Commercial House
Also known as: Henderson House
Why it's listed
Built in 1849 as the private house of William J. Patterson, this two-story brick building at Fourth and Main Streets in Keithsburg, Illinois, was sold within a year and converted into a hotel called the Commercial House. It has an L-shaped plan, a stone foundation, a low-pitched roof with small wooden brackets and other Italianate details. Interior walls, woodwork, flooring and many square-nailed trim pieces are original, and the hotel has eleven rooms on the first floor and thirteen on the second. Additions were made in 1890 and 1938. The hotel's location near the county courthouse, built across the street in 1851, made it a stopping place for people visiting on commercial, political or legal business. It kept serving travellers after the county seat moved to Aledo in 1857, supported by river trade and sawmilling. Renamed Henderson House in the 1930s, it is recognized for its link to the town's commercial growth.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the building has integrity and is closely associated with the commercial development of Keithsburg (criterion B). It served travellers on commercial, political and legal business, first as the county seat's hotel and later during the river trade and sawmilling boom. Its prominence declined in the early twentieth century as the town lost its commercial role.
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 83000332, listed May 9, 1983. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 4th and Main St., Keithsburg |
|---|---|
| County | Mercer County |
| Listed | May 9, 1983 |
| Reference number | 83000332 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1849-1938 |
| Architectural style | Italianate |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Commerce |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Listed as unoccupied with work in progress; wiring was being updated and a roof overhang had been removed after heavy damage and temporary repair. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 41.10559, -90.94737 (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 83000332.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q25205149
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.