Freeman-Brewer-Sawyer House
Why it's listed
Built in 1840 on the west side of Main Street in Hillsboro, Illinois, this two-story frame house began as a textbook Greek Revival dwelling with a T-shaped plan, post-and-beam construction, weatherboard siding and a small central portico. It was reportedly meant as a student boarding house before Dr. Benjamin Shurtleff of Boston bought it for his daughter's family. In 1849 it passed to William Brewer, a merchant, probate judge and state legislator. His daughter and her husband, A. A. K. Sawyer, moved in during 1903 after it had stood vacant for a decade. Their two-year renovation added a rear second story, a two-story south bay, modern plumbing, electricity and heating, and a full-length Classical Revival porch with Tuscan columns. The unknown designer kept the additions classical, so the Greek Revival character remains clear. The house records both frontier-era Hillsboro and the town's coal-driven prosperity around 1900.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the house is significant under Criterion C for architecture because it combines Greek Revival and Classical Revival styles. It shows two distinct periods in Hillsboro's history: frontier settlement in 1840 and the prosperous coal-boom town of the early 1900s. The 1904 changes were made in keeping with the original classical character.
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 92001536, listed November 5, 1992. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 532 S. Main St., Hillsboro |
|---|---|
| County | Montgomery County |
| Listed | November 5, 1992 |
| Reference number | 92001536 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1840-1904 |
| Architect / builder | Unknown |
| Architectural style | Greek Revival; Classical Revival |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Described as in excellent condition, owned by the same family for over 140 years, and still used as a single dwelling. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 39.15630, -89.49393 (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 92001536.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q17299799
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.