Fifteenth Street and Oklahoma Avenue Brick Street
Why it's listed
Fifteenth Street and Oklahoma Avenue form a brick-paved road segment in a quiet, mostly single-family neighborhood in south-central Mattoon. Built in 1924, it runs eight blocks, about 0.55 mile, and then turns west for one more block on Oklahoma Avenue. The roadway uses vitrified paving bricks laid over a five-inch concrete base and a sand and tar layer, with concrete curbs and gutters, grass parkways and concrete sidewalks. Brick catch basins and manholes with cast iron covers made by Mattoon's H. W. Clark foundry drain the street into the city's combined storm and sewer system. Some intersections have been covered with asphalt, and patches of concrete and asphalt interrupt the brick. The street was listed for its engineering significance as a well-preserved example of municipal brick paving from the 1920s, one of 4.3 miles of brick streets that survive in a city that once had more than 22 miles of them. Its residential setting remains much as it was in 1924.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the street is locally significant under Criterion C for engineering as a good example of 1924 municipal street construction. It represents the brick paving method popular in the early twentieth century and is one segment of Mattoon's remaining 4.3 miles of brick streets. It retains its materials, design, workmanship and residential setting.
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 99001357, listed November 22, 1999. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 500 through 1217 Fifteenth St. and 1500 through 1521 Oklahoma Ave., Mattoon |
|---|---|
| County | Coles County |
| Listed | November 22, 1999 |
| Reference number | 99001357 |
| Resource type | Structure |
| Period of significance | 1924 |
| Architect / builder | Shinn, Harry E. |
| Architectural style | Other: Brick Street |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Engineering |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Still in use as a street; a civil engineer rated five of nine blocks of brick surface in good condition, two fair and two poor, with some asphalt and concrete patching. |
| Coordinates | 39.47058, -88.36079 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
National Register listing is honorary: it recognises significance and does not restrict what a private owner may do without federal money or permits. It unlocks the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit for income-producing buildings, state credits in many states, and Section 106 review when federal agencies are involved. See what listing means in practice.
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 99001357.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q16891315
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.