Hibbard, Charles H., House
Also known as: Cupola House
Why it's listed
Known locally as Cupola House, this two-story frame residence on West Grant Highway in Marengo was built for Charles H. Hibbard, who opened the town's first store in 1838 and later ran a nursery of more than ten acres of trees. The builder was O. P. Rogers of Coral Township, who built at least three other large houses nearby, though those appear to be altered. The house has a cubic mass, a low hip roof topped by an octagonal cupola, bracketed eaves and a full-width front porch. Inside, a central hall leads to a circular walnut staircase, with octagonal rooms on either side. Alterations are limited to a replaced porch railing, concrete steps, added bathrooms and white paint over the walnut woodwork in 1914. The exact construction date is uncertain: family recollection says 1847, and a drawing appears on an 1862 map. A 1974 state survey called it the most significant Italianate house in Marengo.
Significance in brief: The nomination calls it a fine example of a frame Italianate house that remains basically unaltered from its 1862 appearance. A continuation sheet cites a 1974 state survey naming it the most significant Italianate house in Marengo. It was built for Charles H. Hibbard, who opened Marengo's first store in 1838 and ran one of the area's largest nurseries.
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 79003113, listed February 14, 1979. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 413 W. Grant Hwy., Marengo |
|---|---|
| County | McHenry County |
| Listed | February 14, 1979 |
| Reference number | 79003113 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | Prior to 1862 |
| Architect / builder | O. P. Rogers |
| Architectural style | Italianate |
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Listed as occupied, privately owned and used as a private residence; condition marked excellent and largely unaltered. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 42.24841, -88.61262 (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 79003113.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q5078577
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.