Weir, William S., Jr., House
Why it's listed
Built in 1894 on a small rise at East Broadway and North Third Street in Monmouth, Illinois, this two-and-a-half-story house was the home of William S. Weir, Jr. Its brick first story, stucco upper walls with dark oak beams, steep cross gables, diamond-paned casement windows and Gothic-arched porch give it a Tudor Revival character. Inside, a beamed foyer, Corinthian-columned partitions, pocket doors, stained glass and original woodwork survive. Weir was an inventor and industrialist who built a farm implement business that employed 300 to 400 workers, then moved into banking and pottery, and he patented a self-sealing fruit jar cover in 1901. The house is considered significant for that association and as a representative Tudor Revival home in the city. The Weir family kept it until 1953, after which it passed to Monmouth College and later to a photography studio before returning to residential use. The period of significance runs from 1894 to Weir's death in 1901.
Significance in brief: The house is tied to William S. Weir, Jr., an inventor and industrial leader in farm implements, pottery and banking in late 19th-century Monmouth, who held patents and employed many people. It is also a representative local example of Tudor Revival architecture. Other major structures associated with Weir have been demolished.
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 92001004, listed August 18, 1992. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 402 E. Broadway, Monmouth |
|---|---|
| County | Warren County |
| Listed | August 18, 1992 |
| Reference number | 92001004 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1894-1901 |
| Architect / builder | Unknown |
| Architectural style | Tudor Revival |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Industry, Architecture, Invention |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Retained as a single-dwelling residence with largely intact interior woodwork and hardwood floors; some alterations were made in the 1950s and the kitchen was remodeled. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 40.91231, -90.64389 (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 92001004.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q24061752
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.