Morris Downtown Commercial Historic District

Morris's downtown core spans 16 blocks along Liberty and Washington Streets, an area platted in 1842. Most of its 117 resources are commercial buildings, generally brick, frame or local Aux Sable sandstone, no more than three stories, and laid out in lots about 25 feet wide that give the streetscape a steady rhythm. Brick became the common material from the 1850s, helped by nearby clay-product manufacturers. The district shows a progression of storefront types and styles rather than a single building era, including Italianate blocks, Queen Anne fronts, Renaissance Revival buildings with terra cotta detail, and the arcaded Washington House Hotel. Civic landmarks include the 1912-13 limestone Grundy County Courthouse, designed by Joseph W. Royer, a 1890 Soldiers and Sailors Monument, a 1932 Art Deco post office, and two railroad depots. Early automobile-era gas stations and garages add to the story. The district was listed for its architecture, commerce and transportation history.