Swannell, Charles E., House
Why it's listed
This Prairie School house at 901 South Chicago in Kankakee was designed in 1911 by the firm Tallmadge and Watson. It rises two stories plus an attic under a massive hipped roof, with walls of hollow clay tile covered in stucco and slightly sloped inward toward the top. A brick water table, brick sills and a brick stringcourse provide detail. The open floor plan centers on a large foyer and hall. Inside, quarter sawn oak trim, leaded glass and a roman brick fireplace remain largely intact. Two small rear additions and modified porch arches date from the early 1970s. The house is the only documented Tallmadge and Watson residence in Kankakee, and it survives with very little alteration. It stands about two blocks from Frank Lloyd Wright's Hickox and Bradley houses, built a decade earlier. Original plans, a signed 1911 rendering and a 1914 tile-construction publication showing the house have helped guide restoration work.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the house is a significant example of Prairie School architecture by Tallmadge and Watson, former Burnham office architects. It is the only documented Tallmadge and Watson house in Kankakee and survives with very little alteration. It also stands near two Frank Lloyd Wright houses, the Hickox and Bradley houses.
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 82002551, listed June 3, 1982. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 901 S. Chicago, Kankakee |
|---|---|
| County | Kankakee County |
| Listed | June 3, 1982 |
| Reference number | 82002551 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1900- |
| Architect / builder | Tallmadge and Watson |
| Architectural style | Prairie School |
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Occupied as a private residence; described as well maintained, with interior detailing virtually intact and the roof recently restored. |
| Acreage | 0.3 |
| Within district | Riverview Historic District |
| Coordinates | 41.11010, -87.86065 (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 82002551.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q16900977
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.