Jones House
Why it's listed
Built in 1858 at 314 E. Madison Street in Pontiac, this two-story brick house is a pre-Civil War example of Gothic Revival design. It has 8-inch brick bearing walls on a limestone rubble and brick foundation, a symmetrical five-bay front, and three gables with Gothic casement windows. The original front door with sidelights and transom survives, and much of the interior plaster, pine flooring, trim, doors and stairs remains. Its architect and builder are unknown. The house is considered locally unique as one of few surviving pre-Civil War Gothic Revival residences in Livingston County and the second oldest brick house in Pontiac. It was first the home of John Dehner, a businessman involved in an early railroad venture and the area's first coal mining operation. Later it was home to Henry C. Jones, who founded the Free Press and developed the local light and power company. After fire damage in 1975, the county historical society bought it in 1976 to restore it as a museum.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the house is architecturally important because it is locally unique: one of the few pre-Civil War Gothic Revival residences surviving in Livingston County and the second oldest brick house in Pontiac. It is also significant as the home of two prominent Pontiac businessmen, John Dehner and later Henry C. Jones.
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 78001163, listed May 5, 1978. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 314 E. Madison St., Pontiac |
|---|---|
| County | Livingston County |
| Listed | May 5, 1978 |
| Reference number | 78001163 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1800-1899 |
| Architect / builder | unknown |
| Architectural style | Gothic Revival |
| Areas of significance | Commerce, Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Damaged by fire in 1975 and slated for demolition, then bought by the county historical society in 1976 for restoration as a county museum; condition marked fair and altered. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 40.87947, -88.62590 (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 78001163.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q1703377
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.