Bretz, John F., House and Warehouse
Why it's listed
Built around 1886 at 1113 North Fifth Street in Springfield, this two-story frame house was the residence of John F. Bretz, a prominent building contractor. It sits in the Enos Park neighborhood, once one of the city's most prestigious residential areas. The house is Queen Anne in style, with a hipped roof and lower cross gables, spindlework, ornamental wall shingles, metal roof cresting, bay windows, and a wraparound front porch with Tuscan columns on rock-faced stone piers. Behind it, next to the alley, stands a two-story flat-roofed brick warehouse, probably built about 1896-1900 and used in the family contracting business. The house was divided into multiple-family housing around 1916, then restored in 1998-9 using an 1898 published photograph as the guide. It was recognized for its link to Bretz, for its architecture, and for its connection to Springfield's growth and public works between 1886 and 1905, including street paving and sewers.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues significance under Criteria B and C, with areas of Community Planning and Development and Architecture. It is tied to John F. Bretz, a prominent contractor, and to Springfield's street paving and sewer improvements of the period. The house is a well-preserved example of Queen Anne design in the Enos Park neighborhood.
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 00000945, listed August 10, 2000. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 113 N. Fifth St., Springfield |
|---|---|
| County | Sangamon County |
| Listed | August 10, 2000 |
| Reference number | 00000945 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1886-1905 |
| Architect / builder | Unknown |
| Architectural style | Queen Anne |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Community Planning and Development, Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Exterior restored to its ca. 1898 appearance and interior renovated in 1998-9; historically converted to multiple-family housing around 1916 and now a single dwelling. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 39.81412, -89.64956 (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 00000945.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q19460656
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.