National Register of Historic Places

Hossack, John, House

Ottawa, La Salle County, Illinois
Listed
March 16, 1972
Type
Building
Period
Industrial
Ref No.
72000462

About this property

The John Hossack House is a historic house in Ottawa, Illinois, United States. It was built in 1854–55 and was a "station" on the Underground Railroad. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1972. The John Hossack House was built in 1854–55 by John Hossack, a Scottish born Ottawan. Hossack had worked on the Illinois-Michigan Canal in Chicago before arriving in Ottawa. Hossack was an abolitionist who hid as many as 13 fugitive slaves in his house as a stop on the Underground Railroad. In a famous 1860 case involving fugitive slave Jim Gray, Hossack and other Ottawans were convicted in Federal Court in Chicago of violating the Fugitive Slave law. The John Hossack House is considered one of Ottawa's most beautiful houses. It is sited on the banks of the Illinois River overlooking the city. The building was designed by Sylvanus Grow and constructed by Alonzo Edwards. The house is a good example of Greek Revival architecture. Its details and proportions draw a conscious connection to the Classical tradition. The house is significant for its role as part of the Underground Railroad as well as the commercial and political significance of its original owner. The John Hossack House was added to the U.S. National Register of Historic Places on March 16, 1972. Aboard the Underground Railroad: John Hossack House, National Park Service site

Location

210 W. Prospect St.
Ottawa, La Salle County, Illinois
41.34008, -88.84132

Categories

COMMERCELAWARCHITECTURESOCIAL HISTORY
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

Knuessl Building
Civil War
0.4 mi
Strawn, Jeremiah, House
Industrial
0.6 mi
Washington Park Historic District
Listed
0.7 mi
Ottawa Commercial Historic District
Listed
0.7 mi
Ottawa East Side Historic District
Listed
0.8 mi

Questions about this property

When was Hossack, John, House listed on the National Register?

Hossack, John, House was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on March 16, 1972.

What type of historic resource is Hossack, John, House?

Hossack, John, House is classified as a building in the National Register of Historic Places.

What is the period of significance for Hossack, John, House?

The period of significance for Hossack, John, House is recorded as the industrial era.

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