Gurler, George H., House
Why it's listed
Built in 1857, this two-story wood frame house at 205 Pine Street in DeKalb reflects the simplified Greek Revival vernacular common to modest Illinois homes of its day. Its plain details include narrow corner boards, a wooden cornice with returns, shuttered sash windows, and an original entrance with sidelights and a transom. A one-story wing extends to the east, and a two-story outbuilding known as the summer kitchen stands on the grounds. The house went up one year after DeKalb was founded and recalls the village's early years before the Barbed Wire Era. In 1893 it was bought by George H. Gurler, who with his brother Henry ran creameries in Illinois, Iowa and Wisconsin. Their dairies were described as the first in the nation to use the Babcock butterfat test. Gurler also helped organize the DeKalb County Farm Bureau. The house was converted to two apartments in 1940, and a local heritage group planned to turn it into a museum of modest family life.
Significance in brief: It is one of DeKalb's earliest houses, built a year after the town's founding and before the Barbed Wire Era. It is also tied to George H. Gurler, who bought it in 1893 and, with his brother Henry, ran pioneering dairies and creameries. Gurler helped organize the DeKalb County Farm Bureau and the DeKalb Agricultural Research Corporation.
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 79003158, listed March 21, 1979. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 205 Pine St., De Kalb |
|---|---|
| County | DeKalb County |
| Listed | March 21, 1979 |
| Reference number | 79003158 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1893-1940 |
| Architectural style | Simplified Greek Revival vernacular |
| Areas of significance | Industry, Agriculture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Described as in good condition and altered, with the house slated to become a house museum under the Gurler Heritage Association, which was purchasing it. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 41.93334, -88.75071 (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 79003158.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q5540030
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.