Rehnstrom, August and Margaretha, House
Also known as: Andover Historical Museum
Why it's listed
Built in 1861 near the town park in Andover, Illinois, this two-story Greek Revival frame house was the home of August Rehnstrom, a harness maker recruited to the Swedish community, and Margaretha Berglof, whom he married in 1862. The five-bay house has heavy cornice boards, gable returns and six-over-six windows typical of the style. The Andover Historical Society bought it in 1967 and rehabilitated it in phases, adding a basement and new siding in 1976 and replacing windows in 1984. It is now a museum. A relocated summer kitchen and outhouse stand on the lot. The house was listed for its link to the settlement of Andover and its Swedish heritage. Andover grew as a Swedish community from the late 1840s, and local accounts say the Rehnstrom home sheltered Swedish immigrants until they found their own housing. The period of significance runs from 1861 to 1911, when August Rehnstrom died.
Significance in brief: The house is significant under Criterion A for its association with the settlement of Andover and its Swedish heritage. August Rehnstrom came to Andover in 1859 as a harness maker, and the house is tied to him and his wife Margaretha Berglof Rehnstrom. Local accounts say it also sheltered newly arrived Swedish immigrants. It is described as perhaps the most intact early home in Andover.
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 08001170, listed December 10, 2008. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 418 Locust St., Andover |
|---|---|
| County | Henry County |
| Listed | December 10, 2008 |
| Reference number | 08001170 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1861-1911 |
| Architect / builder | Berglof, Eric |
| Architectural style | Mid-19th Century / Greek Revival |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Exploration/Settlement, European |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Used as a museum (Andover Historical Museum), owned by the Andover Historical Society since 1967 and rehabilitated in phases from 1968 to 1984. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 41.29511, -90.29240 (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 08001170.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikidata Q134580638
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.