East Dubuque School
Also known as: Esther Hillman House
Why it's listed
Perched on a bluff above East Dubuque, Illinois, this dark brick school was completed in 1893 to a design by Dubuque architect Thomas T. Carkeek. The original two-story building has a square three-story bell tower, round-arched windows, corbelled cornices and a carved stone panel reading "Public School Erected 1893." A sympathetic east wing followed in 1914, and a gymnasium was added in 1952. For 85 years it served as the town's grammar and high school, and it also took in students from small rural districts nearby. Enrollment grew to about 350 high school students before the school closed in 1978. Its Romanesque Revival design and its role in public education led to its listing under criteria A and C. The exterior remains largely intact, though the interior has been damaged and the building has sat vacant. A plan to convert it into housing for the elderly has been proposed.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the school is an outstanding Illinois example of late Romanesque Revival school architecture and the work of Dubuque architect Thomas Carkeek. It was also the dominant educational institution in East Dubuque for 85 years and a landmark in the town's skyline. It is the only major historic public building in the town.
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 82000396, listed November 12, 1982. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | Montgomery Ave., East Dubuque |
|---|---|
| County | Jo Daviess County |
| Listed | November 12, 1982 |
| Reference number | 82000396 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1893-1914 (completed 1893; east wing 1914; checked periods 1800-1899 and 1900-) |
| Architect / builder | Thomas T. Carkeek (original building) |
| Architectural style | Romanesque Revival (late Romanesque Revival) |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Education, Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Vacant and unoccupied since the school closed in 1978; interior seriously damaged by heavy use and vandalism, exterior substantially intact; proposed conversion to housing for the elderly. |
| Acreage | 1.4 |
| Coordinates | 42.49384, -90.64148 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
For a publicly owned building or structure, listing mainly matters when federal funds, permits or licences are involved: projects then go through Section 106 review so effects on the property are considered. Listing also strengthens applications for preservation grants and, for leased income-producing uses, can enable the federal rehabilitation tax credit.
Noted as vacant in the nomination. Nomination documents can be decades old; current status may differ. If you are considering buying an empty listed property, read the due-diligence checklist.
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 82000396.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q5328254
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.