Caldwell Farmstead
Also known as: Caldwell Mansion; Thomas House; Payne Thomas House
Why it's listed
Near Chatham in Sangamon County, this farmstead centers on a two-story brick house built in 1876 in the Towered Italianate Villa style. Its symmetrical plan, brick quoins at the corners, wide bracketed eaves, tall slender windows grouped in twos and threes, and three-story tower with a cupola are typical of the style. A wrought iron fence is original, while the front porch was added around 1900. Interior features include a curved walnut staircase and a foyer floor of alternating walnut and maple strips. The grounds also hold a square horse barn echoing the house's eaves, brackets and cupola, a brick smoke house, a brick garage, and a heavy-timber storage shed. The barn is one of the last square horse barns in the county. The property was also tied to Ben F. Caldwell, a farmer, banker and businessman who served four terms as a U.S. Congressman from 1898 and ran unsuccessfully for governor in 1912. The architect and builder are unknown.
Significance in brief: The nomination cites architecture, as a well-preserved local example of the Towered Italianate style, and politics/government, through the career of Benjamin Caldwell. The house and the Brinkerhoff house in Springfield are described as the only remaining Towered Italianate examples in Sangamon County. The barn is noted as one of the last square horse barns 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 84001145, listed August 16, 1984. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | IL 4, Chatham |
|---|---|
| County | Sangamon County |
| Listed | August 16, 1984 |
| Reference number | 84001145 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1800-1899 (specific dates 1874-76) |
| Architectural style | Towered Italianate Villa |
| Areas of significance | Politics/Government, Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Marked unoccupied on the form's status line and listed in excellent condition, with a private residence use; the house has a modern swimming pool and a newer kitchen. |
| Acreage | 1.9 |
| Coordinates | 39.70265, -89.70582 (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 84001145.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q19460766
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.