George, G.J., House
Why it's listed
Built in 1877 or 1878 at 205 W. Center Street in Fairfield, Illinois, this two-story brick house reflects the Italianate taste that shaped the city's architecture in the 1870s and 1880s. Local architect George Chittenden designed it, and its bricks likely came from a nearby brickyard. The L-shaped house has a low-pitched cross-hipped roof, a cornice with dentils and paired brackets, wrought iron cresting, and wooden two-over-two windows under segmental brick arches with limestone sills. Porches wrap the front and sides. Inside, a curved staircase with turned spindles and a heavy newel post, plaster walls, and original trim and doors survive. A freestanding brick summer kitchen stands behind the house. Historic Sanborn maps show only modest changes over time, including a few small additions and a 1960s restoration of the original front porch. The property was recognized for its architecture and as one of the best local examples of the Italianate style.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the house is locally significant under Criterion C for architecture as a prime example of Italianate residential design in Fairfield. It was designed by a prominent local architect and is described as one of the better examples in the city. It also retains sufficient integrity, documented through Sanborn maps.
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 06000006, listed February 9, 2006. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 205 W. Center, Fairfield |
|---|---|
| County | Wayne County |
| Listed | February 9, 2006 |
| Reference number | 06000006 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | ca. 1878 |
| Architect / builder | Chittenden, George |
| Architectural style | Late Victorian: Italianate |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Still in use as a single dwelling with a secondary structure (summer kitchen); the form reports a restored front porch and few alterations. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 38.37966, -88.36286 (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 06000006.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q16838730
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.