Grafton Historic District
Why it's listed
Grafton's West Main Street historic district covers two blocks of mostly residential buildings between steep limestone bluffs and the Illinois River. Its 22 contributing resources date from about 1836 to 1925 and include Hall and Parlor, Gabled Ell, Side Hall Plan and Bungalow houses, many with Queen Anne, Italianate or Greek Revival details. Lots are small, setbacks shallow, and limestone retaining walls line many property edges, giving the area a dense, cohesive feel. A c. 1840 limestone house and a fully expressed Queen Anne house are among the notable buildings. The district also contains the 1846 limestone New Wharf at the foot of Maple Street, a link to the river transportation that shaped the town, and the c. 1840 Grafton Ice House, tied to its ice industry. Together these resources illustrate roughly ninety years of development, and some former houses now hold a restaurant, an antique shop and a bed and breakfast.
Significance in brief: The district is significant for Architecture because it collects vernacular house types and Queen Anne, Italianate and Greek Revival styles that show Grafton's growth from about 1836 to 1925. It is also significant for Transportation because of the 1846 New Wharf, and for Commerce because it includes the c. 1840 Grafton Ice House, tied to the town's ice industry.
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 94000020, listed February 16, 1994. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 105--225 and 24--214 W. Main St., and stone wharf at Maple St., Grafton |
|---|---|
| County | Jersey County |
| Listed | February 16, 1994 |
| Reference number | 94000020 |
| Resource type | District |
| Architectural style | Queen Anne, Late Victorian, Italianate, Bungalow, and vernacular types (Hall and Parlor, Side Hall Plan) |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Architecture, Transportation, Commerce |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Many former single dwellings now serve adaptive commercial uses such as a restaurant, an antique shop, and a bed and breakfast; the district has 22 contributing and 4 noncontributing resources. |
| Acreage | 6 |
| Coordinates | 38.96869, -90.43784 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
This is a historic district. Buildings within its boundary are either contributing (they add to the district's significance) or non-contributing. Owners of contributing income-producing buildings can claim the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit; homeowners should look at state credits. National Register districts impose no design review by themselves; a local historic district ordinance, if one exists, does (the difference explained).
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 94000020.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q17560949
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.