John H. Addams Homestead
Encyclopedia
The John H. Addams Homestead, also known as the Jane Addams Birthplace, is located in the Stephenson County
village of Cedarville
, Illinois
, United States
. The homestead property, a 5.5 acres (22,257.7 m²) site, includes an 1840s era Federal style house, a Pennsylvania-style barn
, and the remains of John H. Addams' mill complex. The house was built in two portions, in 1846 and 1854 by Addams; he added some minor additions during the 1870s. Other major alterations took place during a 1950s modernization of the home. The homestead has been noted for its significance to industry and politics. On September 6, 1860 future Nobel Peace Prize recipient Jane Addams
was born in the house.
bank barn
, and the remains of the Addams Grist Mill. After arriving in Stephenson County in 1845, Addams purchased the Cedar Creek Mills from Van Valzah, who had owned the mill since 1837. John H. Addams
built the brick
, federal-style house in two portions beginning in 1846. The smaller, northern part of the house was built in 1846, and in 1854 he added the larger southern portion of the house and its central entrance. Addams completed further alteration during the 1870s when he added a chimney
and bay to the southern portion of the house, and a porch
over the central front entrance.
In 1956, after the home was purchased by Thomas Ennenga, the front porch was removed and a gable-style
dormer
was placed into the roof as part of extensive modernizations done to the home. The rear porch was also replaced at that time.
and a plain architrave
; it is also surrounded by pilaster
s. On the south, gable end of the house is a two-story Italianate bay. The 60 feet (18.3 m) by 35 feet (11 m) rectangular house has an external chimney which is flanked by two fan windows near its top.
The homestead also includes a Pennsylvania-style banked barn and the remains of Addams' mill. The barn is three and a half stories tall with dimensions of 60 feet (18 m) by 40 feet (12 m). It lies east of the house, and, like all banked barns, is built into a slope. The ramp leads into the south side of the barn
, and the threshing
floor; on the building's north side is a cantilevered forebay. Instead of windows the barn has louver
ed vents. The whole building rests upon a limestone
foundation.
Most of Addams' grist mill has long since disappeared but there are some remains on the homestead site. Along Cedar Creek are the remains of the mill's limestone foundation, the dam, and the mill race
. The mill pond
has dried up and is now a grassy area. The original mill stood four stories tall.
John H. Addams was a prominent business leader and citizen in early Stephenson County. Besides his grist, saw and linseed mill, which became one of the largest in northern Illinois, Addams held positions in banks, railroad companies and was a founder of the Mutual Fire Insurance Company in 1867. He was active in politics much of his life and was a delegate to the state constitutional convention
multiple times as well as serving an Illinois State Senator. His daughter, Nobel Peace Prize
winner Jane Addams
, was born in the house on September 6, 1860.
During the 1970s the Illinois Historic Sites Survey noted the house for its significance as Jane Addams' birthplace.
The U.S. National Register of Historic Places
noted the house for its significance to industry and politics/government, and added it to its listings on April 17, 1979.
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...
village of Cedarville
Cedarville, Illinois
Cedarville is a village in Stephenson County, Illinois, United States. The population was 741 at the 2010 census, up from 719 at the 2000 census...
, 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 homestead property, a 5.5 acres (22,257.7 m²) site, includes an 1840s era Federal style house, a Pennsylvania-style barn
Pennsylvania barn
A Pennsylvania barn is a type of banked barn built in the United States from about 1820 - 1900. The style's most distinguishing feature is the presence of an overshoot or forebay, an area where the barn overshoots its foundation. These barns were banked, that is set into a hillside to ensure easy...
, and the remains of John H. Addams' mill complex. The house was built in two portions, in 1846 and 1854 by Addams; he added some minor additions during the 1870s. Other major alterations took place during a 1950s modernization of the home. The homestead has been noted for its significance to industry and politics. On September 6, 1860 future Nobel Peace Prize recipient Jane Addams
Jane Addams
Jane Addams was a pioneer settlement worker, founder of Hull House in Chicago, public philosopher, sociologist, author, and leader in woman suffrage and world peace...
was born in the house.
History
The 5.5 acres (22,257.7 m²) John H. Addams Homestead includes the house, a Pennsylvania-stylePennsylvania barn
A Pennsylvania barn is a type of banked barn built in the United States from about 1820 - 1900. The style's most distinguishing feature is the presence of an overshoot or forebay, an area where the barn overshoots its foundation. These barns were banked, that is set into a hillside to ensure easy...
bank barn
Bank barn
A bank barn or banked barn is a style of barn noted for its accessibility, at ground level, on two separate levels. Often built into the side of a hill, or bank, both the upper and the lower floors area could be accessed from ground level, one area at the top of the hill and the other at the bottom...
, and the remains of the Addams Grist Mill. After arriving in Stephenson County in 1845, Addams purchased the Cedar Creek Mills from Van Valzah, who had owned the mill since 1837. John H. Addams
John H. Addams
John Huy Addams was a politician and businessman from the U.S. state of Illinois. Addams was born in Pennsylvania in 1822, where he married Sarah Weber. In 1844 the couple moved to Cedarville, Illinois, and he purchased the Cedar Creek Mill...
built the brick
Brick
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:...
, federal-style house in two portions beginning in 1846. The smaller, northern part of the house was built in 1846, and in 1854 he added the larger southern portion of the house and its central entrance. Addams completed further alteration during the 1870s when he added a chimney
Chimney
A chimney is a structure for venting hot flue gases or smoke from a boiler, stove, furnace or fireplace to the outside atmosphere. Chimneys are typically vertical, or as near as possible to vertical, to ensure that the gases flow smoothly, drawing air into the combustion in what is known as the...
and bay to the southern portion of the house, and a 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...
over the central front entrance.
In 1956, after the home was purchased by Thomas Ennenga, the front porch was removed and a gable-style
Gable
A gable is the generally triangular portion of a wall between the edges of a sloping roof. The shape of the gable and how it is detailed depends on the structural system being used and aesthetic concerns. Thus the type of roof enclosing the volume dictates the shape of the gable...
dormer
Dormer
A dormer is a structural element of a building that protrudes from the plane of a sloping roof surface. Dormers are used, either in original construction or as later additions, to create usable space in the roof of a building by adding headroom and usually also by enabling addition of windows.Often...
was placed into the roof as part of extensive modernizations done to the home. The rear porch was also replaced at that time.
Architecture
The house is a -story brick building cast in Federal style, and painted white. The front (west) facade features five bays and a central entrance. The fenestration on the front are 6/6 double-hung, shuttered windows. The central entrance has sidelights, a ruby-glass transomTransom (architectural)
In architecture, a transom is the term given to a transverse beam or bar in a frame, or to the crosspiece separating a door or the like from a window or fanlight above it. Transom is also the customary U.S. word used for a transom light, the window over this crosspiece...
and a plain architrave
Architrave
An architrave is the lintel or beam that rests on the capitals of the columns. It is an architectural element in Classical architecture.-Classical architecture:...
; it is also surrounded by pilaster
Pilaster
A pilaster is a slightly-projecting column built into or applied to the face of a wall. Most commonly flattened or rectangular in form, pilasters can also take a half-round form or the shape of any type of column, including tortile....
s. On the south, gable end of the house is a two-story Italianate bay. The 60 feet (18.3 m) by 35 feet (11 m) rectangular house has an external chimney which is flanked by two fan windows near its top.
Outbuildings
Barn
A barn is an agricultural building used for storage and as a covered workplace. It may sometimes be used to house livestock or to store farming vehicles and equipment...
, and the threshing
Threshing
Threshing is the process of loosening the edible part of cereal grain from the scaly, inedible chaff that surrounds it. It is the step in grain preparation after harvesting and before winnowing, which separates the loosened chaff from the grain...
floor; on the building's north side is a cantilevered forebay. Instead of windows the barn has louver
Louver
A louver or louvre , from the French l'ouvert; "the open one") is a window, blind or shutter with horizontal slats that are angled to admit light and air, but to keep out rain, direct sunshine, and noise...
ed vents. The whole building rests upon a limestone
Limestone
Limestone is a sedimentary rock composed largely of the minerals calcite and aragonite, which are different crystal forms of calcium carbonate . Many limestones are composed from skeletal fragments of marine organisms such as coral or foraminifera....
foundation.
Most of Addams' grist mill has long since disappeared but there are some remains on the homestead site. Along Cedar Creek are the remains of the mill's limestone foundation, the dam, and the mill race
Mill race
A mill race, raceway or mill lade is the current or channel of a stream, especially one for conducting water to or from a water wheel or other device for utilizing its energy...
. The mill pond
Mill pond
A mill pond is any body of water used as a reservoir for a water-powered mill. Mill ponds were often created through the construction of a mill dam across a waterway. In many places, the common proper name Mill Pond name has remained even though the mill has long since gone...
has dried up and is now a grassy area. The original mill stood four stories tall.
Significance
Constitutional convention (political meeting)
A constitutional convention is now a gathering for the purpose of writing a new constitution or revising an existing constitution. A general constitutional convention is called to create the first constitution of a political unit or to entirely replace an existing constitution...
multiple times as well as serving an Illinois State Senator. His daughter, Nobel Peace Prize
Nobel Peace Prize
The Nobel Peace Prize is one of the five Nobel Prizes bequeathed by the Swedish industrialist and inventor Alfred Nobel.-Background:According to Nobel's will, the Peace Prize shall be awarded to the person who...
winner Jane Addams
Jane Addams
Jane Addams was a pioneer settlement worker, founder of Hull House in Chicago, public philosopher, sociologist, author, and leader in woman suffrage and world peace...
, was born in the house on September 6, 1860.
During the 1970s the Illinois Historic Sites Survey noted the house for its significance as Jane Addams' birthplace.
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...
noted the house for its significance to industry and politics/government, and added it to its listings on April 17, 1979.