Hoblit House
Why it's listed
Built in late 1874 for H. B. Schuler, this two-story brick house at 505 North College Avenue in Lincoln, Illinois, is a well-kept example of Italianate design. Wide cornices carry paired brackets, the corners have brick quoins, and the low-pitched hipped roof sits above tall arched windows with brick hoods and limestone sills. The walls are laid in English bond with local Lincoln brick. Inside, a walnut staircase, marble fireplaces, tall parlor windows and archways survive. The design is attributed to George W. Gale, a Virginia-born architect and contractor who also supervised University Hall at Lincoln College. Frank Hoblit, a local bank president, bought the property in 1882, and his family kept it into the twentieth century. Norma Hoblit Woods acquired it in 1919 and made changes including a sleeping porch and new floors. The nomination presents the house as a largely original, well-maintained Italianate residence, listed for its architecture.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the house is a true, well-preserved expression of the Italianate style under Criterion C, with paired cornice brackets, brick quoins, low hipped roof and arched windows. It is also tied to architect George W. Gale, who designed University Hall at Lincoln College, and to the Hoblit and Woods families.
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 07000454, listed May 22, 2007. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 505 N. College Ave., Lincoln |
|---|---|
| County | Logan County |
| Listed | May 22, 2007 |
| Reference number | 07000454 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Architect / builder | George W. Gale (also spelled Gayle in the description) |
| Architectural style | Late Victorian - Italianate |
| Criteria |
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| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Currently in use as a single-dwelling residence; the form says its integrity has been largely maintained, with changes mainly to the northwest porches. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 40.15398, -89.36459 (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 07000454.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q14687552
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.