St. Mary's Church
Why it's listed
St. Mary's Church is a large limestone church on St. Charles Avenue in Beaverville, a small town in northeastern Iroquois County. The cornerstone was laid in August 1909 and the building was finished in 1911. Chicago architect Joseph Molitor designed it with rock-faced limestone walls quarried in Bedford, Indiana, round-arched openings, twin 73-foot towers, a rose window, and a red clay tile roof over a central octagonal dome. Inside, a 65-foot plaster dome rises above the nave, and 21 stained glass windows depict the life of Mary. The nomination describes the design as an eclectic blend of Romanesque, Renaissance and Byzantine influences, modeled on Chicago church prototypes with central domes and twin towers. It is presented as a rare rural example of that urban style. The church was also an early work in a burst of Catholic church commissions by Molitor in Chicago between 1911 and 1915. The 15-acre grounds hold two cemeteries, a rectory and other buildings.
Significance in brief: The church is locally significant under Criterion C for architecture, as an eclectic Romanesque Revival and Renaissance Revival design with a central octagonal dome and twin towers. It is described as a one-of-a-kind rural example of a style mix more common in large cities such as Chicago. It also marks the start of a productive period in architect Joseph Molitor's career.
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 96000514, listed May 2, 1996. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 308 St. Charles Ave., Beaverville |
|---|---|
| County | Iroquois County |
| Listed | May 2, 1996 |
| Reference number | 96000514 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1911 |
| Architect / builder | Molitor, Joseph, Architect |
| Architectural style | Romanesque; Renaissance |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Still used as a church; the property also includes an active cemetery, a rectory and a single dwelling. |
| Acreage | 15 |
| Coordinates | 40.95148, -87.65218 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
Religious properties are listed for their architectural or historical significance, not their religious use. Listing is honorary and does not restrict the congregation's use of the building. The federal rehabilitation credit is generally unavailable unless part of the building is income-producing; some state programmes and preservation grants do cover religious buildings. Federal funding or permits trigger Section 106 review.
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 96000514.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q7590202
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.