John C. Flanagan House Museum Explained

"Judge" Flanagan Residence
Location:942 NE. Glen Oak Ave., Peoria, Illinois
Coordinates:40.7045°N -89.5855°W
Built:1837
Architecture:Post-Colonial, Federal
Added:September 5, 1975
Area:<
Refnum:75000670
Designated Other1 Name:City of Peoria Local Historic Landmark

The Judge John C. Flanagan Residence is a historic house in Peoria, Illinois, United States. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1975 and is currently operated as a museum by the Peoria Historical Society.

History

The home was constructed for John C. Flanagan, a Philadelphia native, in 1837.[1] The house was either part of an original 620acres tract purchased by Flanagan's father or part of a 20acres tract purchased by Flanagan when he came to Peoria in 1831.[2]

The house was built in the post-Colonial or American Federal style with Italianate elements.[3] [4] [5] It is constructed of local walnut timber, locally made brick, and Kickapoo Valley limestone, supplemented with lumber, lime, and glass from Chicago. Ornamental ironwork was shipped from France in 1852. It is the oldest home still standing in Peoria. In 1834, the area only had seven frame houses and about 30 log cabins. The brick mansion overlooks the Illinois River from the East Bluff and was referred to by locals as the "Mansion on the Hill" or "the Manse".[6]

The Peoria Historical Society acquired the property in 1962.

Legacy

It is believed that Abraham Lincoln was once a guest in the home during the Lincoln-Douglas debates from 1854 to 1860.[7] The building was added to the National Register of Historic Places on September 5, 1975. It was also designated as a City of Peoria Local Historic Landmark in November 2022.[8]

The house is now operated by the Peoria Historical Society as the John C. Flanagan House Museum, a 19th-century period historic house museum.[9] The house also serves as the headquarters for the Peoria Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution. Exhibits include antique glass, china, furniture, toys, quilts, tools, and clothing.

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Tarter . Steve . 2015-09-28 . Peoria's oldest standing home, Flanagan House, finally has air-conditioning . 2023-10-06 . Peoria Journal Star . en-US.
  2. Book: Demeter, Richard . Irish America : the historical travel guide . 1997 . Pasadena, Calif. : Cranford Press . Internet Archive . 978-0-9648253-3-8 . 100 . en.
  3. Web site: Peoria Chapter, NSDAR : Our History . 2023-10-06 . ildar.org.
  4. Book: McCarthy, Stephanie E. . Haunted Peoria . 2009 . Arcadia Publishing . 978-0-7385-6008-3 . 88 . en.
  5. Book: The National Register of Historic Places . U.S. Department of the Interior, National Park Service. . 146 . en.
  6. Web site: John C Flanagan House Museum . 2023-10-06 . Victorian Preservation Association . en-US.
  7. "Judge Flanagan Residence," (PDF), National Register of Historic Places Nomination Form, Illinois Historic Preservation Agency, HAARGIS Database. Retrieved 14 April 2007.
  8. Web site: Local Landmarks - Historic Residences Peoria, IL . 2023-09-29 . www.peoriagov.org.
  9. Web site: Houses . 2023-10-06 . Peoria Historical Society . en-US.