Ulery, Eli, House
Also known as: Woodbine Farm
Why it's listed
Built around 1860 southeast of Mount Zion in Macon County, Illinois, this two-story brick farmhouse is Italianate in style. It has a cubic form, a hipped roof topped by a cupola, four double chimneys, decorative brackets under the eaves and limestone window sills and lintels. Inside, a central hall divides a four-over-four floor plan, and the two front rooms have marble fireplaces. Alterations include a replaced front porch, a rear addition rebuilt in the 1940s and a dining room converted to a kitchen. The house was built by Eli Ulery, who came from Pennsylvania in the 1830s to buy, feed and drive cattle to eastern markets. After marrying in 1851 he bought 600 acres and settled there, later holding 1,180 acres and adding horse raising and farming. His son, Eli S. Ulery, expanded the operation and bought land for a Chautauqua park. The house is recognized for these associations with the settlement and cattle economy of central Illinois.
Significance in brief: The house is tied to Eli Ulery and his son Eli S. Ulery, who helped settle and develop the area through cattle ranching, horse raising and farming. The elder Ulery was named in county histories as a dealer in and shipper of stock. The nomination describes him as a prominent, though not the largest, producer in central Illinois cattle feeding.
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 79000854, listed October 1, 1979. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | SE of Mount Zion on SR 60, Mount Zion |
|---|---|
| County | Macon County |
| Listed | October 1, 1979 |
| Reference number | 79000854 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1800-1899, 1900- |
| Architectural style | Italianate |
| Areas of significance | Exploration/Settlement |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Occupied private residence in good condition; the roof was replaced in 1978 and the brick recently tuckpointed. The property is still owned by the family that bought it in 1932. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 39.76336, -88.83526 (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 79000854.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q20710650
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.