Post House
Why it's listed
Built in 1837-38 for William Post on the State Road north of Lower Alton, this 1 1/2 story house at 1516 State Street follows the Greek temple form. A pedimented gable front rests on a wide entablature carried by four fluted Doric columns, with porches continuing partway down each side. The original section is limestone with 20-inch walls, joined with mortised and pinned timbers. A brick rear addition was built after 1860 by James Patterson of the Patterson Iron Works, who bought the house in 1854. Post was a steamboat captain, tavern proprietor and twice mayor of Alton. Later the house was rented for years and fell into poor repair before William Hancock bought it in 1922 and altered the roof, dormers and stairway. The nomination values it as a well-crafted example of Illinois Greek Revival design in local materials, little changed in basic form and set above the street behind a stone retaining wall.
Significance in brief: The nomination calls it a superior example of early Illinois Greek Revival domestic architecture, built from local limestone and timber by local craftsmen. Its basic form is little altered, and it is associated with two prominent Altonians, William Post and James Patterson. Its setting above the street, behind a stone retaining wall, also enhances its design.
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 80001390, listed May 28, 1980. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 1516 State St., Alton |
|---|---|
| County | Madison County |
| Listed | May 28, 1980 |
| Reference number | 80001390 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1800-1899 |
| Architectural style | Greek Revival |
| Areas of significance | Industry, Commerce, Politics/Government, Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Occupied as a private residence; described as in excellent condition and excellently maintained by its owners. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 38.90607, -90.19543 (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 80001390.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q16898792
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.