National Register of Historic Places

Jacoby, Lysander, House

Rockford, Winnebago County, Illinois
Listed
March 5, 1982
Type
Building
Period
Industrial
Ref No.
82002607

About this property

The Lysander Jacoby House, also known as Burr Heights or Richwoods, is a historic residence in Rockford, Illinois, United States. It was built for Jacoby, a lawyer who became a recluse. It was later owned by a prominent grocer and a doctor, as well as Cheap Trick founder and guitarist Rick Nielsen. Lysander C. Jacoby, named after his home town of Lysander, New York, was born in 1816 and came west in 1834. He attended the Harvard Law School, graduating in the class of 1842. He was admitted to the bar the next year. He established a successful practice in Fort Wayne, Indiana and served on circuit courts. Jacoby came to Rockford, Illinois in 1862. He purchased a lot on the Rock River and built his house by 1865. Jacoby's behavior turned increasingly eccentric. He briefly practiced law with Horace Taylor, but then became a recluse. He attended the Second Congregational Church, but otherwise spent his time in his house with his family and large library. Jacoby died on September 30, 1900, and was buried in Rockford. His daughter Lillian taught drawing and painting at Rockford College. Charles D. Burr acquired the house the year of Jacoby's death. He was a co-founder of Burr Brothers, a chain of grocers in Northern Illinois and Southern Wisconsin. They renamed the house Burr Heights and redesigned the landscape to make it one of the most attractive locations in Rockford. Burr lived in the house until 1919, when it was sold to Dr. Robert C. Bourland. A prominent local family, the Bourlands occasionally entertained Clarence Darrow in their house. The house was recognized by the National Park Service with a listing on the National Register of Historic Places on March 5, 1982.

Location

2 Jacoby Pl.
Rockford, Winnebago County, Illinois
42.28731, -89.06250

Categories

LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTUREARCHITECTURE
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.

Unlimited access

Everything a full report reveals about Jacoby, Lysander, House

This page lists Jacoby, Lysander, House. A full Aubrey report for an address near it pulls together this listing alongside battlefield records, land patents, and every other historical record within a chosen radius:

Overview
An interactive map of the location with historic sites, battles and Native heritage plotted, and its full story era by era.
The Land
The historic sites and place names around the location, and how this land was settled and used.
Geology
The bedrock beneath the site, its age and rock type, reaching back millions of years.
LiDAR Terrain
Laser-scanned terrain that reveals earthworks and old features hidden in the landscape.
Conflict & War
The battles, raids and skirmishes fought near here, across every era of American conflict.
The Civil War
The Civil War on this ground, 1861 to 1865: who held it, and the battles, camps and regiments nearby.
The Soldiers
The men who marched from here in the Civil War, named and traced where the record allows.
Native Heritage
The Native nations who held this land, mapped across time from before European contact to today.
Settlement
Who claimed and held this ground, from Indigenous homelands through the colonial powers to the United States.
The Community
How the town grew, who came, and what kind of place it became, traced through the census record.
Rivers & Rail
The rivers, canals and railroads that connected this place between 1830 and 1911.
Notable People
The people born, buried or genuinely tied to this exact place, with their stories.
Historical Maps
Historic maps of the location layered over how it looks today.
Finds & Access
Museum objects tied to the area, and the laws on searching, collecting and access here.
Literature
The old books, county histories and archives that mention this place, quoted with their sources.
Spotlight
A deep dive into the most remarkable, lesser-known history of the place, traced back to the record.
Points of Interest
The most significant historic sites and landmarks near the location, and why they matter.
Timeline
The whole story of the location told era by era, from first peoples to the present day.
First month just $5.99, then $11.99 a month. Unlimited locations, cancel anytime.

Every location is different. Not every section appears for every place, only what the historical record actually holds turns up in a report.

Start your Jacoby, Lysander, House report
Or see a real report first

Nearby Historic Sites

Greenwood Cemetery Chapel and Crematory
Industrial
0.8 mi
Lundberg, Charles, House
Industrial
0.9 mi
Spafford, Amos Catlin, House
Industrial
1 mi
Garrison School
Industrial
1.2 mi
Garrison-Coronado-Haskill Historic District
Listed
1.4 mi

Nearby Battles

Stillman's Run May 14 1832
1832Early Republic
14.1 mi
Battle of Stillman's Run (Illinois)
1832Early Republic
14.2 mi
Black Hawk War — Battle of Stillman's Run
1832Early Republic
15.1 mi

Questions about this property

When was Jacoby, Lysander, House listed on the National Register?

Jacoby, Lysander, House was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on March 5, 1982.

What type of historic resource is Jacoby, Lysander, House?

Jacoby, Lysander, House is classified as a building in the National Register of Historic Places.

What is the period of significance for Jacoby, Lysander, House?

The period of significance for Jacoby, Lysander, House is recorded as the industrial era.

Can I research the history near Jacoby, Lysander, House?

Yes. Aubrey Research reports search National Register listings, battlefield records, land patents, and other primary historical sources within any radius of a US address. A report for an address near Jacoby, Lysander, House will include this listing and all other historical records in the area.

More in Winnebago County

Historic places, battles, and census history across Winnebago County.

Explore WinnebagoCounty ›

More historic places in Illinois

Browse all historic places in Illinois.

View Illinoishistoric sites ›

Conflict records

Explore 19,000+ military engagements across American history.

Browse US conflicts ›

Illinois history

Colonial settlement, territorial period, and statehood narrative.

Illinoishistory ›

Research the history near this site

An Aubrey US report for an address near Jacoby, Lysander, House will include this listing alongside battlefield records and other historical sources within your chosen radius.

Research your locationView a free sample report