Ronald Reagan Boyhood Home National Historic Site
Encyclopedia
The Ronald Reagan Boyhood Home is the house located at 816 South Hennepin Street, Dixon, Illinois
, in which the late former President of the United States
Ronald Reagan
lived as a youth beginning in 1920. The building was listed on the National Register of Historic Places
in 1982.
, in 1891; its design is fairly typical of American houses during the time period. The house's original owners were William C. and Susan Thompson, the home was eventually sold in 1917. The home's most significant period was between 1920 and 1923 whenand between 1975 and 1977 it changed hands twice. In August 1980 a group of local residents, led by Lynn Knights of Dixon, Illinois, purchased the home. The group was then known as the Reagan Home Preservation and Restoration Committee.
was authorized to purchase the property from the foundation and establish a U.S. National Historic Site
under the jurisdiction of the National Park Service
(NPS). The law specifies that the site will not be designated as the Ronald Reagan Boyhood Home National Historic Site until after the Department of Interior acquires the property.
The legislation that became Public Law 107-137 was pushed through Congress by then-House Speaker Dennis Hastert
over objections that the bill be delayed while the National Park Service conducted a study of the site. In 2003 the Department of Interior contracted private appraisals of the property which valued it at $420,000. The appraisal was millions of dollars below the amount sought as fair value for the house by the owners, the Ronald Reagan Boyhood Home Preservation Foundation. In late February 2003 the Reagan Boyhood Home Preservation Foundation formally rejected the government offer of $420,000 to turn the property into a National Historic Site, calling it insulting.
which was originally covered with cedar shingles.
on March 26, 1982.
has stated that the house was associated with important events of his childhood. However, his brother Neal has been quoted as saying that the house designated the Boyhood Home is the "wrong one for Ronald's principal memories of the town (Dixon)." One author, James E. Combs, called Dixon's claim that the "Boyhood Home" is the actual boyhood home of Ronald Reagan a bit bogus considering the Reagans moved often and only lived in the house for about two years.
While they lived in the home the Reagan brothers shared a second-floor bedroom, despite the house having three bedrooms. Ronald's mother used the third as a work room. The lone outbuilding on the property was used by the brothers for such activities as raising rabbits. In the house's side yard Ronald and his brother would participate in pick-up football
games.
Dixon, Illinois
Dixon is a city in Lee County, Illinois, United States. The population was 15,733 as of the 2010 census, down from 15,941 at the 2000 census. Named for its founder, John Dixon , it is the county seat of Lee County. Located on the Rock River, Dixon was the boyhood home of former U.S...
, in which the late former President of the United States
President of the United States
The President of the United States of America is the head of state and head of government of the United States. The president leads the executive branch of the federal government and is the commander-in-chief of the United States Armed Forces....
Ronald Reagan
Ronald Reagan
Ronald Wilson Reagan was the 40th President of the United States , the 33rd Governor of California and, prior to that, a radio, film and television actor....
lived as a youth beginning in 1920. The building was listed 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 1982.
General
The Ronald Reagan Boyhood Home was constructed in Dixon, IllinoisDixon, Illinois
Dixon is a city in Lee County, Illinois, United States. The population was 15,733 as of the 2010 census, down from 15,941 at the 2000 census. Named for its founder, John Dixon , it is the county seat of Lee County. Located on the Rock River, Dixon was the boyhood home of former U.S...
, in 1891; its design is fairly typical of American houses during the time period. The house's original owners were William C. and Susan Thompson, the home was eventually sold in 1917. The home's most significant period was between 1920 and 1923 whenand between 1975 and 1977 it changed hands twice. In August 1980 a group of local residents, led by Lynn Knights of Dixon, Illinois, purchased the home. The group was then known as the Reagan Home Preservation and Restoration Committee.
National Historic Site designation
The home is open to the public and operated by the Ronald Reagan Boyhood Home Foundation. On February 6, 2002, (Public Law 107-137), the United States Secretary of the InteriorUnited States Secretary of the Interior
The United States Secretary of the Interior is the head of the United States Department of the Interior.The US Department of the Interior should not be confused with the concept of Ministries of the Interior as used in other countries...
was authorized to purchase the property from the foundation and establish a U.S. National Historic Site
National Historical Park
National Historic Sites are protected areas of national historic significance in the United States. A National Historic Site usually contains a single historical feature directly associated with its subject...
under the jurisdiction of the National Park Service
National Park Service
The National Park Service is the U.S. federal agency that manages all national parks, many national monuments, and other conservation and historical properties with various title designations...
(NPS). The law specifies that the site will not be designated as the Ronald Reagan Boyhood Home National Historic Site until after the Department of Interior acquires the property.
The legislation that became Public Law 107-137 was pushed through Congress by then-House Speaker Dennis Hastert
Dennis Hastert
John Dennis "Denny" Hastert was the 59th Speaker of the House serving from 1999 to 2007. He represented as a Republican for twenty years, 1987 to 2007.He is the longest-serving Republican Speaker in history...
over objections that the bill be delayed while the National Park Service conducted a study of the site. In 2003 the Department of Interior contracted private appraisals of the property which valued it at $420,000. The appraisal was millions of dollars below the amount sought as fair value for the house by the owners, the Ronald Reagan Boyhood Home Preservation Foundation. In late February 2003 the Reagan Boyhood Home Preservation Foundation formally rejected the government offer of $420,000 to turn the property into a National Historic Site, calling it insulting.
Architecture and design
The 1891 house is cast in the popular Queen Anne style. The 2 story house rests on a stone foundation and is topped with a gable roofGable
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...
which was originally covered with cedar shingles.
National Register significance
The Reagan Boyhood Home is most significant as the home of 40th U.S. President Ronald Reagan and his family from late 1920 until 1923. Reagan was nine years old at the time and in grade school. Though the family moved from the house they remained in Dixon throughout the former president's formative years. For its association with Reagan and significance in the area of politics and government the building was listed on the 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 March 26, 1982.
Reagan at the house
According to the National Register of Historic Places documentation, Ronald ReaganRonald Reagan
Ronald Wilson Reagan was the 40th President of the United States , the 33rd Governor of California and, prior to that, a radio, film and television actor....
has stated that the house was associated with important events of his childhood. However, his brother Neal has been quoted as saying that the house designated the Boyhood Home is the "wrong one for Ronald's principal memories of the town (Dixon)." One author, James E. Combs, called Dixon's claim that the "Boyhood Home" is the actual boyhood home of Ronald Reagan a bit bogus considering the Reagans moved often and only lived in the house for about two years.
While they lived in the home the Reagan brothers shared a second-floor bedroom, despite the house having three bedrooms. Ronald's mother used the third as a work room. The lone outbuilding on the property was used by the brothers for such activities as raising rabbits. In the house's side yard Ronald and his brother would participate in pick-up football
American football
American football is a sport played between two teams of eleven with the objective of scoring points by advancing the ball into the opposing team's end zone. Known in the United States simply as football, it may also be referred to informally as gridiron football. The ball can be advanced by...
games.
See also
- H. C. Pitney Variety Store BuildingH. C. Pitney Variety Store BuildingThe H.C. Pitney Variety Store Building is a commercial building in downtown Tampico, Illinois, United States. The building was constructed in 1900 but is probably most notable for its upstairs tenants from 1919-1920. During this period, H.C. Pitney operated the building as the H.C. Pitney Variety...
- Tampico Main Street Historic District
- Ronald Reagan Birthplace
- Ronald Reagan TrailRonald Reagan TrailThe Ronald Reagan Trail is a collection of highways in central Illinois that connect villages and cities that were of importance to former United States President Ronald Reagan...
Further reading
- Misner, Marlin E. History of the Reagan Home: The Boyhood Home in Dixon, Illinois, S.N., 2005, (ISBN 0977142205).
External links
- National Park Service testimony on proposed historic site
- Reagan Boyhood Home, official site, accessed January 23, 2009.
- House Report 107-268 - Authorizing the Secretary of the Interior to Establish the Ronald Reagan Boyhood Home National Historic Site, and for Other Purposes", (includes link to full information on H.R. 400), THOMAS.gov, accessed January 23, 2009.