Odell Building
Also known as: Odell Public Library
Why it's listed
Built in 1864-1865 as the home of Morrison's Congregational Church, this one-story brick and wood frame building on Lincolnway Road took on a new life in 1887, when J. Danforth Odell gave the deed to the Morrison Literary and Scientific Association. The association, founded in 1877, kept a museum of geological, archeological, botanical and biological specimens and a growing library, and hosted concerts and lectures. In 1905 its collections became the Odell Public Library, a free library supported by the city. The church front was reduced and remodeled in 1945, and a rear addition was built in 1933-1934 through the Civil Works Administration. Inside, yellow pine paneling added in 1887 and a king post truss ceiling remain, along with the former sanctuary's balcony. The building is recognized for its role in the educational growth of Morrison between 1887 and 1946. It is now listed as vacant.
Significance in brief: The building is argued to be locally significant under Criterion A for education. It housed the Morrison Literary and Scientific Association's museum and library from 1887 and later the Odell Public Library, providing reading material, lectures and natural history displays to the community.
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 96001475, listed December 13, 1996. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 202 E. Lincolnway Rd., Morrison |
|---|---|
| County | Whiteside County |
| Listed | December 13, 1996 |
| Reference number | 96001475 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1887-1946 |
| Architect / builder | Unknown |
| Architectural style | Classical Revival |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Education |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Current function is listed as vacant. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 41.80925, -89.96445 (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.
Noted as vacant in the nomination. Nomination documents can be decades old; current status may differ. If you are considering buying an empty listed property, read the due-diligence checklist.
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 96001475.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q25303555
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.