Miller-Davis Law Buildings
Why it's listed
Two small brick buildings at the corner of Main and Front Streets in Bloomington date to 1843, when James Miller and David Davis built the second and third brick business buildings in the young town. The Miller building, two stories with an attic, held a drug store on the ground floor for 128 years, while its upper floor served as law offices. Davis's one-story office next door gained a second story in the late 1850s. Attorneys such as Asahel Gridley and John M. Scott worked here, and Davis practiced from his office until he became a circuit judge in 1848. Lincoln and Douglas were among the notable visitors reported by a local newspaper. The buildings are the oldest surviving structures downtown and the only good non-residential examples of 1840s architecture in the county. Later remodeling, including plate glass, a tin ceiling and mid-twentieth-century facades, hid the original appearance, and restoration is planned.
Significance in brief: They are the oldest surviving structures in downtown Bloomington and the only good examples of non-residential 1840s architecture left in McLean County. Their upstairs and office rooms housed early lawyers and politicians, including Asahel Gridley, John M. Scott and David Davis, and were visited by Abraham Lincoln and Stephen Douglas.
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 79003162, listed April 27, 1979. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 101--103 N. Main St. and 102--104 E. Front St., Bloomington |
|---|---|
| County | McLean County |
| Listed | April 27, 1979 |
| Reference number | 79003162 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1843 |
| Architect / builder | James Miller, James Goodheart, Zachariah Lawrence, Andy Matthews |
| Architectural style | Vernacular interpretation of Greek Revival |
| Areas of significance | Commerce, Law, Politics/Government |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Later facades and interior alterations from 1950 to 1970 obscure the original structure; restoration to the 1840s appearance is planned by the historical society. |
| Acreage | 0.4 |
| Within district | Bloomington Central Business District |
| Coordinates | 40.47997, -88.99326 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
National Register listing is honorary: it recognises significance and does not restrict what a private owner may do without federal money or permits. It unlocks the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit for income-producing buildings, state credits in many states, and Section 106 review when federal agencies are involved. See what listing means in practice.
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 79003162.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q6859037
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.