# Downtown Aledo Historic District

The Downtown Aledo Historic District is a national historic district located in downtown Aledo, Illinois. The district includes 75 contributing buildings and a park. The majority of the buildings are commercial structures, but the district also includes the city's Chicago, Burlington and Quincy Railroad station and both the city's and Mercer County's major government buildings. Development in the district began in the 1850s, and the oldest surviving buildings date from the following decade. The district includes examples of many prominent American architectural styles from the mid-19th century onward; the most prevalent styles are Classical Revival, Romanesque Revival, and Italianate.
The district was added to the National Register of Historic Places on June 7, 2016. Two buildings in the district, the Mercer County Courthouse and Mercer County Jail, are listed independently in the National Register.

## Architectural Styles
### Italianate

There are eleven buildings of the District identified as Italianate. Examples of the Italianate style in the District include Detwiler Bros. Hardware Store at 118 E Main St, the Marquis Bros. Building at 201 E Main St, and the former Buggie and Shay Shop at 106 S College Ave. Locally, this style of architecture was popular from 1880 to 1913.

### Romanesque Revival

There are thirteen buildings of the District identified as Romanesque Revival. Examples include the Union Hall Building at 113 S College Ave, 213 S College Ave, and 109-113 E Main St. Locally, this style of was popular from 1870 to 1907.

### Second Empire

The Button House at 101 N College Ave is the only example of the Second Empire style in the District. The Button House was built in 1868.

### Stick Style

The Chicago, Burlington, & Quincy Railroad Depot at 204 SE 2nd Ave is the only example of Stick Style in the District. The CB&Q Depot was built in 1869.

### Italian Renaissance

There are two buildings of the District identified as Italian Renaissance. The two examples are the service stations at 112 S College Ave, and 222 E Main St. These buildings were built from 1928 to 1940.

### Classical Revival

There are 25 buildings of the District identified as Classical Revival. Of the 25 buildings, four are Early Classical Revival and 21 are Late Classical Revival. Examples include the Mercer Carnegie Library at 200 N College Ave, the Wallen Block at 114 E Main St, and the rear of 118 E Main St. Locally, the Early Classical Revival style was popular from 1875 to 1880, while the Late Classical Revival style was popular from 1889 to 1938.

### Jacobethan

The Mercer County Jail at 309 S College Avenue is the only example of the Jacobethan style in the District. The jail was built in 1909.

### Neoclassical

The Farmers National Bank at 101 E Main St is the only example of the Neoclassical style in the District. The bank building was built in 1917.

### Art Deco

The Mercer County Farm Bureau at 206 SE 3rd St is the only example of the Art Deco style in the District. The building was built in 1940.

### Moderne

There are four buildings in the District identified as Moderne. Examples include the Standard Oil Stations at 222 W Main St and 112 S College Ave. Locally, this style was popular circa 1940.

### New Traditional

The McCreedy Building at 107-109 N College Ave is the only example of the New Traditional style in the District. The building was built in 1938 and continues to be popular to present day.

### Contemporary

There are five buildings in the District identified as Contemporary. Examples include the Tastee-Freez at 300 SE 3rd St, the Veterans of Foreign Wars Post at 106 SW 3rd Ave, and the Farmer's State Bank of Western Illinois at 201 S College Ave. Additionally, there are eleven buildings with Contemporary style false-fronts in the District. Examples include the W.C. Galloway Grocery Store at 119 S College Ave, 115 E Main St, and 116 NW 2nd Ave. Locally, this style was popular from 1950 to 1995.

## Building Type
### Commercial Blocks: One & Two Part

Two or more story commercial blocks may be classified as One-Part Commercial if the facade can be read as a single design element, with no projecting cornice or other strong horizontal design element dividing the first floor from the upper floors.
There are 49 Commercial Blocks in the District. Examples of the Commercial Block type can be found on the north side of the 100-block of E Main St or the west side of the 100 and 200-blocks of S College Ave.

### Temple-Front

Modeled after the ancient Greek and Roman temples, these buildings are typically two to three stories in height. They are distinguished by a portico of four or more columns extending across the facade or by a recessed entry front by twin columns set in between an enframing wall.
The Farmers National Bank at 101 E Main St is the only example of the Temple-Front building type in the District.

### False-Front

False-Front is an applied or fake front facade. They are identifiable by the extension of the applied front facade above the building's roofline and lack of depth to the storefront.
There are eleven buildings with false-fronts in the District. Examples include the W.C. Galloway Grocery Store at 119 S College Ave, 115 E Main St, and 116 NW 2nd Ave.

### Freestanding

Freestanding buildings have architectural treatment on two or more sides. The structure may occupy an entire city block and be surrounded by parking.
There are six Freestanding buildings in the District. Examples of the Freestanding building type are the National Bank of Aledo building at 201 W Main St, Farmer's State Bank of Western Illinois at 201 S College, and Frontier Communications at 206 SE 3rd Ave.

### Gas Stations and Other Road-Related Buildings

Automobile service garages are simple buildings sometimes with an office or storage above. These buildings are often masonry construction with a barrel vault or bowstring truss roof.
There are ten road-related buildings in the District. Examples are the Standard Oil Stations at 222 W Main St and 112 S College Ave, and the filling and service station at 222 E Main St.

## Table of Contributing Structures

Contributing Structures :
| Historic Name/Use | Building Number | Dir. | Street | Building Date | Building Type | Architectural Style/Details |
| Button House | 101 | N | College Avenue | 1868 | Two-Part Commercial Block | Second Empire |
| McCreedy Building | 107-109 | N | College Avenue | 1938 | Two-Part Commercial Block | New Traditional; Classical |
| The Davis Building | 108-112 | N | College Avenue | ca. 1907–1913 | Two-Part Commercial Block | Late Classical Revival |
| Bakery | 114 | N | College Avenue | ca. 1907–1913 | Two-Part Commercial Block | Late Classical Revival |
| United States Post Office | 117 | N | College Avenue | 1917-1918 | Government/Post Office | Neoclassical |
| Print Shop | 118 | N | College Avenue | ca. 1907–1913 | Two-Part Commercial Block | Late Classical Revival |
| City Hall | 120 | N | College Avenue | ca. 1907–1913 | Government/City Hall | Late Classical Revival |
| Mercer Carnegie Library | 200 | N | College Avenue | 1915 | Education/Library | Late Classical Revival |
| Aledo Public High and Grade School | 201 | N | College Avenue | 1921 | Education/School | Late Classical Revival |
| A. M. Byers & Co. | 100-104 | S | College Avenue | 1870 | Commerce/Financial Institution | Romanesque Revival |
| Dry Goods and Notions Store | 101 | S | College Avenue | ca. 1870 | Two-Part Commercial Block | Italianate |
| Dry Goods and Clothing Store | 105 | S | College Avenue | ca. 1870 | Two-Part Commercial Block | Italianate |
| Buggie and Shay Shop | 106 | S | College Avenue | ca. 1895 | Two-Part Commercial Block | Italianate |
| Dry Goods Store | 107 | S | College Avenue | ca. 1885–1894 | Two-Part Commercial Block | Italianate |
| The Palace Drug Store | 109 | S | College Avenue | ca. 1880 | Two-Part Commercial Block | Romanesque Revival |
| Knights of Pythias Hall | 110 | S | College Avenue | 1890 | Two-Part Commercial Block | Romanesque Revival |
| Standard Oil Station | 112 | S | College Avenue | ca. 1913–1928 | Road-Related/Filling Station | Italian Renaissance |
| Standard Oil Station | 112 | S | College Avenue | ca. 1940 | Road-Related/Service Station | Moderne |
| Union Hall Building | 113 | S | College Avenue | ca. 1880 | Two-Part Commercial Block | Romanesque Revival |
| Murphy Furniture Store and Billiards | 125 | S | College Avenue | ca. 1885–1894 | Two-Part Commercial Block | Romanesque Revival/Contemporary |
| Calderone's Grocery Store | 129 | S | College Avenue | ca. 1913–1928 | Two-Part Commercial Block | Late Classical Revival |
| Grocer and Social Hall | 205 | S | College Avenue | ca. 1880 | Two-Part Commercial Block | Italianate |
| Paints and Wall Papers; Drug Store | 207 | S | College Avenue | ca. 1894–1901 | Two-Part Commercial Block | Italianate |
| Grocer | 213 | S | College Avenue | ca. 1901–1907 | Two-Part Commercial Block | Richardsonian Romanesque |
| Wehner Bro's Furniture Store | 217 | S | College Avenue | ca. 1901–1907 | Two-Part Commercial Block | Italianate |
| Masonic Hall | 219 | S | College Avenue | 1901 | Two-Part Commercial Block | Romanesque Revival |
| Carlson Apartments | 301 | S | College Avenue | 1913 | Two-Part Commercial Block | Late Classical Revival |
| Residence | 303 | S | College Avenue | ca. 1885–1894 | Domestic/Single Dwelling | L-Form |
| Mercer County Jail | 309 | S | College Avenue | 1909 | Government/Correctional Facility | Jacobethan |
| Farmers National Bank | 101 | E | Main Street | ca. 1913–1928 | Commerce/Financial Institution; Two-Part Commercial Block | Temple-Front; Late Classical Revival |
| Books and News | 109 | E | Main Street | ca. 1875 | Two-Part Commercial Block | Romanesque Revival/Contemporary Storefront |
| Will Hall | 110 | E | Main Street | 1881 | Two-Part Commercial Block | Italianate |
| The Peterson Building | 112 | E | Main Street | ca. 1880 | Two-Part Commercial Block | Early Classical Revival |
| Drug Store and Stationery | 113 | E | Main Street | ca. 1875 | Two-Part Commercial Block | Romanesque Revival/Contemporary Storefront |
| Wallen Block | 114 | E | Main Street | ca. 1875 | Two-Part Commercial Block | Early Classical Revival |
| Grocer | 115 | E | Main Street | ca. 1870 | One-Part Commercial Block | Unknown with Contemporary False-Front |
| Detwiler Bros. Hardware Store | 118 | E | Main Street | ca. 1885–1894 | Two-Part Commercial Block | Italianate |
| Public Restrooms | 121 | E | Main Street | ca. 1875 | Two-Part Commercial Block | Italianate |
| Dry Goods Store and Offices | 122 | E | Main Street | ca. 1885–1894 | Two-Part Commercial Block | Italianate |
| Dry Goods & Notions Store | 125 | E | Main Street | ca. 1880 | Two-Part Commercial Block | Early Classical Revival |
| Emrick & Owsley Building | 127 | E | Main Street | 1904 | One-Part Commercial Block | Late Classical Revival |
| Store | 129 | E | Main Street | ca. 1913–1928 | Two-Part Commercial Block | Late Classical Revival |
| Marquis Bros. | 201 | E | Main Street | ca. 1882 | Two-Part Commercial Block | Italianate |
| Dry Goods and Notions Store; Grocer | 203 | E | Main Street | ca. 1880 | Two-Part Commercial Block | Early Classical Revival |
| Stevenson Brothers Grocery Store/Stevenson Flats | 212-218 | E | Main Street | ca. 1889 | Two-Part Commercial Block | Italianate |
| Filling Station | 222 | E | Main Street | ca. 1928–1936; ca. 1940 | Road-Related/Filling Station | Italian Renaissance/Moderne |
| Garage | 222-224 | E | Main Street | ca. 1913–1928 | Road-Related/Garage | N/A |
| Store | 103-105 | W | Main Street | ca. 1913–1928 | Two-Part Commercial Block | N/A |
| Butcher and Grocer | 126 | W | Main Street | ca. 1907–1913 | Two-Part Commercial Block | Late Classical Revival |
| Harness Shop, Furniture Shop, and Undertaker | 132 | W | Main Street | ca. 1907–1913 | Two-Part Commercial Block | Italianate |
| Store | 133 | W | Main Street | ca. 1913–1928 | One-Part Commercial Block | N/A |
| Harness Shop | 134 | W | Main Street | ca. 1885–1894 | One-Part Commercial Block | Contemporary (Storefront) |
| Livery | 137 | W | Main Street | ca. 1885–1894 | Agriculture/Animal Facility | Contemporary (False-Front Facade) |
| Agricultural Implements | 138 | W | Main Street | ca. 1875 | One-Part Commercial Block | Unknown with Contemporary (False-Front Facade) |
| Davison Chevrolet Motor Company | 202 | W | Main Street | 1926 (ca. 1913–1928) | Road-Related/Auto Sales & Garage | Late Classical Revival |
| Vulcanizing Shop | 210 | W | Main Street | ca. 1913–1928 | Road-Related/Auto Garage | Late Classical Revival |
| Veterinary Stable | 212 | W | Main Street | ca. 1913–1928 | Stable | Late Classical Revival |
| Veterinary | 214 | W | Main Street | ca. 1913–1928 | One-Part Commercial Block | Late Classical Revival |
| Standard Oil Station | 222 | W | Main Street | ca. 1950 | Road-Related/Filling Station | Moderne |
| Auto Garage | 116 | NW | 2nd Avenue | ca. 1913–1928 | Road-Related/Auto Garage | Contemporary (Facade) |
| Aledo Opera House | 108 | SE | 2nd Avenue | 1904 | Freestanding; Recreation/Music Facility | Italianate |
| Chicago, Burlington, & Quincy Railroad Passenger and Freight Station | 204 | SE | 2nd Avenue | 1869 | Train Depot | Stick |
| Bolton Brothers Electric Company | 104 | SW | 2nd Avenue | ca. 1901–1907 | Industry/Energy Facility | Late Classical Revival |
| City of Aledo Water Works Pump House | 203 | SW | 2nd Avenue | ca. 1913–1928 | Government/Public Works | Unknown with Contemporary Elements |
| Auto Garage | 110 | NW | 2nd Street | ca. 1913–1928 | Road-Related/Auto Garage | Contemporary (False-Front Facade) |
| Billiards | 105 | SE | 2nd Street | ca. 1901–1907 | Two-Part Commercial Block | Late Classical Revival |
| Johnson Creamery | 107 | SW | 2nd Street | ca. 1928–1936 | Agriculture/Processing | N/A |
| Commercial | 108 | SW | 2nd Street | ca. 1960 | One-Part Commercial Block | Contemporary |
| Original City of Aledo Water Works | 109 | SW | 2nd Street | 1889 | Government/Public Works | Late Classical Revival |
| Veterans of Foreign Wars Post | 106 | SW | 3rd Avenue | 1961 | Freestanding; Social/Meeting Hall | Contemporary |
| Mercer County Courthouse | 100 | SE | 3rd Street | 1894 | Government/Courthouse | Romanesque Revival |
| Central Park | 100 blk. | SE | 3rd Street | ca. 1913–1928 | Landscape/Plaza | Contemporary |
| Frontier Communications | 200 blk. | SE | 3rd Street | ca. 1960 | Freestanding | Contemporary |
| Mercer County Farm Bureau | 206 | SE | 3rd Street | 1940 | Freestanding; Commerce/Office Building | Art Deco |
| Filling Station | 210 | SE | 3rd Street | 1940 | Road-Related/Filling Station | Moderne |
| Tastee-Freez | 300 | SE | 3rd Street | ca. 1950 | One-Part Commercial Block | Contemporary |
| Furniture Shop and Undertaker | 103 | SW | 3rd Street | ca. 1901–1907; ca. 1913–1928 | Two-Part Commercial Block | Late Classical Revival |
| Murphy Funeral Home | 103 | SW | 3rd Street | 1938 | Religious/Chapel | Late Classical Revival |