Robinson, J. L., General Store
Also known as: Hagaman Store
Why it's listed
Built in 1881 by railroad worker Charles Crossland Robinson, this wood frame, false-front general store in Hagaman, Macoupin County, measures 80 by 40 feet and is made of native materials. Its foundation uses piled granite with oak sills, the walls are sheathed in wide boards, and a tin ceiling covers the main trading area. A roofed portico runs across the front, and a single chimney served three wood and coal stoves. The store supplied seed, fertilizer and household goods to the Chesterfield area, and doubled as the post office for Western Mound Township and an express agency shipping produce and livestock on two railroads. It was the first local building with electricity, from a Delco system, and the site of the first telephone and telegraph. It also served as Democratic Party headquarters before the 1932 election. It is the only surviving pre-1900 building in the area, alongside St. Catherine's Church and the Hagaman Town Hall.
Significance in brief: The store was the focal point for the Chesterfield area's needs, supplying seed, fertilizer and household goods, and serving as post office and express agency for two railroads. It was the first building in the community with electricity, a telephone and a telegraph, and was a Democratic Party organizing headquarters before the 1932 election. It is also the only surviving pre-1900 building in the area.
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 80001386, listed September 12, 1980. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | Off IL 108, Hagaman |
|---|---|
| County | Macoupin County |
| Listed | September 12, 1980 |
| Reference number | 80001386 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1800-1899 |
| Architect / builder | Charles Crossland Robinson |
| Architectural style | Wood frame, false front commercial building |
| Areas of significance | Commerce, Communications |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Listed as unoccupied and in fair condition, unaltered and on its original site; the statement of significance says the store still functions much as it did a hundred years ago. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 39.30358, -90.07976 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
For an income-producing building, listing (individually or as a contributing building in a district) is the gateway to the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit on qualified rehabilitation costs, often stackable with state credits. Work claiming the credit must follow the Secretary of the Interior's Standards and be approved in advance.
Listing does not restrict a private owner acting without federal money or permits; where federal funding or licensing is involved, Section 106 review applies.
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 80001386.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q16892768
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.