Union House
Also known as: Bower, John, House
Why it's listed
Built in 1849 on High Street in Orangeville, Illinois, this brick house was the home of John Bower, who platted the town in 1851. It is considered the oldest surviving building in Orangeville and was the town's first brick house and an early post office. The house has a limestone foundation, an asphalt shingle roof and steep gables with scroll-sawn bargeboards, a Gothic Revival design with Greek Revival crossover features. Inside, a central stair separates double parlors and a dining room, with a hand-hewn, pegged beam structure visible in the basement. Later changes include a bay window added to the east wall, a removed front balcony, a 1960s rear garage and spare room, and updated utilities, yet the form remains largely intact. Bower is recognized for settlement of the area, having built mills and promoted the village, so the house is linked to the town's origins. It is also valued as the only Gothic Revival example in Orangeville. Its significant period runs from 1849 to 1854, when Bower sold it.
Significance in brief: It is the first brick building, first permanent residence and oldest standing building in Orangeville, closely tied to John Bower, who founded and platted the town. It is also described as the only example of Gothic Revival architecture in the town, with Greek Revival influence.
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 00000472, listed May 11, 2000. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 207 W. High St., Orangeville |
|---|---|
| County | Stephenson County |
| Listed | May 11, 2000 |
| Reference number | 00000472 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1849-1854 |
| Architect / builder | Bower, John, Builder |
| Architectural style | Gothic Revival |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Exploration/Settlement, Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Described as in excellent condition, altered little since construction, and used continuously as a private single-family residence. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 42.46839, -89.64595 (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 00000472.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q7885775
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.