Wright, Stephen, House
Why it's listed
Built around 1895 by Stephen Wright, this two-story frame house at 612 Chicago Road in Paw Paw, Illinois, sits along the old Stage Coach Trail once used by travelers between Chicago and Galena. It is a local example of Queen Anne architecture, with a hipped roof, intersecting gables, an irregular plan, clapboard siding on a limestone foundation, decorative shingles, canted bays and window surrounds with rondels and dentils. Inside, the first floor has ornate moldings with carved acanthus leaves, pocket doors, stained glass, a majolica-tiled fireplace and an open staircase. Later owners included Ezra Bretz, who bought it in 1906. It was divided into two apartments in the 1940s and later served as a church parsonage before returning to single-family use. Changes have been minor, and the porch is the main exterior alteration. Its well-preserved Queen Anne character is the basis for its listing.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the house is a good local example of Queen Anne architecture under Criterion C. It keeps its original cedar siding, ornamental rondels, decorative shingles, stained glass and ornate interior moldings, and its floor plan is unaltered with no additions.
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 05000433, listed May 22, 2005. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 612 Chicago Rd., Paw Paw |
|---|---|
| County | Lee County |
| Listed | May 22, 2005 |
| Reference number | 05000433 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | ca. 1895 |
| Architect / builder | Unknown |
| Architectural style | Late Victorian: Queen Anne |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Used as a single-family residence; the original front porch columns, damaged by rot, were being repaired and replaced with temporary supports. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 41.69245, -88.98824 (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 05000433.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q7610891
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.