Thomas, Lewis H., House
Why it's listed
Near Virden, Illinois, a large brick farmhouse rises 80 feet to its observatory tower beside Interstate 55. Lewis H. Thomas built it as the center of his Union Grove Stock Farm, using bricks made on the farm and a design credited to architect Elijah E. Myers. A fire in 1888 burned off the roof, and the rebuilding changed the roof line and removed Victorian exterior details, leaving a towered Italianate house. It has 15 rooms, seven fireplaces, original hardware and an attic apiary that Thomas arranged so bees could pass through the walls. A smokehouse and barn of the same period remain nearby. The property is also tied to agriculture. Thomas entered 970 acres of prairie in 1851, planted extensive Osage Orange hedges, and won state agricultural society medals in 1856 and 1858 for hedges and cultivated timber. The farm raised purebred sheep, cattle and hogs and was a showplace for visitors.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the house is a well-preserved example of a known Victorian architect's design, modified by the 1888 fire into a towered Italianate form that reflects changing tastes. It is also significant for agriculture, because Thomas pioneered Osage Orange hedge fencing and won state agricultural awards. The form suggests the farm may be the most intact large-scale farm of its era in the county.
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 83003586, listed December 7, 1983. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | N. Virden Rd., Virden |
|---|---|
| County | Montgomery County |
| Listed | December 7, 1983 |
| Reference number | 83003586 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1800-1899 |
| Architect / builder | Elijah E. Myers |
| Architectural style | Towered Italianate (originally Victorian) |
| Areas of significance | Architecture, Agriculture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Marked unoccupied on the form; renovation was in progress, with a new roof, repaired windows and rebuilt porches. The house is described as in good condition on its original site. |
| Acreage | 5.1 |
| Coordinates | 39.50859, -89.64366 (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 83003586.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q17300096
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.