National Register of Historic Places

Jones House

Pontiac, Livingston County, Illinois
Listed
May 4, 1978
Type
Building
Period
Industrial
Ref No.
78001163

About this property

The Jones House is a historic brick home in the Illinois city of Pontiac. The house is listed on the U.S. National Register of Historic Places and is the second oldest brick house in Pontiac. The Jones House was built from 1857 to 1858 by John Dehner, a prominent Pontiac citizen who had a stake in the Chicago and Paducah Railroad. Dehner purchased the property from Simon Dewitt in 1857 and when the house was finished in 1858 its value was assessed at $366. The house is named for the owner that acquired it in 1899, Henry C. Jones. Jones was in the newspaper business but later founded and served as president of Pontiac Light, Heat and Power Company. Jones lived in the home until his death in 1921. After his death the home passed through members of the Jones family and it was damaged by fire in 1975. In 1976 the Livingston County Historical Society purchased the property in 1976. The historical society still holds the property and it is open by appointment and for events. The Jones House is a good local example of Gothic Revival architecture. The brick house sits on a limestone foundation. It features steep gables and pointed arch window and is considered unique to the Pontiac area. Originally the house featured a porch and had wooden shingles. After its purchase by the historical society it underwent a restoration meant to be mindful of the building's architectural integrity. The house is architecturally significant as an excellent local example of Gothic Revival architecture. Constructed in 1857–58, just one other brick home was completed in Pontiac prior to the completion of the Jones House. Though the house is most significant for its architecture it also played a role in local history: John Dehner himself lived there, and later it served as the residence of another prominent early Pontiac citizen, Henry C. Jones—a newspaper publisher and the founder and president of the Pontiac Light, Heat and Power Company. The Jones House was added to the National Register of Historic Places for its architectural and historic significance associated with the early prominent citizens of Pontiac on May 5, 1978. National Register of Historic Places listings in Livingston County, Illinois

Location

314 E. Madison St.
Pontiac, Livingston County, Illinois
40.87947, -88.62590

Categories

COMMERCEARCHITECTURE
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 Jones House

This page lists Jones 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 Jones House report
Or see a real report first

Nearby Historic Sites

Livingston County Courthouse
Industrial
0.2 mi
Pontiac City Hall and Fire Station
Industrial
0.2 mi
Strevell House
Industrial
0.4 mi
Illinois State Police Office, Pontiac
Industrial
2.4 mi
Schultz, Raymond, Round Barn
Industrial
2.8 mi

Questions about this property

When was Jones House listed on the National Register?

Jones House was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on May 4, 1978.

What type of historic resource is Jones House?

Jones House is classified as a building in the National Register of Historic Places.

What is the period of significance for Jones House?

The period of significance for Jones House is recorded as the industrial era.

Can I research the history near Jones 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 Jones House will include this listing and all other historical records in the area.

More in Livingston County

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

Explore LivingstonCounty ›

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 Jones House will include this listing alongside battlefield records and other historical sources within your chosen radius.

Research your locationView a free sample report