropolitan area, encompasses over 65% of the state's population. The Port of Chicago connects the state to international ports via two main routes: from the Great Lakes, via the Saint Lawrence Seaway, to the Atlantic Ocean and from the Great Lakes to the Mississippi River, via the Illinois Waterway to the Illinois River. The Mississippi River, the Ohio River, and the Wabash River form parts of the boundaries of Illinois. For decades, Chicago's O'Hare International Airport has been ranked as one of the world's busiest airports. Illinois has long had a reputation as a bellwether both in social and cultural terms and, through the 1980s, in politics.

National Register of Historic Places federal list of historic sites in the United States

The National Register of Historic Places (NRHP) is the United States federal government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects deemed worthy of preservation for their historical significance. A property listed in the National Register, or located within a National Register Historic District, may qualify for tax incentives derived from the total value of expenses incurred preserving the property.

Contents

History

Location of the North Geneva Historic District (blue outline) within Geneva. The adjacent Central Geneva Historic District is outlined in green to the south, partially sharing a border north of W. State St. CentralGenevaHD.PNG
Location of the North Geneva Historic District (blue outline) within Geneva. The adjacent Central Geneva Historic District is outlined in green to the south, partially sharing a border north of W. State St.

The North Geneva Historic District reflects the northern portion of the original settlement, which was home to many prominent early Geneva businessmen as well as the working class. It consists of the area known as the First Ward, roughly bounded by Stevens Street, the (modern day) Union Pacific Railroad on the west, W. State Street to the south, and the Fox River to the east. The west and east sides of the district exhibit architectural similarities. The district is representative of the socioeconomic status of the original settlers. The First Ward was platted in a gridiron pattern with blocks of 300 square feet (28 m2), divided into ten lots of 60 by 100 feet (18 m × 30 m). Lots along the Fox River differ in shape and size. Working-class homes are moderately-sized and stylistically conservative. Most are of frame construction. Oscar and August Wilson were among the more prominent local architects, who admired Frank Lloyd Wright and incorporated Prairie School elements into their otherwise vernacular buildings. 62 of the 150 notable structures are considered to have particular historical or architectural significance. Three of Geneva's first five churches are located in the district. The district was added to the National Register of Historic Places on August 1, 1979. [2]

Union Pacific Railroad Class I railroad in the United States

Union Pacific Railroad is a freight hauling railroad that operates 8,500 locomotives over 32,100 route-miles in 23 states west of Chicago and New Orleans. The Union Pacific Railroad system is the second largest in the United States after the BNSF Railway and is one of the world's largest transportation companies. The Union Pacific Railroad is the principal operating company of the Union Pacific Corporation ; both are headquartered in Omaha, Nebraska.

Fox River (Illinois River tributary) tributary of the Illinois River

The Fox River is a 202-mile-long (325 km) tributary of the Illinois River, flowing from southeastern Wisconsin to Ottawa, Illinois in the United States. The Wisconsin section was known as the Pishtaka River in the 19th century. There are two other "Fox Rivers" in southern Illinois: the Fox River and a smaller "Fox River" that joins the Wabash River near New Harmony, Indiana.

Frank Lloyd Wright American architect

Frank Lloyd Wright was an American architect, interior designer, writer, and educator, who designed more than 1,000 structures, 532 of which were completed. Wright believed in designing structures that were in harmony with humanity and its environment, a philosophy he called organic architecture. This philosophy was best exemplified by Fallingwater (1935), which has been called "the best all-time work of American architecture". His creative period spanned more than 70 years.

Notable properties

The nomination form for the historic district singles out several properties that are particularly representative of mid- to late- 19th century architectural styles. [2]

Prairie School architectural style

Prairie School is a late 19th- and early 20th-century architectural style, most common to the Midwestern United States. The style is usually marked by horizontal lines, flat or hipped roofs with broad overhanging eaves, windows grouped in horizontal bands, integration with the landscape, solid construction, craftsmanship, and discipline in the use of ornament. Horizontal lines were thought to evoke and relate to the wide, flat, treeless expanses of America's native prairie landscape.

Related Research Articles

Frank Lloyd Wright–Prairie School of Architecture Historic District human settlement in Oak Park, Illinois, United States of America

The Frank Lloyd Wright/Prairie School of Architecture Historic District is a residential neighborhood in the Cook County, Illinois village of Oak Park, United States. The Frank Lloyd Wright Historic District is both a federally designated historic district listed on the U.S. National Register of Historic Places and a local historic district within the village of Oak Park. The districts have differing boundaries and contributing properties, over 80 of which were designed by Frank Lloyd Wright, widely regarded as the greatest American architect to have ever lived.

Heller House

The Isidore H. Heller House is a house located at 5132 South Woodlawn Avenue in the Hyde Park community area of Chicago in Cook County, Illinois, United States. The house was designed by American architect Frank Lloyd Wright. The design is credited as one of the turning points in Wright's shift to geometric, Prairie School architecture, which is defined by horizontal lines, flat or hipped roofs with broad overhanging eaves, windows grouped in horizontal bands, and an integration with the landscape, which is meant to evoke native Prairie surroundings.

Arden Park–East Boston Historic District human settlement in Detroit, Michigan, United States of America

The Arden Park–East Boston Historic District is a neighborhood in the City of Detroit, Michigan, bounded on the west by Woodward Avenue, on the north by East Boston Boulevard, on the east by Oakland Avenue, and on the south by Arden Park Boulevard. The area is immediately adjacent to the larger Boston-Edison Historic District, on the opposite side of Woodward Avenue, and is in close proximity to Atkinson Avenue. There are 92 homes in the district, all on East Boston and Arden Park Boulevards. Arden Park Boulevard and East Boston Boulevard feature prominent grassy medians with richly planted trees and flowers. The setbacks of the homes are deep, with oversized lots. The district was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1982.

Virginia Park Historic District

The Virginia Park Historic District is located on the north side of New Center, an area in Detroit, Michigan, along both sides of Virginia Park Street from Woodward Avenue to the John C. Lodge Freeway access road. The district was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1982.

Southport Historic District (Fairfield, Connecticut)

The Southport Historic District in the town of Fairfield, Connecticut is a 225-acre (91 ha) area historic district that was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1971. It preserves a portion of the modern neighborhood and former borough of Southport, Connecticut. Since the British burnt almost all of Southport's structures in 1779, there is only one home built prior to that date, the Meeker House at 824 Harbor Road, which survives.

Prospect Hill, New Haven

Prospect Hill is a neighborhood of the city of New Haven, Connecticut located in the north central portion of the city, directly north of Downtown New Haven. The neighborhood contains residences, institutional buildings of Albertus Magnus University and a portion of the main campus of Yale University, including the Science Hill area, the Hillhouse Avenue area and the Yale Peabody Museum. The City of New Haven defines the neighborhood to be the region bounded by the town of Hamden in the north, Winchester Avenue in the west, Munson Street/Hillside Place/Prospect Street in the southwest, Trumbull Street in the south, and Whitney Avenue in the east. Prospect Street is the main thoroughfare through the neighborhood.

Pleasant Street Historic District (Marlborough, Massachusetts)

The Pleasant Street Historic District is a predominantly residential historic district at 187—235 Pleasant Street in Marlborough, Massachusetts. It is a cohesive collection of 8 residences and one school building that are representative of upper class housing on large well-proportioned lots. The oldest house in the district was built c. 1865, the newest c. 1924. A number of 19th century houses were restyled during the 1920s. The Immaculate Conception School was built in 1961, and does not contribute to the area's historic significance. The district was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2001.

Wedgemere Historic District

The Wedgemere Historic District encompasses the largest single 19th-century residential development of Winchester, Massachusetts. It is one of the town's largest surviving 19th-century residential subdivisions, with a concentration of high-quality residences built between about 1890 and 1920. The district was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1989.

Historic districts in Meridian, Mississippi

There are nine historic districts in Meridian, Mississippi. Each of these districts is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. One district, Meridian Downtown Historic District, is a combination of two older districts, Meridian Urban Center Historic District and Union Station Historic District. Many architectural styles are present in the districts, most from the late 19th century and early 20th century, including Queen Anne, Colonial Revival, Italianate, Art Deco, Late Victorian, and Bungalow.

Buildings at 744–750 Broadway historic house

The buildings at 744–750 Broadway in Albany, New York, United States, sometimes known as Broadway Row, are four brick row houses on the northwest corner of the intersection with Wilson Street. They were built over a period of 40 years in the 19th century, using a variety of architectural styles reflecting the times they were built in. At that time the neighborhood, known as the Fifth Ward, was undergoing rapid expansion due to the Erie Canal and the city's subsequent industrialization.

Prairie Avenue thoroughfare in Chicago, United States

Prairie Avenue is a north–south street on the South Side of Chicago, which historically extended from 16th Street in the Near South Side community area of Chicago in Cook County, Illinois, United States, to the city's southern limits and beyond. The street has a rich history from its origins as a major trail for horseback riders and carriages. During the last three decades of the 19th century, a six-block section of the street served as the residence of many of Chicago's elite families and an additional four-block section was also known for grand homes. The upper six-block section includes part of the historic Prairie Avenue District, which was declared a Chicago Landmark and added to the National Register of Historic Places.

Fourth Ward Historic District

The Fourth Ward Historic District encompasses an early urban residential subdivision of Greenwich, Connecticut. Extending north from United States Route 1 along Sherwood Place, Church Street, and adjacent streets, it is one of two subdivisions created before the arrival of the railroad in Greenwich in 1848. It is characterized by dense residential construction, with architectural styles from the Greek Revival to early 20th-century styles. The district was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2000.

Oak Circle Historic District

The Oak Circle Historic District is a historic district in Wilmette, Illinois, United States. The district covers 2.6 acres (0.011 km2) and includes twenty-two contributing properties and four non-contributing properties, all located along Oak Circle. It primarily consists of fifteen single-family homes representative of the Prairie School and Craftsman styles of architecture. The Oak Circle Historic District was added to the National Register of Historic Places on June 21, 2001; it was the first historic district to be designated in Wilmette.

College Square Historic District historic district in Davenport, Iowa

College Square Historic District is a nationally recognized historic district located on a bluff north of downtown Davenport, Iowa, United States. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1983. The district derives it name from two different colleges that were located here in the 19th century.

East 14th Street Historic District

The East 14th Street Historic District is a neighborhood located on the east side of Davenport, Iowa, United States. It has been listed on the National Register of Historic Places since 1983.

Prospect Avenue Historic District

The Prospect Avenue Historic District encompasses a predominantly residential area in western Hartford and eastern West Hartford, Connecticut. The 300-acre (120 ha) historic district extends along Prospect Avenue from Albany Avenue to Fern Street, including most of the area between those streets and the Park River to the east, and Sycamore Street and Sycamore Lane to the west. The district includes 240 contributing buildings and 48 non-contributing buildings, most of them residences built between 1880 and 1930. The district was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1985.

Oak Lane Historic District

The Oak Lane Historic District is located on the east side of Davenport, Iowa, United States. It has been listed on the National Register of Historic Places since 1984. The historic district is a residential area that stretches along Oak Lane between High Street on the north and East Locust Street on the south. There are 27 houses that make up the district. Twenty-three houses are located on Oak Lane and four are on Locust Street, the three immediately to the west of Oak Lane and one immediately to the east.

Elizabeth Place

Elizabeth Place, or the Henry Bond Fargo House, is a historic residence in Geneva, Illinois in the Mission Revival style. The house was owned by Henry Bond Fargo, a prominent local businessmen who brought several early industries to Geneva. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2008.

Central Geneva Historic District

The Central Geneva Historic District is a set of 102 buildings and structures in Geneva, Illinois. Of those, 68 contribute to the district's historical integrity. The district is representative of southern Geneva, south of Illinois Route 38. Among the noted buildings is the Kane County Courthouse and the Frank Lloyd Wright-designed P. D. Hoyt House. The district was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1979, and was enlarged in 2017.

Prospect Park Second Plat Historic District

The Prospect Park Second Plat Historic District is a nationally recognized historic district located in the north-central section of Des Moines, Iowa, United States. The residential area contained middle to upper class housing that was developed in the late 19th and early 20th centuries in the suburb of North Des Moines. It has been listed on the National Register of Historic Places since 1998. It is part of the Towards a Greater Des Moines MPS.

References

Commons-logo.svg Media related to North Geneva Historic District at Wikimedia Commons

  1. National Park Service (2009-03-13). "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places . National Park Service.
  2. 1 2 http://gis.hpa.state.il.us/pdfs/201310.pdf