Jameson, H.D., House
Why it's listed
Built around 1855 by H. D. Jameson on the outskirts of Rockton, Illinois, this two-story house is made of random-laid indigenous limestone eighteen inches thick, with large limestone quoins at the corners. It sits on about two and a half acres beside the Rock River. Its Greek Revival character shows in the low-pitched gabled roof with returned cornices, wide trim along the cornice line, six-over-six windows with heavy stone lintels, and a recessed front door framed by sidelights. The house originally faced east. A two-story pediment portico with square, board-built columns was added around 1870 and shifted the main entrance to the south. Later changes include rear dormers around 1927 and a family room addition around 1976. Accounts mention that it once served as a hotel and tavern on the old Rockton-to-Beloit road. It is recognized as an excellent local example of stone Greek Revival design and of the Upright-and-Wing house type.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the house is one of the best and most notable local and regional examples of random stone Greek Revival architecture. It shows features of the style such as a low-pitched roof, wide cornice trim and a door surround with sidelights. It also fits the Upright-and-Wing (Gable-Front-and-Wing) vernacular house type and retains sufficient integrity.
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 03000915, listed September 14, 2003. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 900 N. Prairie St., Rockton |
|---|---|
| County | Winnebago County |
| Listed | September 14, 2003 |
| Reference number | 03000915 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1855-1870 |
| Architect / builder | Unknown |
| Architectural style | Greek Revival |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Still used as a single-family home; restoration work such as tuckpointing and window restoration was under way at the time of the form. |
| Acreage | 2.5 |
| Coordinates | 42.46288, -89.07393 (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 03000915.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q28126040
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.