Stephenson, Benjamin, House
Also known as: Edwards House
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Why it's listed
Built in 1820 at 409 South Buchanan Street in Edwardsville, this two-story Federal style house was the home and business and political headquarters of Col. Benjamin Stephenson. Its solid brick walls are three courses thick, and the bricks were made on site by Stephenson's indentured servants. The original block has four square rooms, a seven-foot central hall with the staircase, and a fireplace in each room with Adam-style mantels. A two-story wing of matching brick replaced a detached kitchen in the 1840s, giving the house an ell shape. A Victorian front porch added in 1902 was removed in the 1940s, restoring the east facade. Stephenson served as a militia officer, Illinois adjutant general, territorial congressional delegate, land office receiver and treaty negotiator with the Kickapoo, and he founded Edwardsville's first bank. The house is also linked to Ninian Edwards, whose wife owned it from 1834 to 1837. It remains the oldest brick structure in the town.
Significance in brief: The house is tied to Col. Benjamin Stephenson, an early Illinois military officer, congressional delegate, treaty negotiator and Edwardsville banker and civic leader. It is also linked to Ninian Edwards and his family, and to Col. James W. Stephenson. The nomination calls it the oldest brick structure in Edwardsville and notes no other house so connected to Stephenson remains.
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 80001395, listed May 31, 1980. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 409 S. Buchanan St., Edwardsville |
|---|---|
| County | Madison County |
| Listed | May 31, 1980 |
| Reference number | 80001395 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1800-1899 |
| Architect / builder | Benjamin Stephenson |
| Architectural style | Early Federal |
| Areas of significance | Native American, Exploration/Settlement, Politics/Government, Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Occupied as a private residence; condition listed as excellent, with the original site retained and some alterations. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 38.80710, -89.95265 (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 80001395.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q4889254
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.