First Congregational Church of LaMoille
Why it's listed
This small white wood-frame church at 94 Franklin Street in LaMoille, Illinois, was built in 1867 and dedicated on December 5 of that year. It replaced an earlier building that burned in February 1867. The church has a rectangular plan, clapboard siding, a metal roof, a painted brick foundation and a square three-level tower at the center of the front. Its tall, thin arched windows with heavy wooden hoods, arched corner pilasters and arched wooden corbels mark it as Italianate. Some Gothic-style details, including the spire steeple and pinnacles, were removed because of deterioration before 1940. Inside, the sanctuary keeps its original pine floors, 26 pews, plaster walls and an 1867 bell. The church was listed for its architecture. It is the only remaining Italianate church in the village, since the other nineteenth-century churches there were Gothic in style, and one of them burned in 1945. The congregation still worships in the building.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the church is locally significant under Criterion C for architecture. It is the only remaining example of Italianate ecclesiastical architecture in the village of LaMoille. Its tall arched windows with wooden hoods, arched pilasters and arched corbelling are the main Italianate features, and it retains good integrity despite the loss of Gothic-style steeple and pinnacles.
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 96000059, listed February 16, 1996. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 94 Franklin St., LaMoille |
|---|---|
| County | Bureau County |
| Listed | February 16, 1996 |
| Reference number | 96000059 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1867 |
| Architectural style | Italianate |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Congregation still uses the church; property described as in good condition. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 41.53083, -89.27985 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
Religious properties are listed for their architectural or historical significance, not their religious use. Listing is honorary and does not restrict the congregation's use of the building. The federal rehabilitation credit is generally unavailable unless part of the building is income-producing; some state programmes and preservation grants do cover religious buildings. Federal funding or permits trigger Section 106 review.
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 96000059.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q8563348
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.