First State Bank of Manlius
Why it's listed
Built in 1915 in Manlius, a farming community of about 380 people in Bureau County, Illinois, this two-story bank measures roughly 24 by 45 feet and has a flat roof. Its south facade is faced in mottled red brick and decorated with green glazed terra cotta plaques, tiles and string courses, while leaded art glass panels and urn-topped brick piers screen the two entrances. Inside, broad oak trim divides sand-plaster walls and ceilings into rectilinear segments. Chicago architect Parker Berry designed it while working in Louis Sullivan's office, and his father, a Princeton builder, served as contractor. The bank failed during the Great Depression, and the other bank in town bought the building and has used it for vault storage since. Two other Berry designs were either demolished or only partly completed, so this is the only surviving commercial example of his work. It offers a useful comparison with Sullivan's own small banks.
Significance in brief: It is the only remaining commercial building by Parker Berry, Louis Sullivan's last chief draftsman. It shows how quickly Berry absorbed Sullivan's teaching and offers a comparison between master and pupil. The form concedes it is not outstanding architecturally but calls it a handsome contribution to the town's main street.
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 75000639, listed May 12, 1975. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | N side of Maple St., Manlius |
|---|---|
| County | Bureau County |
| Listed | May 12, 1975 |
| Reference number | 75000639 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1915 |
| Architect / builder | Architect Parker Berry; builder/contractor John Wesley Berry |
| Architectural style | Sullivanesque elements |
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | State |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Used for vault storage by another bank in Manlius; condition fair and altered only by removal of an interior teller wall. Owners had discussed restoration but reached no decision. |
| Acreage | 0.7 |
| Coordinates | 41.45687, -89.66968 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
For an income-producing building, listing (individually or as a contributing building in a district) is the gateway to the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit on qualified rehabilitation costs, often stackable with state credits. Work claiming the credit must follow the Secretary of the Interior's Standards and be approved in advance.
Listing does not restrict a private owner acting without federal money or permits; where federal funding or licensing is involved, Section 106 review applies.
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 75000639.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q24898822
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.