Warfield, William S., House
Why it's listed
Built in 1886 at 1624 Maine Street in Quincy, Illinois, this large residence was designed by Chicago architect Joseph Lyman Silsbee for wholesale grocer William S. Warfield. Constructed of quarry-faced Kasota stone with a terra cotta frieze at the eaves, it combines Queen Anne and Richardsonian Romanesque styles. A porch and porte cochere wrap the west side, and a central hall with a large fireplace and a staircase lit by colored glass organizes the interior. Warfield arrived in Quincy in 1866 and became sole proprietor of his grocery company by 1879. His choice of Silsbee brought high-quality Richardsonesque design to a city dominated by Italianate and Second Empire buildings. Local architects Harvey Chatten and Ernest M. Wood later built on the direction it set, and Wood became a regional exponent of Prairie School design. The house now serves as headquarters for the Quincy Society of Fine Arts, with original features being restored.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the house introduced high-quality Richardsonian Romanesque architecture to Quincy, contrasting with the city's Italianate and Second Empire buildings. It signalled a shift in local architectural taste and influenced local architects such as Harvey Chatten and Ernest M. Wood. It is also tied to Warfield, a prominent local businessman.
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) · National Archives catalog entry. NRHP reference 79000814, listed March 21, 1979. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 1624 Maine St., Quincy |
|---|---|
| County | Adams County |
| Listed | March 21, 1979 |
| Reference number | 79000814 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1800-1899 |
| Architect / builder | Joseph Lyman Silsbee |
| Architectural style | Combination of Queen Anne and Richardsonian Romanesque |
| Areas of significance | Commerce, Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Serves as headquarters for the Quincy Society of Fine Arts and as a center for educational, social and arts activities; woodwork is being restored. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Within district | Quincy East End Historic District |
| Coordinates | 39.93149, -91.38984 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
National Register listing is honorary for a privately owned home: it does not by itself restrict what an owner may do with their own money, and it does not require public access. Restrictions come from local landmark or historic-district ordinances, which are separate (how they differ).
Owner-occupied houses are not eligible for the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit, which applies to income-producing buildings, but many states offer credits for homeowners. Listing also opens the door to preservation easements and to buying a plaque. Start with what listing means for homeowners, renovating a listed house and selling one.
General information, not legal or tax advice. Rules change; confirm with your State Historic Preservation Office or a qualified adviser.
Sources and further reading
- National Park Service, National Register of Historic Places database (snapshot May 2026), reference 79000814.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q21016319
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.