McClure, Thomas J. and Caroline, House
Also known as: McClure Homeplace
Why it's listed
Built around 1882 in the village of McClure, Alexander County, Illinois, this large red brick house combines Queen Anne design with Italianate touches. It has two and a half stories, a steeply pitched hipped roof with lower cross gables, a square many-windowed cupola, and a wraparound porch with turned posts, sawn brackets and spindlework. The foundation is rock-faced sandstone, and the front windows have marble sills and segmental brick arches. Inside, a wide front hall has plaster medallions, an arch of turned balusters and a carved newel post figure. The main rooms have tiled fireplaces and Eastlake-style woodwork. The house stands on a three-acre lawn with mature trees, surrounded by cornfields. It has been altered only modestly, with enclosed rear porches, a later roof covering and a partly rebuilt front porch. It was recognized as a locally significant example of Queen Anne architecture, the only home of its size and detail built in McClure, and one that keeps much of its original character.
Significance in brief: The house is locally significant under Criterion C as a well preserved example of Queen Anne architecture with some Italianate influences. No other homes of its size and detail were built in McClure, and similar high-style examples are found regionally in Anna, Illinois, and Cape Girardeau, Missouri. It retains a large share of its original exterior and interior integrity.
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 96001341, listed November 15, 1996. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | Main St., .5 mi. E of IL 3, McClure |
|---|---|
| County | Alexander County |
| Listed | November 15, 1996 |
| Reference number | 96001341 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | c. 1882 |
| Architectural style | Queen Anne |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Described as in good condition with very few alterations; still used as a single dwelling. The original outbuildings have been demolished and a porch restoration began in 1994. |
| Acreage | 3 |
| Coordinates | 37.31975, -89.42844 (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 96001341.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q16901623
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.