Griggs, Clark R., House
Why it's listed
Built in 1871, this small two-story brick house at 505 West Main Street in Urbana is a well-preserved example of Italianate design. Paired brackets support the projecting eaves, basket-handle brickwork tops the windows, and the front porch carries fleur-de-lis trim and an X-patterned balustrade. The bricks were handmade in sand molds, the foundation is random-cut limestone, and the floor joists are sawn walnut. Inside, a curved stairway with its original walnut handrail, leather paneling and an etched glass window remain. Two early additions provided kitchen space, and little else has changed. The house was built by Clark R. Griggs, a Massachusetts native who farmed near Philo, served as a sutler in the Civil War, became mayor of Urbana, and as a legislator helped bring the land grant university to Urbana. He also developed railroads in several states. His son, not Griggs himself, lived in the house. It is valued for its integrity, its rarity locally, and its link to Griggs.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the house is one of the last Italianate buildings in Urbana and keeps an unusual degree of architectural integrity, with both exterior and interior largely intact. It is also tied to Clark R. Griggs, an influential figure who helped win the land grant university for Urbana and developed railroads.
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 78001116, listed November 30, 1978. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 505 W. Main St., Urbana |
|---|---|
| County | Champaign County |
| Listed | November 30, 1978 |
| Reference number | 78001116 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1800-1899 |
| Architect / builder | Built by Clark R. Griggs; no architect named |
| Architectural style | Italianate |
| Areas of significance | Transportation, Politics/Government, Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Occupied private residence; altered only by early additions and modern plumbing and heating, with little change since 1871. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 40.11344, -88.21371 (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 78001116.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q18151125
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.