Carr House
Also known as: The Carr Mansion Guest House
Why it's listed
Overlooking East Broadway in Monmouth, Illinois, this three-story brick house began in 1877 as a Second Empire residence built by Jesse Marshall as a speculative venture. John Carr, who co-founded Monmouth's first foundry and machine shop, bought it in 1880 and enlarged it in 1886. In 1898 the Carr family hired local builder George B. Davis to redesign the house while keeping its basic structure. The result blends Jacobethan Revival gables, Classical porches and balconies, and Gothic and Queen Anne touches, with a corner tower and locally made red brick over a limestone foundation. Later alterations in 1910-12 were compatible with that design. Inside, original woodwork, hardware, parquet floors, beveled glass and six fireplaces survive. A c.1885 mansard-roofed brick carriage house, later used as a garage, stands behind it. The house was listed for its architecture as Monmouth's only high-style example of eclectic residential design.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the house is a locally significant example of eclectic residential design of the 1890s, with compatible alterations made in 1910-12. It is described as the only high-style eclectic residence in Monmouth. The carriage house is also noted as architecturally significant.
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 88001229, listed August 11, 1988. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 416 E. Broadway, Monmouth |
|---|---|
| County | Warren County |
| Listed | August 11, 1988 |
| Reference number | 88001229 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1898 to 1912 |
| Architect / builder | Davis, George B. |
| Architectural style | Mixed: Jacobethan Revival, Gothic, Classic Revival, Second Empire |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Structurally sound with excellent integrity; needs tuckpointing, some masonry and trim repair. The carriage house needs major repairs, and restoration is planned. The form lists the house's current function as single dwelling and hotel. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 40.91230, -90.64341 (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 88001229.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q25204857
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.