Hickox, Virgil, House
Also known as: Norb Andy's Building
Why it's listed
Built in stages beginning in 1839, this brick house at 518 East Capitol Avenue in Springfield began as a one-story frame or masonry dwelling and was gradually enlarged into a two-story Italianate residence with overhanging eaves, brackets, a low-pitched hip roof and arched second-floor windows. It sits over an English basement, and the bricks were fired on the site. Virgil Hickox lived here from 1839 until his death in 1880. A storekeeper and attorney, he helped bring the Chicago & Alton Railroad to Springfield, served as Canal Commissioner, led the state Democratic committee and had professional dealings with Abraham Lincoln. It is described as the oldest and last single-family residence left in the downtown business district. Later it housed the Sangamo Club, a funeral parlor, and various businesses, and the basement became the Norb Andy Tabarin, a haunt of legislators and governors. After standing abandoned from 1965 to 1980, it underwent a careful rehabilitation.
Significance in brief: The nomination calls it Springfield's oldest and last single-family residence left standing in the central business district. It was home from 1839 to 1880 to Virgil Hickox, a storekeeper, attorney, railroad promoter, Canal Commissioner and Democratic state chairman who was professionally associated with Abraham Lincoln. Later uses, including the Sangamo Club headquarters and the Norb Andy Tabarin, tied it to state politicians.
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 82002600, listed March 5, 1982. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 518 E. Capitol Ave., Springfield |
|---|---|
| County | Sangamon County |
| Listed | March 5, 1982 |
| Reference number | 82002600 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1839-1930 |
| Architectural style | Italianate |
| Areas of significance | Politics/Government |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Abandoned from 1965 to 1980; a major rehabilitation was nearly complete at the time of nomination. Upper floors were to serve as law offices, and the lower level remained in use as the Norb Andy Tabarin. |
| Acreage | 0.6 |
| Coordinates | 39.79810, -89.64883 (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 82002600.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q19462301
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.