Badollet House
Why it's listed
Built in 1854, with a rear wing added in 1855, this two-story brick house in Salem, Illinois, was the first home of Howard and Tabitha (Pace) Badollet. Howard Badollet came from Ohio and worked in fur trading, dry goods and hardware, and lumber, supplying railroad ties to the Ohio and Mississippi Railroad. The house has a sandstone foundation, solid brick walls four courses thick, hewn white oak framing, and a central-hall plan with four rooms over four. Its hipped roof, symmetrical windows with segmental arches, and paired eave brackets reflect the Italianate style, with decorative pieces probably added in the 1860s or 1870s. The nomination describes it as the oldest brick home in Salem and the only undisturbed example of its style and period left in town, since similar buildings were demolished in the 1960s and 1970s. Later owners included the Jennings and White families, both prominent locally. It was listed for architecture, with significance extending to 1880.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues architectural significance under Criterion C as a good example of mid-nineteenth century classical architecture with Italianate ornamentation. It is described as the only remaining undisturbed example of this style and period in Salem and the oldest brick home in the city. The period of significance runs to 1880 to account for Italianate details likely added before then.
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 90001839, listed December 6, 1990. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 310 N. Washington St., Salem |
|---|---|
| County | Marion County |
| Listed | December 6, 1990 |
| Reference number | 90001839 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1854 - 1880 |
| Architectural style | Italianate |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Private residence, described as in excellent condition for restoration, with some foundation settling; restoration work was in progress at the time of nomination. |
| Acreage | 1 |
| Coordinates | 38.62893, -88.94438 (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 90001839.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q4841071
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.