Palmer, Col. Gustavus A., House
Also known as: Col. Palmer House
Approximate location: the National Park Service places this pin arbitrarily within the property, not at a surveyed point (stated accuracy ±12 m).
Why it's listed
Built around 1858 on Terra Cotta Road in Crystal Lake, this brick farmhouse was designed and built by stone mason Andrew Jackson Simon for Colonel Gustavius A. Palmer and his wife Henrietta. The two-story front section and smaller rear wing blend Federal and Greek Revival details, including a dentilated wood cornice and dressed limestone sills, lintels and watertable. Its foundation is notable for cobblestone veneer, with stones reportedly gathered from the Lake Michigan shore near Waukegan. Palmer arrived in Nunda Township about 1840 from New York, received bounty land for service in the Patriots War, and later became the first postmaster of Nunda and a founding member of the local Masonic lodge, which met in the house after a fire in 1868. The Palmer family held the property until 1926. Alterations have been modest, though a rear wing was raised to two stories in the 1950s. The city acquired the house in 1979 and planned its restoration for public use.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the house is a well-preserved example of local Neo-Classical Revival architecture, combining Federal and Greek Revival elements with a cobblestone foundation, and is the work of one of the area's first known local architects. It is also tied to Colonel Palmer, an early Nunda Township settler, first postmaster of Nunda, and a founder of the local Masonic lodge.
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 85001127, listed May 24, 1985. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 5516 Terra Cotta Rd., Crystal Lake |
|---|---|
| County | McHenry County |
| Listed | May 24, 1985 |
| Reference number | 85001127 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1858 |
| Architect / builder | Andrew Jackson Simon |
| Architectural style | Neo-Classical Revival (Federal and Greek Revival elements) |
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Owned by the City of Crystal Lake since 1979; the form lists it as unoccupied with work in progress, with plans for restoration as a historical museum and cultural arts center. |
| Acreage | 1.2 |
| Coordinates | 42.24882, -88.29613 (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.
Noted as vacant in the nomination. Nomination documents can be decades old; current status may differ. If you are considering buying an empty listed property, read the due-diligence checklist.
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 85001127.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q14687464
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.