Massie Variety Store
Why it's listed
At 110 South Main Street in New Canton, Illinois, stands a two-story Italianate brick store building that has anchored the village's commercial center for more than a century and a half. Probably built between 1848 and 1850 by John Webb, it was later run by Amos Morey and then by Melville D. Massie, a Civil War veteran and state legislator. A rear addition followed around 1875. The building has a corbelled brick cornice, cast iron pilasters, large display windows and a recessed entrance. Over time it housed a general store, drug store and ice cream parlor, groceries, a post office and a toy store, while the upstairs served as an opera house, community hall, American Legion space and residence. The store closed in 1948, and the building later reopened for a toy store and an antique shop. Its listing rests on its role in the commerce and everyday life of this small farming community, and on its largely intact exterior and interior.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the building is significant under Criterion A for commerce because of its long role in New Canton's commercial development. It served as a mercantile, drug store, grocery, post office and toy store, and its upper floor held an opera house and community gathering space. The period of significance runs from circa 1850 to 1948, when the store closed.
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 04000864, listed August 20, 2004. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 110 S. Main St., New Canton |
|---|---|
| County | Pike County |
| Listed | August 20, 2004 |
| Reference number | 04000864 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | circa 1850-1948 |
| Architect / builder | Unknown |
| Architectural style | Italianate |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Commerce |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Described as in poor to fair condition: the upper story has water damage from roof leaks and unsafe interior stairs, while the roof was recently repaired and drainage problems corrected. Current function is listed as work in progress. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 39.63850, -91.09609 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
For an income-producing building, listing (individually or as a contributing building in a district) is the gateway to the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit on qualified rehabilitation costs, often stackable with state credits. Work claiming the credit must follow the Secretary of the Interior's Standards and be approved in advance.
Listing does not restrict a private owner acting without federal money or permits; where federal funding or licensing is involved, Section 106 review applies.
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 04000864.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q14687847
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.