Chick House
Why it's listed
Built in 1857 as the Griggs House, this three-story brick hotel stands at the northwest corner of South Main and Elm Streets in downtown Rockford, Illinois. It later became known as the Chick House and, after a 1928 renovation, the Elms Hotel. The building has a limestone foundation, a flat roof, and a corbelled brick cornice. Greek Revival stone sills and lintels appear alongside Italianate arched window hoods on the front facade. Additions were made in the 1890s, 1900s and 1932, and the ground floor was modernized in the 1950s. It is one of only three pre-Civil War commercial buildings left downtown and the only one that retains its historic integrity. It is also the last remaining 19th-century hotel in the city, a reminder of the hotel boom that followed stagecoach and railway service. Its design reflects the move from Greek Revival to Italianate style.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues it is one of only three remaining pre-Civil War commercial buildings in downtown Rockford and the only one that keeps its historic integrity. It is the last surviving 19th-century hotel in the city, representing the growth of the hospitality trade. Its design reflects the shift from Greek Revival to Italianate style.
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 97000031, listed February 7, 1997. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 119--123 S. Main St., Rockford |
|---|---|
| County | Winnebago County |
| Listed | February 7, 1997 |
| Reference number | 97000031 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1857-1946 |
| Architectural style | Greek Revival and Italianate (Mid-19th Century) |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Architecture, Commerce |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Ground floor holds a restaurant and an office supply store; upper floors were a hotel with rooms that kept operable transoms. The two one-story rear additions are used for storage. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 42.27068, -89.09530 (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 97000031.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q5096122
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.