Heck, John, House
Also known as: Rawson Residence
Why it's listed
Built around 1867 on a corner lot in Lockport, Illinois, this two-story house is made of locally quarried limestone, with rock-faced walls laid in regular courses and dressed stone quoins, sills and lintels. Its symmetrical front, six-panel door with sidelights and transom, low hip roof and dentils reflect Greek Revival design, while paired brackets and Italianate woodwork were added in the 1870s. John Heck, a Canadian-born contractor who came to Lockport during the Illinois and Michigan Canal boom, built it as his home. A stone addition on the south followed in the late 1860s, and a small frame addition was added at the rear in 1946, when the house was briefly divided into apartments. Later owners removed the apartment partitions and dropped ceilings, leaving original woodwork, stairway and pocket shutters. The house is considered locally significant for architecture and as an example of the area's limestone building tradition.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the house is locally significant under Criterion C as an excellent example of a mid-19th century native limestone house with Greek Revival and Italianate details. It shows distinctive limestone construction and workmanship, a symmetrical design, an elaborate entry with sidelights and transom, and a low-pitched hip roof. It also reflects Lockport's limestone building tradition tied to the I and M Canal.
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 94000978, listed August 16, 1994. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 1225 S. Hamilton St., Lockport |
|---|---|
| County | Will County |
| Listed | August 16, 1994 |
| Reference number | 94000978 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | C. 1867 - C. 1870s |
| Architect / builder | Heck, John, Builder |
| Architectural style | Greek Revival; Italianate |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Described as in excellent condition and still used as a single dwelling; remains largely true to its original design apart from a small rear addition. |
| Acreage | 1 |
| Within district | Chicago Sanitary and Ship Canal Historic District |
| Coordinates | 41.58522, -88.05817 (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 94000978.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q6238498
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.