Old Stone Hotel
Also known as: Warren Community Building
Why it's listed
Built in 1851 as a stagecoach station, this three-floor block limestone building at 110 West Main Street in Warren, Illinois, sits behind a white picket fence with white painted wood trim. Two stagecoach routes crossed here: the Chicago-Galena Road, served by the Frink & Walker stages, and the Sucker Trail between St. Louis and the lead smelters near Wiota, Wisconsin. Horses were changed at a livery stable across the street while passengers were fed and housed. General Grant visited several times on trips to and from Galena. The building later served as the office and hospital of an early town physician, then stood abandoned for many years. Local women worked for years to save it, aided by two large gifts from former residents, and it was restored. The exterior is unchanged. Inside, the east wing became a ballroom, and the upper floors hold a caretaker's apartment, council rooms and scout meeting space. It remains a village-owned community building.
Significance in brief: It served as a stagecoach stop where the Chicago-Galena Road and the Sucker Trail crossed near the Illinois-Wisconsin line. Teams were changed and passengers fed and housed there, and General Grant visited several times. After years of abandonment it was restored through community effort and benefactions and continues in public use.
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 75000665, listed April 16, 1975. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 110 W. Main St., Warren |
|---|---|
| County | Jo Daviess County |
| Listed | April 16, 1975 |
| Reference number | 75000665 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1851 - present |
| Architectural style | Early Georgian (form text); data sheet notes Federal / Greek Revival |
| Areas of significance | Transportation, Architecture |
| Level of significance | State |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Excellent condition, unaltered exterior, original site; restored and in use as a community building with a caretaker's apartment, town council rooms and scouting space. |
| Acreage | 1 |
| Coordinates | 42.49717, -89.99116 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
For an income-producing building, listing (individually or as a contributing building in a district) is the gateway to the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit on qualified rehabilitation costs, often stackable with state credits. Work claiming the credit must follow the Secretary of the Interior's Standards and be approved in advance.
Listing does not restrict a private owner acting without federal money or permits; where federal funding or licensing is involved, Section 106 review applies.
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 75000665.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q7085116
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.