Price/Wheeler House
Approximate location: the National Park Service places this pin arbitrarily within the property, not at a surveyed point (stated accuracy ±12 m).
Why it's listed
Built in 1899 at 618 South Seventh Street in Springfield, this symmetrical, box-like house has a hip roof, oversized dormers and Palladian windows. Its two-story entrance portico, with a rough ashlar base, Ionic columns, decorative frieze and dentiled cornice, marks it as a loose interpretation of the grand classical style. Only the off-center front door breaks the symmetry of the facade. Isaiah Price, a clothing and tailoring entrepreneur, had it built. At the time, Springfield's new mansions and public buildings were mostly Romanesque revival, Queen Anne or shingle style, and classical design appeared only in added porch details. The house is described as the city's first fully developed classical revival house after the 1892 World's Columbian Exposition. After Price died unexpectedly, his widow sold it, and in 1904 postmaster and former mayor Loren Wheeler bought it. The house was being restored, and was vacant, when it was listed for its local architectural importance.
Significance in brief: The nomination calls it the city's first fully developed classical revival house built after the 1892 World's Columbian Exposition. In 1899 Springfield's fashionable buildings were still Romanesque revival, Queen Anne or shingle style, so the house was a radical departure. Its surviving detail and careful restoration make it important to understanding the city's architectural development.
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 85000269, listed February 14, 1985. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 618 S. 7th St., Springfield |
|---|---|
| County | Sangamon County |
| Listed | February 14, 1985 |
| Reference number | 85000269 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1899 |
| Architectural style | Classical revival (loose interpretation of the grand classical style, with Georgian revival form) |
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Undergoing full rehabilitation, with the exterior being restored to its original appearance using period photographs; intended for future use as a multi-family dwelling. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 39.79537, -89.64615 (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.
Noted as vacant in the nomination. Nomination documents can be decades old; current status may differ. If you are considering buying an empty listed property, read the due-diligence checklist.
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 85000269.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q20709692
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.