Geister, Christian, House
Why it's listed
Completed in 1894 at 302 South Main Street in Algonquin, Illinois, this three-story frame house is a Queen Anne residence with a steeply pitched cross-gabled roof and a square corner turret. Wood clapboard covers a limestone foundation, and the exterior carries patterned shingles, fish scales, brackets, scrolls, sunbursts, roundels and gingerbread. Leaded stained glass windows, an etched Eastlake door and two-story and east porches add to the detail. Local carpenter Amos Wilburn is presumed to have built it, based on his name carved into a stair plank found during a 2004 rehabilitation. Local newspapers called the house palatial when it was new. It was later converted to sleeping rooms during World War II and is now a business. Apart from a 1909 porch and a removable ADA ramp, the exterior is described as unchanged since completion. It was listed for its value as a good local example of Queen Anne architecture.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the house is a good local example of Queen Anne architecture under Criterion C. It retains its turret, patterned shingles, sunbursts, roundels, porches and other ornamentation, with its exterior largely unchanged since 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 07000453, listed September 25, 2007. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 302 S. Main St., Algonquin |
|---|---|
| County | McHenry County |
| Listed | September 25, 2007 |
| Reference number | 07000453 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1894 |
| Architect / builder | Wilburn, Amos |
| Architectural style | Late Victorian: Queen Anne |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Now used as a business (specialty store/spa). Rehabilitated in 2004 with new plumbing, electrical work and added interior walls; an easily removable ADA ramp was added. |
| Acreage | 1 |
| Coordinates | 42.16536, -88.29406 (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 07000453.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q14687448
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.