{"nrhp_refnum":"80001408","name":"Miller, Joseph, House","other_names":[],"category":"building","location":{"address":"Buckhart Rd.","address_restricted":false,"city":"Rochester","county":"Sangamon County","state":"IL","lat":39.749444647000075,"lon":-89.45254734499997,"geom_source":"nps_gis"},"listed_date":"1980-11-24","is_nhl":false,"nhl_designated_date":null,"areas_of_significance":["Agriculture","Architecture"],"significance_levels":["local"],"summary":{"what_it_is":"A square brick farmhouse built in 1867 by Joseph Miller on a low bluff above the Sangamon River flood plain, near Rochester in Sangamon County, Illinois.","why_significant":"It is one of the oldest unaltered homes in the community and the earliest surviving dwelling tied to the prominent Miller family. It is a good example of a simple Federal style farmhouse that reflects the family's Virginia origins. It also represents the Millers' role in clearing land and developing agriculture in the state.","narrative":"Built in 1867 by Joseph Miller, this square brick farmhouse sits on a low bluff overlooking the Sangamon River flood plain near Rochester. Its bearing walls are about 12 inches thick, made of handmade local brick on a limestone foundation hauled from Cold Springs. Features include a pyramidal roof with two symmetrical chimneys, six-over-six windows with segmental brick arches, a south entrance with sidelights and transom, a long west verandah, a rear kitchen wing, and a curving walnut staircase inside. The house matters as one of the community's oldest unaltered homes and the earliest surviving dwelling of the Miller family, who came from Virginia in 1835. Christian Miller acquired about 2,100 acres, and his descendants still farm the surrounding land. The house is a simple Federal style farmhouse showing Southern influences, such as the wide side verandah. Restoration was guided by an 1871 photograph, though some work remained to be done.","period_of_significance":"1800-1899","architect_builder":"Builder/architect unknown; built by Joseph Miller in 1867","architectural_style":"Federal","criteria":[],"status_note":"Structurally sound and unaltered from the 1867 design, but deteriorated when the current owners bought it; restoration of porches and other features was under way and incomplete in 1980.","vacant_flag":null,"machine_generated":true,"model":"claude-sonnet-5-5","prompt_version":"v1.0-2026-10-29","generated_at":"2026-10-29 02:55:35.554283-05","source_pdf":"https://s3.amazonaws.com/NARAprodstorage/opastorage/live/8/8940/28894008/content/electronic-records/rg-079/NPS_IL/80001408.pdf"},"photo":null,"district":null,"sources":{"nps_snapshot_date":"2026-05-22","nara_catalog":"https://catalog.archives.gov/id/28894008","wikipedia":"https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joseph_Miller_House","wikidata":"https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q20709840"},"indexable":true,"url":"https://nationalhistoricalregister.com/illinois/sangamon-county/miller-joseph-house-80001408/"}