Wilson, Judge Isaac, House
Why it's listed
Built in 1843 at the corner of Prairie and Wilson streets in Batavia, Illinois, this two-story frame house was the home of Judge Isaac Wilson, who came from Batavia, New York, in 1835. Wilson had served in the New York legislature and in Congress before settling here. He was given the honor of naming the town in 1840 and became its first postmaster in 1841. A street and several subdivisions bear his name or his heirs' names. Architecturally, the house is a simple Illinois vernacular Greek Revival building made of local woods, with walnut posts and beams, six-panel doors, raised panels beneath the parlor windows, an indoor cistern, and a fireplace complex with crane, beehive oven and ash pit. Its five eyebrow windows retain original glass. The facade is largely unchanged apart from replacement 2/2 window sashes and a woodshed door converted to an entry in 1882. Few comparable early houses in Batavia keep these features.
Significance in brief: The house is tied to Judge Isaac Wilson, a prominent early settler who named Batavia and served as its first postmaster. It is also an example of simple Illinois vernacular Greek Revival architecture with an unaltered facade. Interior features such as the beehive oven, working fireplace complex with original crane, indoor cistern and five eyebrow windows are now rare among Batavia houses of this date.
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 85000978, listed May 9, 1985. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 406 E. Wilson St., Batavia |
|---|---|
| County | Kane County |
| Listed | May 9, 1985 |
| Reference number | 85000978 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1843-1848 |
| Architect / builder | Judge Isaac Wilson |
| Architectural style | Illinois vernacular Greek Revival |
| Areas of significance | Exploration/Settlement, Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Occupied as a private residence. The form notes a new cedar roof, plumbing, wiring, heating and insulation, with some restoration of the west and south overhang still needed. |
| Acreage | 0.5 |
| Coordinates | 41.85015, -88.30105 (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 85000978.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q6302553
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.