Central House (Orangeville, Illinois)
Encyclopedia
Central House is an 1860s hotel
building located in the 800 person village of Orangeville
, in Stephenson County
, Illinois
, United States
. The building was built by Orangeville founder John Bower and operated as a hotel from its construction until the 1930s when it was converted for use as a single family residence. The three story building was the first commercial brick structure in downtown Orangeville. Architecturally, the building is cast in a mid-19th century Italianate style. Central House was added to the U.S. National Register of Historic Places
in 1999.
of the 800 person village of Orangeville
, Illinois
, United States
. Orangeville, in Stephenson County
, is about two miles (3.2 km) from the Illinois–Wisconsin
border. High Street slopes uphill from the Richland Creek and is populated by historic, 19th century buildings. At the summit of High Street's slope is the Central House]. In total, four of the five structures on the National Register of Historic Places
in Orangeville, are found along High Street; the Union House
, People's State Bank
and the Orangeville Masonic Hall are the other two. Other historic buildings in the approximately three block area include the 1888 Musser Building, and the 1906 Wagner Building.
commercial buildings and as such was the building that other structures were erected around. From the time it was constructed, until the 1930s, Central House operated as a hotel
. During the 1930s the building was converted for use as a single-family residence, a function it retains at present. Though Central House has undergone multiple periods of renovations and alterations it still maintains its historic integrity.
When the Illinois Central Railroad
came through Orangeville in 1887 the hotel affixed a large wooden sign adorned with "Central House" to the front facade, the original was removed during the 1920s. Before the turn of the 20th century the building's partial basement
was added on. The home underwent several changes in 1911. They included: the addition of indoor plumbing, the construction of a 10 foot (3 m) by 13 foot (4 m) utility room at the structure's rear, the construction of a separate kitchen
building, and the removal of an attached shed on the west facade. Central House did not have electricity until 1920. The kitchen was moved to the main building during the 1940s and between 1950–52 the second floor balcony
was removed. The heating system evolved from pot belly stoves to a radiator hot water system in the 1920s and during the 1960s gas heaters replaced that system.
s. The brick building sits on a stone foundation and is cast in a mid-19th century Italianate style. The hotel building itself features arch
ed segmented one over one windows on all facades and floors. The wooden framed windows are either all original or could be restored to original appearance. The windows have shallow hood moldings made of soft brick and are all double hung. The original porch
and balcony, removed for reasons unknown during the 1950s, measured 18 feet (5.5 m) across and 10 feet (3 m) deep. The property of the Central House has one outbuilding, a five bay garage
that dates to around the 1910s. The garage has had one roof replacement but maintains its historic integrity.
on May 20, 1999.
Hotel
A hotel is an establishment that provides paid lodging on a short-term basis. The provision of basic accommodation, in times past, consisting only of a room with a bed, a cupboard, a small table and a washstand has largely been replaced by rooms with modern facilities, including en-suite bathrooms...
building located in the 800 person village of Orangeville
Orangeville, Illinois
Orangeville is a village in Stephenson County, Illinois, United States. The population was 793 at the 2010 census, up from 751 at the 2000 census. The area's earliest white settlers arrived in 1833 and the village was platted in 1851 by John Bower, who is considered the village founder. In 1867...
, in Stephenson County
Stephenson County, Illinois
As of the census of 2000, there were 48,979 people, 19,785 households, and 13,473 families residing in the county. The population density was 87 people per square mile . There were 21,713 housing units at an average density of 38 per square mile...
, Illinois
Illinois
Illinois is the fifth-most populous state of the United States of America, and is often noted for being a microcosm of the entire country. With Chicago in the northeast, small industrial cities and great agricultural productivity in central and northern Illinois, and natural resources like coal,...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. The building was built by Orangeville founder John Bower and operated as a hotel from its construction until the 1930s when it was converted for use as a single family residence. The three story building was the first commercial brick structure in downtown Orangeville. Architecturally, the building is cast in a mid-19th century Italianate style. Central House was added to the U.S. National Register of Historic Places
National Register of Historic Places
The National Register of Historic Places is the United States government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects deemed worthy of preservation...
in 1999.
Location
Central House stands at a T-intersection in the central business districtCentral business district
A central business district is the commercial and often geographic heart of a city. In North America this part of a city is commonly referred to as "downtown" or "city center"...
of the 800 person village of Orangeville
Orangeville, Illinois
Orangeville is a village in Stephenson County, Illinois, United States. The population was 793 at the 2010 census, up from 751 at the 2000 census. The area's earliest white settlers arrived in 1833 and the village was platted in 1851 by John Bower, who is considered the village founder. In 1867...
, Illinois
Illinois
Illinois is the fifth-most populous state of the United States of America, and is often noted for being a microcosm of the entire country. With Chicago in the northeast, small industrial cities and great agricultural productivity in central and northern Illinois, and natural resources like coal,...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. Orangeville, in Stephenson County
Stephenson County, Illinois
As of the census of 2000, there were 48,979 people, 19,785 households, and 13,473 families residing in the county. The population density was 87 people per square mile . There were 21,713 housing units at an average density of 38 per square mile...
, is about two miles (3.2 km) from the Illinois–Wisconsin
Wisconsin
Wisconsin is a U.S. state located in the north-central United States and is part of the Midwest. It is bordered by Minnesota to the west, Iowa to the southwest, Illinois to the south, Lake Michigan to the east, Michigan to the northeast, and Lake Superior to the north. Wisconsin's capital is...
border. High Street slopes uphill from the Richland Creek and is populated by historic, 19th century buildings. At the summit of High Street's slope is the Central House]. In total, four of the five structures on the National Register of Historic Places
National Register of Historic Places
The National Register of Historic Places is the United States government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects deemed worthy of preservation...
in Orangeville, are found along High Street; the Union House
Union House
The Union House, also known as the John Bower House, is a small, mostly Gothic Revival house in downtown Orangeville, Illinois, United States. The house, the first brick home in Orangeville, was built in 1849 by village founder John Bower. It was purchased by Samuel Hutchins in 1885 and it remained...
, People's State Bank
People's State Bank (Orangeville, Illinois)
The People's State Bank building is located in the Stephenson County village of Orangeville, Illinois, United States. The structure was erected in 1926 when two Orangeville banks merged to form the People's State Bank. It operated until 1932 when it became overwhelmed by an economic disaster caused...
and the Orangeville Masonic Hall are the other two. Other historic buildings in the approximately three block area include the 1888 Musser Building, and the 1906 Wagner Building.
History
Central House was constructed during the 1860s by town founder John Bower. It was one of the village's first brickBrick
A brick is a block of ceramic material used in masonry construction, usually laid using various kinds of mortar. It has been regarded as one of the longest lasting and strongest building materials used throughout history.-History:...
commercial buildings and as such was the building that other structures were erected around. From the time it was constructed, until the 1930s, Central House operated as a hotel
Hotel
A hotel is an establishment that provides paid lodging on a short-term basis. The provision of basic accommodation, in times past, consisting only of a room with a bed, a cupboard, a small table and a washstand has largely been replaced by rooms with modern facilities, including en-suite bathrooms...
. During the 1930s the building was converted for use as a single-family residence, a function it retains at present. Though Central House has undergone multiple periods of renovations and alterations it still maintains its historic integrity.
When the Illinois Central Railroad
Illinois Central Railroad
The Illinois Central Railroad , sometimes called the Main Line of Mid-America, is a railroad in the central United States, with its primary routes connecting Chicago, Illinois with New Orleans, Louisiana and Birmingham, Alabama. A line also connected Chicago with Sioux City, Iowa...
came through Orangeville in 1887 the hotel affixed a large wooden sign adorned with "Central House" to the front facade, the original was removed during the 1920s. Before the turn of the 20th century the building's partial basement
Basement
__FORCETOC__A basement is one or more floors of a building that are either completely or partially below the ground floor. Basements are typically used as a utility space for a building where such items as the furnace, water heater, breaker panel or fuse box, car park, and air-conditioning system...
was added on. The home underwent several changes in 1911. They included: the addition of indoor plumbing, the construction of a 10 foot (3 m) by 13 foot (4 m) utility room at the structure's rear, the construction of a separate kitchen
Kitchen
A kitchen is a room or part of a room used for cooking and food preparation.In the West, a modern residential kitchen is typically equipped with a stove, a sink with hot and cold running water, a refrigerator and kitchen cabinets arranged according to a modular design. Many households have a...
building, and the removal of an attached shed on the west facade. Central House did not have electricity until 1920. The kitchen was moved to the main building during the 1940s and between 1950–52 the second floor balcony
Balcony
Balcony , a platform projecting from the wall of a building, supported by columns or console brackets, and enclosed with a balustrade.-Types:The traditional Maltese balcony is a wooden closed balcony projecting from a...
was removed. The heating system evolved from pot belly stoves to a radiator hot water system in the 1920s and during the 1960s gas heaters replaced that system.
Architecture
The 28 by building stands three stories, and features a partial basement and twenty rooms. Ten of the rooms were specifically designed as bedroomBedroom
A bedroom is a private room where people usually sleep for the night or relax during the day.About one third of our lives are spent sleeping and most of the time we are asleep, we are sleeping in a bedroom. To be considered a bedroom the room needs to have bed. Bedrooms can range from really simple...
s. The brick building sits on a stone foundation and is cast in a mid-19th century Italianate style. The hotel building itself features arch
Arch
An arch is a structure that spans a space and supports a load. Arches appeared as early as the 2nd millennium BC in Mesopotamian brick architecture and their systematic use started with the Ancient Romans who were the first to apply the technique to a wide range of structures.-Technical aspects:The...
ed segmented one over one windows on all facades and floors. The wooden framed windows are either all original or could be restored to original appearance. The windows have shallow hood moldings made of soft brick and are all double hung. The original porch
Porch
A porch is external to the walls of the main building proper, but may be enclosed by screen, latticework, broad windows, or other light frame walls extending from the main structure.There are various styles of porches, all of which depend on the architectural tradition of its location...
and balcony, removed for reasons unknown during the 1950s, measured 18 feet (5.5 m) across and 10 feet (3 m) deep. The property of the Central House has one outbuilding, a five bay garage
Garage (house)
A residential garage is part of a home, or an associated building, designed or used for storing a vehicle or vehicles. In some places the term is used synonymously with "carport", though that term normally describes a structure that is not completely enclosed.- British residential garages:Those...
that dates to around the 1910s. The garage has had one roof replacement but maintains its historic integrity.
Significance
Central House is commercially significant for its role as meeting place for citizens of Orangeville and travelers alike. It provided lodging and dining facilities for more than 60 years, and its construction was with the intention of being the central commercial building in Orangeville. The building remains one of the oldest surviving buildings in Orangeville and is the village's only hotel in its history. It is also the only three-story building within the Orangeville central business district. For its local significance in the area of architecture the building was added to the U.S. National Register of Historic PlacesNational Register of Historic Places
The National Register of Historic Places is the United States government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects deemed worthy of preservation...
on May 20, 1999.