Weir, John, House
Also known as: Madison County Historical Museum
Why it's listed
Built in 1836, this two and a half story brick house at 715 N. Main Street in Edwardsville was the home and medical office of Dr. John Weir. Its design came from Philadelphia row house plans that Weir carried from the East Coast. The walls are local brick, the beams and trusses are pegged oak, and a central hall runs front to back, with four rooms on each of two floors. Double parapeted chimneys rise on the north and south walls. The entrance has a fan light, and a side door once led to Weir's office. Later changes include a rear annex added in 1929, when the house held apartments; the apartments were removed in 1963. The house is the second oldest in Edwardsville, after the Stephenson House, and one of few Federal style houses left in the town. Three generations of the Weir family lived there before it was sold in 1963 to the Madison County Historical Society, which operates it as a museum.
Significance in brief: It is the second oldest house in Edwardsville and one of the few surviving Federal style houses in the town. It was built from "Philadelphia row house" plans that Dr. John Weir brought from the East Coast. The nomination also ties it to Weir's medical practice and to three generations of his family.
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 83000329, listed May 9, 1983. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 715 N. Main St., Edwardsville |
|---|---|
| County | Madison County |
| Listed | May 9, 1983 |
| Reference number | 83000329 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1800-1899 (specific date 1836) |
| Architectural style | Federal |
| Areas of significance | Health/Medicine, Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Occupied and in use as the Madison County Historical Museum; maintained by the county historical society. Condition is marked excellent, with alterations including a 1929 rear annex. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 38.81660, -89.96190 (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 83000329.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q16986922
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.