Middletown Historic District (Boundary Increase)
Why it's listed
This boundary extension brings the lower end of Alton's "Pagan Hill" into the Middletown Historic District. It covers the remainder of Market Street, with its mini-park on the two-level slope, plus three buildings along West Third and Piasa Streets. The Old YMCA, built in 1908 of red Alton brick with white limestone trim, is a three-story Georgian Revival building. It once held the area's first indoor heated pool, bowling alleys and a gymnasium, and it has stood vacant since the organization moved out in 1964. Next door is a small two-story commercial building with stone veneer. At the corner of Piasa Street stands the Snyder Block, built in 1901, with cast iron storefronts and a tin-covered corner turret. Together these buildings continue the stepped, brick-and-limestone streetscape of the existing district, which developed from frame houses and mansions into civic, commercial and semi-public uses.
Machine-generated summary. This summary was generated by a language model from the official nomination document and has not been reviewed line by line by an editor. It may contain errors. Check the source document before relying on any detail. Source: nomination document (PDF) · catalog entry. Generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29).
| Styles | Georgian Revival (Old YMCA); Beaux-Arts Classic Revival and Federal-style neighbors in the streetscape |
|---|---|
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Boundary source | NPS cultural-resource GIS polygon |
| Full listing page | Middletown Historic District (Boundary Increase) (property record) |
What listing means for this property
This is a historic district. Buildings within its boundary are either contributing (they add to the district's significance) or non-contributing. Owners of contributing income-producing buildings can claim the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit; homeowners should look at state credits. National Register districts impose no design review by themselves; a local historic district ordinance, if one exists, does (the difference explained).
Noted as vacant in the nomination. Nomination documents can be decades old; current status may differ. If you are considering buying an empty listed property, read the due-diligence checklist.
General information, not legal or tax advice. Rules change; confirm with your State Historic Preservation Office or a qualified adviser.