Lundberg, Charles, House
Also known as: Old Stone Mansion; Byron C. Marlowe Center of Philanthropy; The Community Foundation of Northern Illinois
Why it's listed
Built in 1915 at 946 North Second Street in Rockford, this cream-colored limestone house was designed by local architect Frank A. Carpenter for Charles J. Lundberg, a furniture executive, alderman and school board president. Its symmetrical five-bay front, large porch, side-gabled roof, dormers and flanking wings follow Georgian Revival models, yet green glazed brick, matte-green tile, a green tile roof and an Arts and Crafts entry door bring in Craftsman character. Inside, oak and mahogany woodwork, built-ins, and Grueby tile floors reflect the same mix. The house sits among a few remaining estates on the Rock River side of North Second Street, where prominent residents built in the early 1900s. Lundberg and his wife lived there until the 1940s. After several private owners, a community foundation bought it in 2000, converted it to offices, and restored original features while adding accessibility changes. It is regarded as a fine example of transitional architecture in Rockford.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the house is notable for blending two major early twentieth-century trends: Georgian/Colonial Revival form and Craftsman/Arts and Crafts detailing. It is also tied to Lundberg, a Rockford furniture businessman and civic leader, and to the early residential development of the Park Ridge area along North Second Street.
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 08001251, listed December 30, 2008. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 946 N. 2nd St., Rockford |
|---|---|
| County | Winnebago County |
| Listed | December 30, 2008 |
| Reference number | 08001251 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Architect / builder | Frank A. Carpenter (architect) |
| Architectural style | Late 19th and 20th Century Revival: Colonial Revival with Craftsman Detailing |
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Currently used for civic/social purposes as offices of the Community Foundation of Northern Illinois, which restored and renovated the house after buying it in 2000. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 42.27934, -89.07728 (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 08001251.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q16894382
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.