Jehle, Louis, House
Why it's listed
Built in 1895 at 511 East Fifth Street in Pana, this two-story Queen Anne house sits on the summit of a neighborhood once called Quality Hill. It was built for Louis Jehle, a local alderman and businessman, and has served as a dwelling ever since. The first story is brick and the second is covered in wood shingles laid in bands of fishscale and diamond patterns that flare out in a skirt above the brick. A truncated corner tower with a curved, leaded Palladian window, a full-width front porch with round columns, and a steep roof add to its character. Inside, a central living hall with fireplace and staircase serves the main rooms, with oak woodwork and stained and beveled glass. The design is credited to Bloomington architect George H. Miller, who used a similar brick-and-shingle scheme on several Bloomington houses. Later owners made changes, including a 1930s garage and a 1940s division into apartments, but the exterior has been restored and retains its integrity.
Significance in brief: The house is a well-preserved example of Queen Anne architecture combining a brick first story with a shingled second story. It was designed by Bloomington architect George H. Miller, whose similar designs are documented in Bloomington. It also reflects the local standing of Louis Jehle, an alderman and businessman in Pana.
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 95000490, listed April 20, 1995. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 511 E. Fifth St., Pana |
|---|---|
| County | Christian County |
| Listed | April 20, 1995 |
| Reference number | 95000490 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Architect / builder | George H. Miller (architect); Lyman and Jordan (contractors) |
| Architectural style | Queen Anne |
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Described as in excellent condition with little alteration since 1895; still used as a single dwelling. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 39.38416, -89.07572 (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 95000490.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q18152649
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.