Patton Block Building
Why it's listed
Robert S. Patton, a longtime Warren County treasurer and Monmouth civic figure, built this three-story commercial block on the northwest side of the Public Square in 1891. Construction began in May and finished that December, at a cost of $15,000. The red brick building has two ground-floor storefronts flanking a central stair, limestone string courses, a stamped cast iron cornice reading "Patton Block 1891," and cast iron columns made in Galesburg. Upper floors held offices and meeting rooms used by lodges, clubs and a business college, while the ground and third floors at times housed early movie theaters, including the Arrow and the Ada. The nomination highlights its integrity: the interior floor plan, pine woodwork, pocket doors, ceiling fans, light fixtures and original stained glass survive. No other commercial building in Monmouth is known to have used stained glass. Neighboring Public Square buildings have been altered more heavily, which supports its local significance for architecture.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the building meets Criterion C as a locally significant, representative example of late 19th century commercial building design. It is described as one of the most intact such buildings in Monmouth, with original woodwork, cast iron storefront columns and stained glass windows found in no other commercial building 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 90001727, listed November 2, 1990. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 88 and 90 Public Sq., Monmouth |
|---|---|
| County | Warren County |
| Listed | November 2, 1990 |
| Reference number | 90001727 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1891 |
| Architect / builder | Robert S. Patton (builder/owner); cast iron work supplied by Frost Manufacturing of Galesburg, Illinois |
| Architectural style | Commercial |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Condition of brick, limestone and cast iron described as good; the building is structurally sound and retains commercial use, with some third-floor water damage and a recently replaced roof. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Within district | Monmouth Courthouse Commercial Historic District |
| Coordinates | 40.91296, -90.64921 (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 90001727.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q15265702
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.