White, W.E., Building
Why it's listed
Standing at the corner of Main Street and Front Avenue in downtown Stockton, Illinois, this two-story brick commercial building dates to 1897. Wilbur E. White bought the lot that August, moved an earlier frame building to the rear, and hired Peter Schroeder to build the new structure around it. Its design reflects the Queen Anne style with classical touches: a diagonal corner entrance, a cast iron storefront, a metal-wrapped oriel bay topped by a cone-shaped tower, a sunburst pediment, urns, finials and corbelled brick. Inside, the original wood floors and a fish-and-shell pattern tin ceiling survive. White opened a department store here, and a clothing store later occupied the space. Upstairs offices housed a dentist and a law practice for decades. The building was listed for its architecture and as a landmark of the rebuilding of Stockton's business center after the fire of the late 1880s. The ground floor now operates as a restaurant.
Significance in brief: The building is argued to be a fine, locally significant example of a Queen Anne commercial building under Criterion C for architecture. Its cone-shaped tower, metal-wrapped oriel bay, decorative cornice and classical details show a shift toward classical trends. It also represents downtown Stockton's rebuilding after the devastating fire of the late 1880s.
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 97001339, listed November 7, 1997. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 100 N. Main St., Stockton |
|---|---|
| County | Jo Daviess County |
| Listed | November 7, 1997 |
| Reference number | 97001339 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1897 |
| Architect / builder | Schroeder, Peter, Builder |
| Architectural style | Late Victorian/Queen Anne |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | First floor is in use as a restaurant after a 1995-1996 renovation; the second-floor offices and apartment have fallen into disrepair, with plans to renovate and rent them. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 42.34997, -90.00673 (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 97001339.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q7945196
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.