Hopkinson, Ambrose, House
Why it's listed
Built in 1874 by Ambrose Hopkinson, this two-story brick house at the corner of West Elm Street and Kitchell Avenue in Olney, Illinois, is an asymmetrical example of Italianate design. Its low-pitched hip roof has wide overhanging eaves with brackets, and the tall, narrow windows are arched at the top. The walls are solid brick laid in a seven-to-one stretcher-to-header pattern. Inside, a spiral staircase of walnut, oak and cherry dominates the foyer, and several rooms have parquet floors. Around 1907 a rear room was added for a new kitchen, letting the old kitchen become a dining room. Apart from that addition and a porch reconstructed during a late 1980s restoration, the house remains close to its original form. It was recognised for its architecture as a good representative of the Italianate style, with a period of significance running from 1874 to 1907. The house now operates as a museum, having originally served as a private home.
Significance in brief: The house is locally significant under Criterion C as a good representative example of an Italianate house, specifically the asymmetrical subtype. It retains integrity of setting, location, design, workmanship, material and feeling. Its one major change was a kitchen addition around 1907.
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 01000083, listed February 9, 2001. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 122 W. Elm St., Olney |
|---|---|
| County | Richland County |
| Listed | February 9, 2001 |
| Reference number | 01000083 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1874-1907 |
| Architect / builder | Ambrose Hopkinson, builder |
| Architectural style | Italianate |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Historic use was a single dwelling; current use is a museum. The house was restored in the late 1980s, and the library serves as a kitchenette and office for the museum. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 38.72899, -88.08581 (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 01000083.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q16844777
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.