National Register of Historic Places

Pennsylvania Avenue Historic District

East St. Louis, St. Clair County, Illinois
Listed
July 26, 1979
Type
District
Period
Listed
Ref No.
79003166

About this property

The Pennsylvania Avenue Historic District is a residential historic district located on the 1000 block of Pennsylvania Avenue in East St. Louis, Illinois. The district includes four houses as well as the sites of two demolished homes. The historic district was once a prestigious area of the city known as "Quality Hill", and it contained well-built homes designed in popular architectural styles. However, East St. Louis entered a severe decline due to the loss of its industry, racial discrimination, and a corrupt and mismanaged city government. The historic district suffered the same fate as the city; the district is marked by vacant lots and abandoned buildings, and all but one of the houses had been vacated or demolished by the 1970s. As of 1979, four houses were still standing in the district; all four are contributing buildings. The Joyce House, located at 1005 Pennsylvania Avenue, is a Renaissance Revival house built in 1901 and designed by Albert B. Frankel. The Katherine Dunham Museum now occupies the house; it is the only house in the district which is still occupied. The Malburn M. Stephens House, located at 1010 Pennsylvania Avenue, is a Georgian Revival house built in 1902; its namesake owner served as mayor of East St. Louis for 22 years. The Thomas L. Fekete House, located at 1018 Pennsylvania Avenue, is a vernacular house built in 1896. The sites of two demolished houses, the Reid-Nims House and Derleth-McLean House, are included in the district as non-contributing sites. The district was added to the National Register of Historic Places on July 27, 1979.

Location

East St. Louis, St. Clair County, Illinois
38.62873, -90.14452

Categories

POLITICS/GOVERNMENTARCHITECTURE
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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Everything a full report reveals about Pennsylvania Avenue Historic District

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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.
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Nearby Historic Sites

United States Post Office and Courthouse
Industrial
0.6 mi
Majestic Theatre
Industrial
0.7 mi
Spivey Building
Industrial
0.8 mi
Union Trust Bank Company Building
Civil War
0.8 mi
Broadview Hotel
Industrial
0.9 mi

Questions about this property

When was Pennsylvania Avenue Historic District listed on the National Register?

Pennsylvania Avenue Historic District was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on July 26, 1979.

What type of historic resource is Pennsylvania Avenue Historic District?

Pennsylvania Avenue Historic District is classified as a district in the National Register of Historic Places.

What is the period of significance for Pennsylvania Avenue Historic District?

The period of significance for Pennsylvania Avenue Historic District is recorded as the listed era.

Can I research the history near Pennsylvania Avenue Historic District?

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 Pennsylvania Avenue Historic District will include this listing and all other historical records in the area.

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