White Building
Also known as: Heberling Building
Why it's listed
Rising five stories at the corner of Douglas and Prairie Streets in Bloomington, this red brick loft building was completed in 1895 for Samuel R. White, a local contractor and manufacturer. It was built to house his store and bank fixture business, with retail space on the ground floor and room for other small firms above. A three-story extension, probably older, was joined to it soon after. Heavy timber framing, load-bearing brick walls, and thick masonry fire-proof vaults on each floor reflect concern for safety and efficient production. The street facades have brick pilasters, segmental arched window groups, limestone sills and a corbeled cornice, giving a commercial look to an industrial building. Storefronts were altered around 1910 and the entrance in the 1920s, but the window openings and details remain. It was recognized for architecture as the best remaining example of its type in Bloomington. The building is currently vacant, with upper floors used for storage.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues it is a locally significant example of a late nineteenth-century Commercial Style industrial building under Criterion C. It combines timber loft construction, fire-safety features and classical detailing in a refined facade. It is described as the best remaining example of its type in Bloomington.
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 94000612, listed June 17, 1994. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 215--223 E. Douglas St., Bloomington |
|---|---|
| County | McLean County |
| Listed | June 17, 1994 |
| Reference number | 94000612 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1894 C. 1920s |
| Architect / builder | White, Samuel R., builder |
| Architectural style | Commercial Style |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Listed as vacant in the function section; the upper floors are used only for storage and the top floor of the extension as an artist's studio. Structurally in good condition with excellent integrity of street facades. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 40.48276, -88.99121 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
For an income-producing building, listing (individually or as a contributing building in a district) is the gateway to the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit on qualified rehabilitation costs, often stackable with state credits. Work claiming the credit must follow the Secretary of the Interior's Standards and be approved in advance.
Listing does not restrict a private owner acting without federal money or permits; where federal funding or licensing is involved, Section 106 review applies.
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 94000612.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q7994504
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.