Martin, Pierre, House
Also known as: Boismenue House
Why it's listed
This is a French Creole house in North Dupo, Illinois, once part of the village of Prairie du Pont, a subordinate settlement of Cahokia. Its original one-story frame is built of vertical hewn walnut logs set on sills, with limestone nogging between the posts, and it sits above a high-quality limestone basement kitchen with a fireplace. A 1913 modernization added a second story and removed the roof and rear gallery, but about 80 percent of the early framing survives, along with clues to former galleries and a garret stair. Pierre Martin appears in an official 1790 census as head of a family at Prairie du Pont and later held confirmed village and commonfield lots. Excavations on the lots have produced creamware, pearlware, pipes, gun parts and beads, and further deposits such as wells, privies and outbuildings may remain. Together the structure and the site document everyday French domestic life in the Mississippi valley.
Significance in brief: The house retains much of its original French Creole 'poteaux sur solle' (post on sill) frame, including an intact limestone basement, hewn walnut sills and uprights, and stone nogging. Its lots also hold archaeological deposits from late 18th to mid-19th century domestic life, which could show how French household lots were used as the area passed from French to British to American control. Unlike the other sites studied near Cahokia, it represents an ordinary dwelling.
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 89002350, listed February 9, 1990. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | First St. at Old Rt. 3, North Dupo |
|---|---|
| County | St. Clair County |
| Listed | February 9, 1990 |
| Reference number | 89002350 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Architectural style | Colonial / French Colonial (transitional French Creole) |
| Areas of significance | Historic - Non-Aboriginal, Exploration/Settlement, Architecture |
| Level of significance | State |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Work in progress; later additions have been removed, and the 1913 second story temporarily protects the original single-story frame. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 38.54755, -90.19807 (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 89002350.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q6774824
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.