Maeystown Historic District
Why it's listed
Maeystown is a small Illinois village in southwestern Monroe County, set above the bluffs that separate the Mississippi River flood plain from the uplands. The historic district takes in the whole village as it stood in 1973, matching the old McRoberts claim that Jacob Maeys bought in 1848 and platted in 1856. German immigrants, many of them refugees from the 1848 revolutions, settled the town and kept their language and customs for generations. Its 62 major structures, mostly built before World War I, include limestone, brick and frame houses, a flour mill, a tavern and hotel, a bank, an 1881 stone bridge and the 1866-68 limestone church of St. John. Few buildings would stand out individually, but together with their outbuildings and wooded surroundings they form a rural streetscape the nomination describes as nearly unique in Illinois. Their modest, practical design reflects a self-sufficient farming community.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues that the village's value lies in the whole rather than in any single building. Its 19th-century German settlement pattern, limestone, brick and frame buildings, outbuildings and wooded natural setting are described as rarely found elsewhere in Illinois. It was evaluated as significant at the state level.
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 78001174, listed June 23, 1978. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | SR 7, Maeystown |
|---|---|
| County | Monroe County |
| Listed | June 23, 1978 |
| Reference number | 78001174 |
| Resource type | District |
| Architectural style | Simplified local variants of Greek Revival, Italianate and Queen Anne; few pure examples of any style |
| Areas of significance | European, Exploration/Settlement, Architecture |
| Level of significance | State |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Of 62 major structures, most predate World War I. Recent buildings are mostly sympathetic, and the only intrusions are two house trailers. Some buildings are re-sided or altered, and one house is noted as abandoned. |
| Acreage | 100 |
| Coordinates | 38.22643, -90.23364 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
This is a historic district. Buildings within its boundary are either contributing (they add to the district's significance) or non-contributing. Owners of contributing income-producing buildings can claim the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit; homeowners should look at state credits. National Register districts impose no design review by themselves; a local historic district ordinance, if one exists, does (the difference explained).
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 78001174.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q2615382
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.