Blackman, George, House
Why it's listed
Built in 1842-43 on South Main Street in Hillsboro, Illinois, the George Blackman House is a 1 1/2 story frame dwelling with a stone foundation, side gable roof and a full-width front porch carried on four slender columns. George Blackman, a Massachusetts-born cabinetmaker who came to Illinois in 1839 with his father James, did most of the construction himself, using a large quantity of black walnut for woodwork and flooring. His diary records a building cost of $1,226.92. Beside the house he ran a wagon and carriage shop, which has since been demolished along with the family's other shop buildings. The house is considered architecturally unusual for the area. Most surviving mid-19th century homes in Hillsboro are two-story square or rectangular buildings, while this one shows southern influence in its porch and central-hall plan, resembling early houses of St. Louis. Its stone-walled cellar reflects New England habits. Two rooms were added at the rear more than a century ago.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the house is significant for its architecture, which is unique in the Hillsboro area. Its recessed porch and floor plan show southern influence, resembling the "Creole" houses of old St. Louis, in contrast to the two-story New England-style houses nearby. Combined with a Yankee-style cellar, it blends northern and southern building traditions. It is also the only remaining reminder of the Blackman family's craft businesses.
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 86003180, listed November 6, 1986. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 904 S. Main St., Hillsboro |
|---|---|
| County | Montgomery County |
| Listed | November 6, 1986 |
| Reference number | 86003180 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1800-1899 (specific dates 1842-1843) |
| Architect / builder | George Blackman |
| Architectural style | Southern/"Creole" influenced style with Greek Revival touches |
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Listed as occupied and in use as a private residence; condition marked good and altered, on its original site. |
| Acreage | 0.5 |
| Coordinates | 39.15306, -89.49370 (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 86003180.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q17300088
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.