Hotel Stratford
Also known as: Illini Hotel
Why it's listed
Rising five stories at the southeast corner of Market and Third streets in downtown Alton, this brick hotel opened in 1909 as the Illini Hotel and was renamed the Hotel Stratford in 1925. St. Louis architects Barnett, Haynes & Barnett designed it in the Classical Revival style, with limestone and terra cotta trim, a concrete frame and locally made paving-type brick. A two-story wing holds the dining rooms and kitchen. Inside, the lobby keeps coffered plaster ceilings, Doric columns and a marble stair, and 1940s frescos decorate the lounge. It was promoted as fireproof and cost $141,000 to build. Alton grew around glass, flour, brick and other industries, and the hotel served visitors and conventions in that city. It is the only pre-1950 commercial hotel left in Alton and has operated continuously since opening. Its period of significance runs from 1909 to 1950, and it was recognized for its role in local commerce.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues local significance in commerce under Criterion A. It is the sole surviving pre-1950 commercial hotel in Alton and reflects the role hotels played in the largest city in Madison County. It has operated continuously as a hotel since opening in 1909.
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 99001709, listed January 27, 2000. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 229 Market St., Alton |
|---|---|
| County | Madison County |
| Listed | January 27, 2000 |
| Reference number | 99001709 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1909-1950 |
| Architect / builder | Barnett, Haynes & Barnett, St. Louis, MO; C.L. Gray Construction Co., E. St. Louis, IL |
| Architectural style | Classical Revival |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Commerce |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Described as operating continuously as a hotel since September 4, 1909, with structural and historical integrity largely preserved apart from minor window changes and a covered cornice. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Within district | Middletown Historic District |
| Coordinates | 38.89078, -90.18520 (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 99001709.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q16892490
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.