Healy Chapel
Why it's listed
Healy Chapel is a funeral home at 332 West Downer Place in Aurora, Illinois, completed in 1927-28 to designs by Chicago architect George Grant Elmslie. The three-story main wing combines orange roman brick with a beige stucco upper floor that held apartments, while ornate glazed terracotta bands emphasize the horizontal lines typical of the Prairie School. A lower chapel wing has a steeper hipped slate roof, a wall of stained glass in the west, and carved black walnut screens inside. Elmslie also designed the light fixtures, window casements and stair railings, most of which survive. The building is notable as a commercial work in a style mostly used for houses, and as one of five Elmslie buildings in Aurora. It also represents the Healy Undertaking Company, founded in 1891, which was among the first in Illinois to have a chapel built expressly for funerals. A later addition altered the garden area, but the major exterior elevations remain intact.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues it is a later work of Prairie School architect George Grant Elmslie and a rare commercial application of the style, blending commercial and residential Prairie School forms. It is also one of five Elmslie buildings in Aurora. Its significance in commerce rests on the Healy Undertaking Company, a long-running family firm and an early Illinois business to build a chapel designed for funerals.
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 85000361, listed February 28, 1985. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 332 W. Downer Pl., Aurora |
|---|---|
| County | Kane County |
| Listed | February 28, 1985 |
| Reference number | 85000361 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1927 |
| Architect / builder | George Grant Elmslie |
| Architectural style | Prairie School |
| Areas of significance | Commerce, Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Listed as occupied, in excellent condition; the main wing houses business offices and family residences, and a one-story addition replaced the original garden area. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Within district | West Side Historic District |
| Coordinates | 41.75929, -88.32315 (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 85000361.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q5691456
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.