Felt, Cyrus, House
Why it's listed
Overlooking the Mississippi from a steep slope about 200 feet from the water, this two-story house with a walk-out stone basement was probably built around 1834 by Cyrus Felt, a merchant who came to Illinois from New Hampshire in 1831. Its heavy hewn-oak frame is filled with brick nogging, and much of the original trim, flooring, doors and glass survives. The river side, with a second-floor balcony, first-floor porch and deeply overhanging curved roof, was meant to be seen by passing riverboats, since the building served as a store for the river trade. An 1837 Corps of Engineers map surveyed by Lt. Robert E. Lee shows a building labeled as a store in the town of Montebello, an early Hancock County settlement. The house blends a French-looking gallery and roofline with Greek Revival window and door heads. Later changes include a rear kitchen and toilet, interior basement stairs and a rebuilt porch retaining wall.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the house is an early, well-preserved riverfront building from the settlement of Hancock County, with extensive original fabric. It was built as a store serving the river trade near the town of Montebello. Its curved roof and gallery porch suggest a French character, while its Greek Revival details reflect the Illinois vernacular of the period.
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 80001366, listed March 18, 1980. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 3 mi. N of Hamilton, Hamilton |
|---|---|
| County | Hancock County |
| Listed | March 18, 1980 |
| Reference number | 80001366 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1834 and after |
| Architect / builder | unknown |
| Architectural style | Greek Revival detailing with French-influenced character |
| Areas of significance | Exploration/Settlement, Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Altered with a recent kitchen, toilet and basement stairs at the rear, but described as retaining extensive original fabric; privately owned. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 40.43357, -91.37049 (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 80001366.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q21197507
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.