Atkinson Hall
Also known as: American Legion Hall, Shearer Post #350
Why it's listed
Atkinson Hall stands at 108 West Main Street in Geneseo, Illinois, across from the City Park. Built in 1892 with money from Charles Atkinson of Moline, it first housed the music and arts department of the Geneseo Collegiate Institute, a Presbyterian preparatory school. The brick building rises two and a half stories, with a hipped roof, a sandstone water table and two pyramidal-roofed towers of unequal height flanking the north front. Round arches, a recessed arched entrance and thick masonry walls reflect the Romanesque Revival style, and the second-floor auditorium with its stage and serpentine balcony remains largely unchanged. The American Legion bought the hall in 1926 and converted the first-floor classrooms into an open hall with a kitchen. Small additions were made in 1970 and 1983, and many windows were replaced in 1988. It was listed for its architecture as a local example of the style, with 1892 as its period of significance.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues it is a good local example of Romanesque Revival architecture under Criterion C. Its arched and recessed entrance and windows, towers of differing heights, dormer, heavy massing and thick masonry walls show the style. It is one of very few Romanesque-influenced buildings remaining in Geneseo.
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 03001203, listed November 28, 2003. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 108 W. Main St., Genesco |
|---|---|
| County | Henry County |
| Listed | November 28, 2003 |
| Reference number | 03001203 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1892 |
| Architect / builder | Hosford, J.E/ Clark, Alexander K. |
| Architectural style | Romanesque Revival |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Currently used as a meeting hall; the form lists its current function as social meeting hall. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 41.44769, -90.15644 (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 03001203.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q4815918
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.