Allen, Willis, House
Also known as: Bernard A. Paul Home
Why it's listed
Built in 1854 at 514 South Market Street in Marion, Illinois, this two-story brick house was the main residence of Willis Allen's farm. Allen, a Congressman and judge, was the first Williamson County man to serve in the U.S. House of Representatives. The ell-shaped Italianate dwelling has four-course brick exterior walls on a sandstone foundation, a hipped roof with an extended cornice and paired three-point arch braces, and a rear wing with a steep gable roof. Builders used handmade bricks, hardwoods cut on the farm, and hardwood pegs. Allen also trained young men in law by apprenticeship, including John A. Logan and Robert G. Ingersoll, and he helped pass the legislation that created Williamson County. The house lost its front porch in the 1940s and had interior changes, but it keeps two working fireplaces and a walnut staircase. It is described as the oldest house in Marion and sits on the last of the city's brick-paved streets.
Significance in brief: The house was built by Willis Allen, the first Williamson County man elected to the U.S. House of Representatives. Allen also taught law to future prominent lawyers including John A. Logan and Robert G. Ingersoll. The nomination calls it the oldest house in Marion and a fine example of pre-Civil War architecture.
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 82002606, listed February 11, 1982. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 514 S. Market St., Marion |
|---|---|
| County | Williamson County |
| Listed | February 11, 1982 |
| Reference number | 82002606 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1800-1899 (specific date 1854) |
| Architect / builder | Unknown (built by Willis Allen using local craftsmen) |
| Architectural style | Italianate |
| Areas of significance | Law, Politics/Government |
| Level of significance | State |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Occupied private residence in excellent condition, with some exterior and interior alterations. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 37.72679, -88.92748 (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 82002606.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q16238563
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.