Berlemann House
Why it's listed
Built around 1868, this one-story brick house at 115 South Main Street in Edwardsville is a modest but finely detailed example of Greek Revival residential design. It has a gable roof, a side-hall plan, an asymmetrical facade and four-over-four double-hung windows with segmental arches. The entrance is its standout feature, with Doric pilasters supporting a cornice and flattened pediment, and a recessed door with transom and side lights. Inside, the original Greek Revival trim, rough-sawn oak joists and pine floors survive. Local builder Samual Morrison and architect Charles Spillman are credited with its construction. Herman Berleman, a German immigrant carpenter, bought it in 1868 and added a frame wing at the rear; his family lived there until 1962. A state historic structures survey named it one of 42 outstanding early one-story Greek and Federal residences in Illinois. The city had once scheduled it for demolition, but local preservation plans called for its reuse.
Significance in brief: A state architectural survey identified it as one of 42 outstanding examples of early one-story Greek and Federal residences in Illinois. It is a typical Midwestern interpretation of Greek Revival design, made finer by an elaborately detailed entryway on a modest dwelling.
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 80001391, listed March 27, 1980. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 115 S. Main St., Edwardsville |
|---|---|
| County | Madison County |
| Listed | March 27, 1980 |
| Reference number | 80001391 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1800-1899 |
| Architect / builder | Samual Morrison/Charles Spillman |
| Architectural style | Greek Revival |
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | State |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | At the time of nomination the building was unoccupied and vacant, owned by the City of Edwardsville, and had been scheduled for demolition, though preservation and adaptive reuse were planned. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 38.81071, -89.95590 (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.
Noted as vacant in the nomination. Nomination documents can be decades old; current status may differ. If you are considering buying an empty listed property, read the due-diligence checklist.
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 80001391.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q16840689
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.