National Register of Historic Places

Thomas, Lewis H., House

Virden, Montgomery County, Illinois
Listed
December 7, 1983
Type
Building
Period
Industrial
Ref No.
83003586

About this property

The Lewis H. Thomas House is a historic house located on North Virden Road near Virden, Illinois. The house was built in 1863-65 for agriculturalist Lewis H. Thomas and formed the centerpiece of his farm. Architect Elijah E. Myers, who also designed three state capitol buildings, planned the Victorian house. Thomas extensively used hedge fencing with bois d'arc on his farm and is considered a pioneer of the technique in Illinois. In addition, his farm was known for its livestock and became a local tourist attraction due to its unusual animals, which included peacocks, bears, and deer. After its roof was lost to a fire, the house was renovated in 1888. The house was added to the National Register of Historic Places on December 7, 1983.

Location

Virden, Montgomery County, Illinois
39.50859, -89.64366

Categories

ARCHITECTUREAGRICULTURE
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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Overview
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The Land
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Geology
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Conflict & War
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The Civil War
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The Soldiers
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Native Heritage
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Settlement
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The Community
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Rivers & Rail
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Nearby Historic Sites

Shriver Farmstead
Industrial
7.3 mi
Sugar Creek Covered Bridge
Industrial
9.2 mi
Illinois Route 4-North of Auburn
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9.3 mi
Route 66, Girard to Nilwood
Industrial
10 mi
Route 66 South of Lake Springfield
Industrial
12.9 mi

Nearby Battles

Virden Massacre
1898Frontier
6.7 mi

Questions about this property

When was Thomas, Lewis H., House listed on the National Register?

Thomas, Lewis H., House was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on December 7, 1983.

What type of historic resource is Thomas, Lewis H., House?

Thomas, Lewis H., House is classified as a building in the National Register of Historic Places.

What is the period of significance for Thomas, Lewis H., House?

The period of significance for Thomas, Lewis H., House is recorded as the industrial era.

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