O'Conor, Andrew J., III, House
Why it's listed
Overlooking the river on Ottawa's east side, this brick house at 736 Chapel Street began in 1848 as an Italianate home built by early settler Henry Green. In 1922 Andrew J. O'Conor, III, an attorney, hired Norman W. Cook, an Ottawa-born architect working in Chicago, to redesign it at a cost of $45,000. The work removed the cupola and original roof, enlarged the walls, refaced the building in brick, and added a gambrel roof with dormers, a screened porch, a breakfast room and a north wing. A curved-roof entrance with fluted columns and a leaded glass fanlight faces the street. Inside, the original library fireplace and ceiling medallion were kept, and older woodwork was reused. A brick garage from 1922 and a low brick wall complete the grounds. The house was listed for architecture, as one of the best local examples of Colonial Revival design, with 1922 as its period of significance.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the house is one of the best remaining local examples of early 20th century Colonial Revival architecture. It was redesigned in 1922 by Norman W. Cook, an Ottawa-born architect working in Chicago. The form describes it as well preserved and in excellent condition.
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 93000324, listed April 22, 1993. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 637 Chapel St., Ottawa |
|---|---|
| County | LaSalle County |
| Listed | April 22, 1993 |
| Reference number | 93000324 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1922 |
| Architect / builder | Cook, Norman W. |
| Architectural style | Colonial Revival |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Described as well preserved and in excellent condition; it has remained a private residence since built. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Within district | Ottawa East Side Historic District |
| Coordinates | 41.34874, -88.82937 (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 93000324.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q4757425
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.