Stearns-Wadsworth House
Also known as: Lake Run Farm
Why it's listed
Built in 1868 for George N. Stearns, this two-story wood-frame farmhouse on Bliss Road near Batavia is made of two attached rectangular sections in the Italianate style. The cubic north portion has a hipped roof, once topped by a belvedere removed in 1920, and wide eaves with paired brackets. The narrower south portion holds the kitchen and laundry. Stearns was the largest landholder in the township, and the house reflected his standing. After his death, Edgar D. Wadsworth acquired the farm and in 1886 planned the Bald Mound Creamery, later a grist mill. Bald Mound's school, store and mills have since become residences or disappeared, and the mound itself was largely lost to gravel mining. The farmhouse is described as the remnant of a small settlement that never grew into a town, and as a surviving example of nineteenth-century rural building. Original woodwork remains largely intact inside, and restoration of porches and belvedere has been planned.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the house is historically significant for the roles of its builder George N. Stearns and second owner Edgar D. Wadsworth in founding Bald Mound and developing agriculture and commerce in early rural Kane County. It is also presented as a noteworthy example of disappearing 19th-century rural vernacular architecture. The house is described as all that remains of a small settlement.
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 82002547, listed March 19, 1982. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 1 S. 570 Bliss Rd., Batavia |
|---|---|
| County | Kane County |
| Listed | March 19, 1982 |
| Reference number | 82002547 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1800-1899 |
| Architect / builder | George N. Stearns, builder |
| Architectural style | Victorian Italianate |
| Areas of significance | Commerce, Exploration/Settlement, Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Occupied as a private residence and farm in excellent condition after restoration by the present owners; interior work complete and most exterior work complete. |
| Acreage | 0.6 |
| Coordinates | 41.84457, -88.40741 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
National Register listing is honorary for a privately owned home: it does not by itself restrict what an owner may do with their own money, and it does not require public access. Restrictions come from local landmark or historic-district ordinances, which are separate (how they differ).
Owner-occupied houses are not eligible for the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit, which applies to income-producing buildings, but many states offer credits for homeowners. Listing also opens the door to preservation easements and to buying a plaque. Start with what listing means for homeowners, renovating a listed house and selling one.
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 82002547.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q7605529
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.