Milne, Robert, House
Why it's listed
Built around 1840 on the edge of Lockport, Illinois, this two-story limestone house was the home of master mason Robert Milne, a native of Banffshire, Scotland. Milne arrived in Lockport in 1840, took contracts on the Illinois and Michigan Canal, built five of its locks, and was later appointed Canal Commissioner. The main section has cut ashlar street and garden facades, a stone cornice, a low hipped roof and two interior brick chimneys, with two rear additions made before 1873. Inside are original pine floors, Greek Revival door and window surrounds, two mantelpieces and a walnut staircase with a Greek vase newel post. The grounds include an English-style front garden with trees planted by Milne, an early stone milk house and a hand-dug well. The house is considered an excellent example of plain Federal style construction and one of about 150 outstanding examples in Illinois. Four generations of Milnes lived there.
Significance in brief: The house is an excellent example of the plain or vernacular Federal style used by master builders in Illinois into the 1850s. It was identified by the Illinois Historic Structures Survey as one of roughly 150 outstanding examples of the style in the state. It is also significant as the work and home of Robert Milne, a prominent mid-nineteenth century Lockport citizen.
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 79000876, listed December 17, 1979. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 535 E. 7th St., Lockport |
|---|---|
| County | Will County |
| Listed | December 17, 1979 |
| Reference number | 79000876 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1800-1899 |
| Architect / builder | Robert Milne |
| Architectural style | Federal |
| Areas of significance | Transportation, Architecture |
| Level of significance | State |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Occupied as a private residence; the interior and exterior are described as exceptionally well preserved, with some alterations. |
| Acreage | 2 |
| Within district | Chicago Sanitary and Ship Canal Historic District |
| Coordinates | 41.58954, -88.04912 (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 79000876.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q7347701
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.