Randecker's Hardware Store
Why it's listed
Randecker's Hardware Store is a one-and-a-half story wood building at the corner of Bloomingdale Road and Franklin Street in Bloomingdale, Illinois. William Randecker built it in 1908-1909 specifically to serve as a hardware store. The rectangular 24-by-54-foot building has a gambrel roof, a storefront with large show windows and a cornice with small brackets, and an unfinished attic used for storage. Inside, original display cases, shelving, a cash register and early records survive, and an entire wall still holds paint and hardware. The building has changed little apart from electricity in 1924, indoor plumbing in the late 1970s, a new roof and a replacement concrete porch that copies the original wooden one. It is significant for its role in local commerce from 1909 to 1944. It supplied farmers and villagers with goods ranging from nails to harnesses and served as a gathering place. Randecker also held several public offices, and the store stayed stable while neighboring businesses burned or closed.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the store is significant under Criterion A for commerce. It served local farmers and residents and was the only hardware store in Bloomingdale after the village was re-incorporated. It survived a period of fires and business turnover, and William Randecker was an active civic leader. It remains largely unchanged, with original showcases and fixtures.
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 94001265, listed October 28, 1994. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 112 S. Bloomingdale Rd., Bloomingdale |
|---|---|
| County | DuPage County |
| Listed | October 28, 1994 |
| Reference number | 94001265 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1909 - 1944 |
| Architect / builder | unknown (built by William Randecker, per the narrative) |
| Architectural style | Commercial Style |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Commerce |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Still in use as a specialty shop (antiques and old merchandise); the form lists current function as Commerce / Specialty Shop. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 41.95654, -88.08143 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
For an income-producing building, listing (individually or as a contributing building in a district) is the gateway to the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit on qualified rehabilitation costs, often stackable with state credits. Work claiming the credit must follow the Secretary of the Interior's Standards and be approved in advance.
Listing does not restrict a private owner acting without federal money or permits; where federal funding or licensing is involved, Section 106 review applies.
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 94001265.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q7291650
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.