Coleman Hardware Company Building
Also known as: Sherwood School Furniture; Ohio Butt Company
Why it's listed
Three brick wings, a 60-foot smokestack and fragments of other buildings surround a gravel courtyard at 100 Nettle Street in Morris, Illinois, just north of the Illinois and Michigan Canal. The oldest wing dates from 1874, when the firm was the Sherwood School Furniture Company. A south wing followed in 1876, and a west wing was added between 1894 and 1900. Later known as the Coleman Hardware Company, the business made grey iron household hardware such as sash, locks and hinges, and added small iron toys around 1900. An 1888 local newspaper called it the city's most extensive manufacturing establishment. The company ran into financial trouble in 1935 and the property later passed through a paper mill and a fertilizer company before being left vacant. Much of the original factory complex has been demolished, but the surviving wings keep their walls, framing and window openings. They are the best remaining evidence of Morris as an industrial town, which supported the listing for industry and transportation.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the complex is the only surviving building group showing that Morris was a small factory town in the 1870s and 1880s. The company was the largest employer in Morris at its peak and made household hardware, locks, hinges and toys. The building also retains good integrity despite deterioration and has a Victorian design and a canal and rail location.
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 94000980, listed August 16, 1994. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 100 Nettle St., Morris |
|---|---|
| County | Grundy County |
| Listed | August 16, 1994 |
| Reference number | 94000980 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1874-1935 |
| Architectural style | Late Victorian |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Industry, Transportation |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Vacant and deteriorating, with many windows boarded up, some walls partly collapsed, and many rear buildings demolished; a fire occurred in 1970. |
| Acreage | 1.6 |
| Coordinates | 41.35684, -88.42924 (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.
Noted as vacant in the nomination. Nomination documents can be decades old; current status may differ. If you are considering buying an empty listed property, read the due-diligence checklist.
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 94000980.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q5143001
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.