Eldred, James John, House
Also known as: Eldred, J. J., House
Why it's listed
Built in 1861 for James John Eldred, this limestone farmhouse sits near the Illinois River bluffs in Greene County, Illinois. The main block is a five-bay, two-and-a-half-story structure with a low-pitched roof, a wide cornice with dentils and paired Italianate brackets, and Palladian windows in the gable ends. Square-cut, dressed quoins, pedimented stone lintels and a second-floor door lintel carved "J. J. Eldred 1861" show the quality of the stonework. A one-and-a-half-story north wing, a west wing and two later limestone additions give the house its L shape. A ruined limestone privy and sections of dry-laid stone fence remain on the 1.2-acre site. The house is recognized for its architecture, which blends Greek Revival and Italianate details, and for the prosperity the farm once enjoyed. Several additions have lost their roofs and are badly deteriorated, while stabilization work has protected the main house and north wing.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the house is significant under Criterion C for architecture. It combines Greek Revival and Italianate detailing in finely worked local limestone, and the prosperity of the farm shows in the workmanship. The period of significance runs from the 1861 construction to 1873, when the porch was completed.
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 99000732, listed June 25, 1999. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | Bluffdale Township Rd., E of IL 100, Eldred |
|---|---|
| County | Greene County |
| Listed | June 25, 1999 |
| Reference number | 99000732 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1861 - 1873 |
| Architectural style | Greek Revival; Italianate |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Described as seriously deteriorated in its north and west additions and west wing. The main house and north wing carry a temporary rolled asphalt roof installed in 1995-96, and the current function is listed as work in progress. |
| Acreage | 1.2 |
| Coordinates | 39.30761, -90.54626 (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 99000732.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q6136862
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.