Martin, Sarah, House
Also known as: George Nelson Morris House
Why it's listed
Built between 1875 and 1878 at 310 East Broadway in Monmouth, Illinois, this two-story brick residence exhibits the Italian Villa style. Although it lacks a tower, it has a small cupola, a low pitched roof with flared eaves, brackets, dentils, medallions, hooded windows grouped in pairs and three large bays. The walls are four layers of solid brick, nearly sixteen inches thick, and the roof is original copper. Inside, a floating walnut spiral staircase rises thirty-three feet, and the house keeps walnut woodwork, etched glass transoms, oak parquet floors, an Italian marble fireplace and original hardware. The property was listed for its architecture, as one of about a dozen Warren County houses identified by a state survey as worthy of individual recognition. It is also linked to Sarah Martin, granddaughter of an 1832 settler, who inherited the house at fourteen, attended Monmouth College, entertained widely there and owned the home for more than seventy years.
Significance in brief: The Illinois Historic Structures Survey identified it as one of only a dozen houses in Warren County worthy of individual listing for architectural significance. It retains nearly all of its original exterior and interior features. It is also tied to Sarah Martin, who owned it for over seventy years and belonged to an early, leading Warren County family.
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 80001414, listed October 9, 1980. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 310 E. Broadway, Monmouth |
|---|---|
| County | Warren County |
| Listed | October 9, 1980 |
| Reference number | 80001414 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1900- |
| Architect / builder | Messrs. Dunn and Stevens |
| Architectural style | Italian Villa |
| Areas of significance | Architecture, Social History |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Described as in excellent condition, unaltered, on its original site, occupied and used as a private residence; some sliding and folding doors were being restored at the time. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 40.90849, -90.64883 (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 80001414.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q15275394
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.