National Register of Historic Places

Graham-Ginestra House

Rockford, Winnebago County, Illinois
Listed
June 10, 1979
Type
Building
Period
Industrial
Ref No.
79000879

About this property

The Graham–Ginestra House is a historic residence in Rockford, Illinois, United States. Freeman Graham Sr. was a prominent businessman in Connecticut who served in the Connecticut General Assembly. He came to Rockford, Illinois to manage Emerson, Talcott & Company, a farm implements manufacturer in the Water Power District. He had been apprenticed in the cotton and woolen trades in the East. Graham built the first sour mash distillery in Illinois. He also co-owned the Rockford Cotton Mills. He had a home constructed in 1857 so that it would be about halfway between the two businesses (at 202 South Main and 1602–08 South Main, respectively). This made him one of the first settlers on the southwest side of Rockford. He was elected Fifth Ward Alderman in Rockford. Graham died in 1896, and his business interests were split among his three sons. The house was instead bequeathed to his daughter, Julia, and her husband Henry S. Warner. Warner was the secretary-treasurer of the Graham Match Company. They lived in the house until 1927, when they sold it to Sicilian immigrant Leo Ginestra. Ginestra, a mechanic who owned a mobile home park, was part of the Italian community that formed in the city in the 1920s. The former Ginestra house was located in the middle of the community's commercial thoroughfare. Ginestra lived here until his death in 1978. For its role showcasing the cultural history of Rockford, the house was recognized by the National Park Service with a listing on the National Register of Historic Places on June 11, 1979. The two-story rectangular house was built with Galena dolomite limestone. The house shows influence from the Italianate and Greek Revival styles.

Location

1115 S. Main St.
Rockford, Winnebago County, Illinois
42.26158, -89.10069

Categories

INDUSTRYCOMMERCEARCHITECTURE
National Register nomination ›
Sources

Property data from the National Register of Historic Places, National Park Service (public domain).

Description adapted from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.

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Nearby Historic Sites

Barber-Colman Company Historic District
Industrial
0.2 mi
Rockford Brass Works
Industrial
0.3 mi
Tinker Swiss Cottage
Industrial
0.3 mi
Condon Brothers and R.H. Shumway Building
Industrial
0.5 mi
Ziock Building
Industrial
0.6 mi

Nearby Battles

Stillman's Run May 14 1832
1832Early Republic
12.1 mi
Battle of Stillman's Run (Illinois)
1832Early Republic
12.3 mi
Black Hawk War — Battle of Stillman's Run
1832Early Republic
14.9 mi
Battle of Stillman's Run
1832Early Republic
15.5 mi

Questions about this property

When was Graham-Ginestra House listed on the National Register?

Graham-Ginestra House was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on June 10, 1979.

What type of historic resource is Graham-Ginestra House?

Graham-Ginestra House is classified as a building in the National Register of Historic Places.

What is the period of significance for Graham-Ginestra House?

The period of significance for Graham-Ginestra House is recorded as the industrial era.

Can I research the history near Graham-Ginestra House?

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