Childs, Alpha Charles, House
Also known as: Quayle Sanatorium
Approximate location: the National Park Service places this pin arbitrarily within the property, not at a surveyed point (stated accuracy ±12 m).
Why it's listed
This two-story wood-frame house at 319 West Main Street in Madison dates to about 1870 and was substantially remodeled around 1900. The west wing was built with two stories, while the east wing began as one story and was raised to two in the later work. That remodeling added a projecting bay with an overhanging gable, large windows with Palladian detailing, a front porch with Tuscan columns, and an entrance with a fanlight. Stained glass appears in several windows, and the interior has oak and cherry woodwork and paneling. Alpha Childs, the original owner, was a son of the builder Robertus Childs. The house was later used as a sanatorium by Dr. Quayle and was also owned by Mr. Benjamin, a builder and lumber merchant. Its architecture is the main reason for its recognition, especially the Palladian doorway and the scrolled pediment above a second-floor window. A two-story carriage house remains on the lot, and the building is still a residence.
Significance in brief: The nomination points to the house's notable architecture, especially the Palladian doorway and the scrolled pediment over a second-floor window. It combines Italianate and Neo-Classical Revival features. It is also tied to the Childs family of builders and to its later use as a sanatorium.
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 80003111, listed October 20, 1980. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 319 W. Main St., Madison |
|---|---|
| County | Lake County |
| Listed | October 20, 1980 |
| Reference number | 80003111 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Architectural style | Italianate; Neo-Classic Revival |
| Areas of significance | Architecture, Social History |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Listed in good condition inside and out, and still used as a residence. A two-story carriage house stands on the lot. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 41.77052, -81.05444 (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 80003111.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikidata Q138416811
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.