Franks, Charles, House
Why it's listed
Built about 1850 for Charles Franks, this one-and-one-half story brick farmhouse sits on a knoll beside U.S. Highway 52 near Lanark, Illinois. Its low-pitched hipped roof, balanced five-bay front with Flemish bond brickwork, four tall chimneys and jack arch lintels make it a late, vernacular version of the Federal style, unusual in an area where Greek Revival houses are more common. Inside, the original walnut doors, moldings, beaded doors, fireplaces and most floors and plaster survive. A pre-Civil War bank barn of hand-hewn timbers is also counted as contributing. The site was earlier home to Isaac Chambers' stagecoach tavern on the old Galena Road, which figured in the Black Hawk War of 1832. Franks, an English-born emigre who bought the property in 1845, built the house, laid out the village of Brookville and built the area's first schoolhouse. The house was long mistaken for the tavern itself, but it was built later.
Significance in brief: The house is an excellent local example of a mid-nineteenth century rural house drawing on the earlier Federal style, with a low-pitched hipped roof, symmetrical plan and jack arches. It is remarkably intact and retains a high degree of integrity. The site is also notable for its earlier association with pioneer Isaac Chambers, the old Galena Road and the Black Hawk War.
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 98000459, listed May 20, 1998. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 34431 US 52, Lanark |
|---|---|
| County | Carroll County |
| Listed | May 20, 1998 |
| Reference number | 98000459 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | c. 1850 |
| Architect / builder | Unknown |
| Architectural style | Mid-19th Century; vernacular version of the Federal style |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Described as in excellent condition, in its original location, with minimal restoration; repairs were made after 1985, and the house remains a single dwelling. |
| Acreage | 8.1 |
| Coordinates | 42.06322, -89.69757 (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 98000459.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q20709724
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.