Mark, Caroline, House
Why it's listed
Built in 1906 on a 4.91-acre tract in Mount Carroll, the Caroline Mark Home is a two-story brick building, 33 feet wide and 134 feet long, that has housed needy elderly women since its first residents arrived in 1908. Caroline Wade Mark came to Mount Carroll in 1836 and married James Mark, a landowner and bank president, in 1843. Having seen many older women left penniless, she left most of her estate to build the home and to pay for its upkeep and the residents' needs. The building has reinforced concrete floors and roof, limestone trim, a Huntington Shingle Tile hipped roof, oak interior woodwork, a cast iron stair with Tennessee marble treads and ceramic mosaic floors. Its masonry and detailing reflect the arts and crafts movement. A smoke house, ice house, pumphouse and caretaker's house date from the same period. Alterations are limited to a fire escape, an access ramp and revised gutters.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the building is significant for architecture as an example of the arts and crafts movement, with high-quality materials and craftsmanship. It is also significant for humanitarian reasons, because Caroline Mark left her estate to build and permanently maintain a free home for needy elderly women. The building retains its original character, fabric and features.
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 83000303, listed August 11, 1983. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 222 E. Lincoln St., Mount Carroll |
|---|---|
| County | Carroll County |
| Listed | August 11, 1983 |
| Reference number | 83000303 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1906 |
| Architect / builder | Berkeley Brandt |
| Architectural style | Arts and crafts movement |
| Areas of significance | Architecture, Social History |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Occupied and in good condition; it continues to house elderly women, as it has since its first occupants arrived in 1908. |
| Acreage | 4.9 |
| Coordinates | 42.10080, -89.97493 (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 83000303.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q20711783
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.