Stevenson, Adlai E., I, House
Also known as: George Lemon House
Why it's listed
Built around 1840 by George Lemon, this austere two-story house at 104 West Walnut Street in Metamora stands a block south of the village square on a corner lot. Its walls are made of locally produced "faded pink" brick, and its hipped roof carries four chimneys, though the house was heated by Franklin stoves rather than fireplaces. Decoration is confined to the Federal style entryway, with a four-panel door, pilasters, sidelights and a transom. Inside, eight rooms are arranged identically on two floors. Adlai E. Stevenson I, a lawyer on Illinois' Eighth Judicial Circuit, brought his bride to the house in 1866 and lived there until 1869, serving on the village board. He later served in the U.S. House of Representatives and as vice-president under Grover Cleveland from 1893 to 1897. The state historic structures survey also ranks the house among the finest Federal style buildings in Woodford County.
Significance in brief: It is primarily significant as a former home of Adlai Ewing Stevenson I, who served in the U.S. House of Representatives and as vice-president from 1893 to 1897. It is also one of only three houses in Metamora identified by the Illinois Historic Structures Survey as architecturally significant, and one of the two finest Federal style examples in Woodford County.
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 80001427, listed March 18, 1980. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 104 W. Walnut St., Metamora |
|---|---|
| County | Woodford County |
| Listed | March 18, 1980 |
| Reference number | 80001427 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | ca. 1840; 1866-1869 |
| Architect / builder | George Lemon |
| Architectural style | Federal |
| Areas of significance | Politics/Government, Architecture |
| Level of significance | State |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Condition listed as fair; occupied as a private residence. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 40.78911, -89.36382 (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 80001427.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q24061410
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.