Durell, William Franklin and Rebecca, House
Why it's listed
Built in 1872 on the west side of Vermont, Illinois, this two-story brick house faces West Fifth Street, once known locally as "The Lane" for the brick homes of the town's leading businessmen. Local legend holds that Joab Mershon had it built as a wedding present for his daughter Rebecca and her husband William Franklin Durell. The low-pitched hipped roof, paired brackets, segmental and round-arched windows, and front porch with arched spandrels mark it as Italianate, and the interior keeps heavy moldings, plaster medallions, and cast iron fireplace mantels. Behind the house stands a cross-gabled board and batten carriage barn with clipped gables and a louvered cupola, built about the same time and resembling designs from nineteenth-century pattern books. A rear brick wing was altered in 1964, yet the house retains its integrity. The house and barn were listed for their architectural value at the local level. A 1910s concrete block garage does not contribute to the listing.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the house is locally significant under Criterion C as a good example of a simple hipped roof Italianate house in Vermont. Its original cross-gabled carriage barn reflects picturesque pattern book designs of the period. Both buildings retain strong historic integrity.
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 96001292, listed November 7, 1996. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 408 W. 5th St., Vermont |
|---|---|
| County | Fulton County |
| Listed | November 7, 1996 |
| Reference number | 96001292 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1872 |
| Architect / builder | Unknown |
| Architectural style | Italianate |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | The property is described as being in excellent condition and is still used as a single dwelling. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 40.29401, -90.43211 (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 96001292.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q22033992
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.