Gundlach-Grosse House
Why it's listed
Built in 1856-57 at 625 North Main Street in Columbia, Illinois, this hand-pressed brick house was designed as a double dwelling for brothers John and Philip Peter Gundlach and their families. It has a central hall plan repeated on each floor, a classically detailed entry with cast iron pilasters and Ionic columns, cast iron lintels with scroll pediments, and a corbeled brick frieze. A brick outbuilding, thought to be a former smokehouse, stands behind it. The house is described as an exceptional example of the Greek Revival homes German settlers built in Illinois, where masons often added brick ornament. John Gundlach served as a town trustee and as Columbia's third mayor, and the brothers owned the Monroe Brewery. In 1873 the house was sold to Ernst Grosse, who ran the Buck Tavern, and his family lived there until about 1950. Apart from rear additions, the house retains its original exterior, interior plan and woodwork.
Significance in brief: The nomination presents it as an exceptional example of the Greek Revival houses German settlers built in Illinois, with decorative corbeled brickwork typical of German masons. It is also tied to local figures, including John Gundlach, a Columbia trustee and mayor, and to the Gundlach brewery and the Grosse family's Buck Tavern.
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 78001173, listed December 18, 1978. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 625 N. Main St., Columbia |
|---|---|
| County | Monroe County |
| Listed | December 18, 1978 |
| Reference number | 78001173 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1857 |
| Architect / builder | Hill (?) - reportedly built by a Mr. Hill |
| Architectural style | Greek Revival (German settler adaptation) |
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | State |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Listed condition is excellent and the building is altered but on its original site; the form records rear additions and restorative work around 1950. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 38.44825, -90.20512 (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 78001173.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q16891953
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.