Brower, Adolphus W., House
Also known as: George F. Beasley House
Why it's listed
Built in 1874 at 705 DeKalb Avenue in Sycamore, Illinois, this frame house was commissioned by Adolphus W. Brower, a Wisconsin-born businessman who arrived in town in 1872, worked in the lumber trade with Marshall Stark, and later bought into a hardware firm. The house is rectangular, with a low hipped roof, carved paired brackets, arched double-hung windows, a four-bay porch, and a rear wing with a mansard roof and dormers. Inside, plaster ceiling decoration, marble and cast iron fireplaces, original woodwork, a parquet floor and a curved stairway survive. The house stayed with Brower descendants until 1968. It was later divided into apartments and a beauty shop, then bought in 1974 for restoration. It has no additions and few alterations. A 1973 state survey ranked it among the finest Italianate homes in Sycamore, and it is listed as a vernacular variation of that style.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the house is a vernacular interpretation of the elaborate 'High Victorian Italianate' style of the 1870s, with a profusely ornamented facade and very few alterations. It stands on its original site, and a 1973 state survey cited it as one of the half dozen or so finest Italianate residences in Sycamore.
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 79003160, listed February 14, 1979. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 705 DeKalb Ave., Sycamore |
|---|---|
| County | DeKalb County |
| Listed | February 14, 1979 |
| Reference number | 79003160 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1874 |
| Architectural style | Italianate (vernacular interpretation of High Victorian Italianate) |
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Occupied as a private residence in good condition; owners were restoring it after it had been divided into apartments and a beauty shop. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 41.98642, -88.69398 (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 79003160.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q14687368
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.