Colwell, E. B., and Company Department Store
Why it's listed
Built in 1904 and designed by J. Grant Beadle of Galesburg, this three-story Chicago style building on South Main Street housed E. B. Colwell and Company, Monmouth's only true department store of its day. The red brick structure has an orange and yellow brick facade, brick pilasters, wide horizontal windows on the upper floors and a metal cornice. A four-story annex facing South A Street followed in 1911, linked to the main building by a three-story ell. Inside, mahogany finishes, pressed metal ceilings and hardwood floors survive. The store carried forty-eight departments and offered free delivery, an elevator, a rest room lounge, floorwalkers and a beauty salon. It marked the start of large-scale merchandising in Monmouth, the main retail center for Warren County. Its significance is tied to commerce between 1904 and 1936, the years of founder E. B. Colwell's leadership. The annex now serves as a senior center.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the store is locally significant under Criterion A for early 20th century commercial history. Its construction in 1904 marked the start of large-scale merchandising in Monmouth, then the main retail center for Warren County. E. B. Colwell was the town's foremost retailer from 1896 until his death in 1936, and the store was the only true department store in the city.
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 92001851, listed February 3, 1993. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 208 S. Main St. and 211 S. A St., Monmouth |
|---|---|
| County | Warren County |
| Listed | February 3, 1993 |
| Reference number | 92001851 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1904-1936 |
| Architect / builder | Beadle, J. Grant |
| Architectural style | Chicago |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Commerce |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | The annex was sold to the City of Monmouth in 1973 and operates as a senior citizens' center in very good repair. The main building is in current use as a specialty store and for social/civic functions; its first floor was altered in 1911 and the 1960s. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Within district | Monmouth Courthouse Commercial Historic District |
| Coordinates | 40.91025, -90.64859 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
For an income-producing building, listing (individually or as a contributing building in a district) is the gateway to the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit on qualified rehabilitation costs, often stackable with state credits. Work claiming the credit must follow the Secretary of the Interior's Standards and be approved in advance.
Listing does not restrict a private owner acting without federal money or permits; where federal funding or licensing is involved, Section 106 review applies.
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 92001851.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q24061640
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.