Ross, Joseph, House
Why it's listed
Built in 1868 on land that was once part of a 500-acre grant awarded to the Ross family for service in the War of 1812, this two-story brick house stands on about three acres near Rochester, Illinois. It follows a compound plan, with a main block under a low-pitched hipped roof joined to a rear wing. Paired brackets with pendants and dentils decorate the cornice, and the front porch has square piers with Doric capitals. Inside, a curved walnut-railed staircase, classical door surrounds, marble and brick fireplaces and original trim survive. Most windows are original, and the floor plan is unchanged. The house is recognized for its architecture. A 1984 county survey found twelve Italianate houses in the area, and this was one of only two brick examples. It belongs to the simple-hipped subtype with a three-bay front, and it has kept more of its character than comparable houses, which have lost porches or been covered in siding. It remains a private home.
Significance in brief: The house is locally significant under Criterion C for architecture as a good example of the simple-hipped Italianate subtype. A 1984 rural survey of Sangamon County found only twelve Italianate houses, and this was one of only two brick examples. It retains strong exterior and interior integrity.
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 06000092, listed March 2, 2006. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 5200 Passfield Rd., Rochester |
|---|---|
| County | Sangamon County |
| Listed | March 2, 2006 |
| Reference number | 06000092 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1868 |
| Architectural style | Late Victorian: Italianate |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Still used as a single-dwelling residence; the form describes restoration work and updated plumbing, electrical, kitchen and bathrooms. |
| Acreage | 3 |
| Coordinates | 39.72803, -89.43456 (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 06000092.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q20710898
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.