Nisbet Homestead Farm
Also known as: The Old Stone House
Why it's listed
Near Earlville and the village of Rollo in DeKalb County, Illinois, the Nisbet Homestead Farm is built around a Greek Revival farmhouse known locally as the Old Stone House. Matthew Nisbet, a Scottish immigrant who claimed land at Ross Grove in 1841, began the house in 1848 and finished it in 1863. He and his brother Peter hauled rough-faced limestone by ox cart from near Ottawa. The two-story block and story-and-a-half wing have 24-inch hollow walls, with a four-inch air space and wooden beams to carry the interior frame. A carved lintel reads M.N. 1863. The farm also keeps a frame English barn, a pole barn, a 1935 double corn crib, a windmill well and a round stone water tank. The nomination says the house is the only one of its plan built of stone in DeKalb County, and that the wooden barns are growing rare. Nisbet descendants have owned the property since 1845.
Significance in brief: The nomination presents the farm as a record of early settlement in Paw Paw Township, begun by Scottish immigrant Matthew Nisbet in 1841. It argues the hollow-walled stone house may be the only early Greek Revival example of its kind in this part of Illinois and the only such stone house in DeKalb County. It also says the older wooden barns are becoming rare.
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 84001069, listed May 31, 1984. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | Suydam Rd., Earlville |
|---|---|
| County | DeKalb County |
| Listed | May 31, 1984 |
| Reference number | 84001069 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1800-1899 (specific dates 1841-1863-1984) |
| Architect / builder | Matthew Nisbet |
| Architectural style | Midwest Greek Revival farmhouse |
| Areas of significance | Exploration/Settlement, Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Listed as occupied, in good condition, in agricultural and private residence use; the house has been altered with a rear room addition and an enclosed recessed porch. |
| Acreage | 5 |
| Coordinates | 41.67074, -88.86321 (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 84001069.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q7040187
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.