Pettengill–Morron House Explained

Pettengill–Morron House
Location:1212 W. Moss Ave.
Peoria, Peoria County, Illinois
Mapframe:yes
Mapframe-Marker:building
Mapframe-Zoom:12
Mapframe-Caption:Interactive map showing the location of Pettengill-Morron House
Coordinates:40.6944°N -89.6122°W
Built:1868
Architect:Charles Ulricson
Architecture:Second Empire[1]
Added:April 2, 1976
Area:less than one acre
Refnum:76000724
Designated Other1 Name:City of Peoria Local Historic Landmark

The Pettengill–Morron House, or simply Morron House, is a historic mansion located in the city of Peoria, Illinois, United States. This Second Empire style home is located in the local historic Moss-High District. The property was added to the National Register of Historic Places and is a City of Peoria Local Historic Landmark. It currently operates as a museum by the Peoria Historical Society.

History

The house was originally built in 1868 for Moses Pettengill, a hardware store owner who came to Peoria from New Hampshire in 1833.[2] [3] [4] When Pettengill arrived in Peoria, there were 150 people, 30 log cabins, and three frame houses. Pettengill and his wife Lucy originally made their home on the site of the present-day Peoria Civic Center from 1836 to 1862.

The original house on the site, an 1862 construction that was built for $5,000, was destroyed by fire on December 13, 1865.[5] [6] A new brick building was constructed in 1868 in the Second Empire style for the cost of $12,000. A colonial revival porch and porte-cochere were added in 1900.[7] [8] Its original address was 464 Moss Avenue[9] before Peoria's address renumbering in the 1950s. The last resident was Miss Jean Morron, who lived there from 1953 until she died in 1966; the Peoria Historical Society acquired the house in 1967.

Legacy

The house was listed on the U.S. National Register of Historic Places on April 2, 1976. The home is also listed as a contributing member to the West Bluff Historic District, which was added to the National Register in December 1976.[10] It was added to the City of Peoria Local Historic Landmark list in December 2021.[11] The house received a grant from Landmarks Illinois in 2020 to fund repairs.[12]

The Peoria Historical Society operates this house and the Judge Flanagan Residence as historic house museums.[13] [14] [15] The Pettengill Collection of artifacts was donated by Moses Pettengill's relative, Daisy Peirce Hale. The collection includes paintings that were restored and hung in the museum, Blanchard Pettengill's diary of growing up on the Moss Avenue property, and other family history records.

External links

Notes and References

  1. "Jean Morron Residence," (PDF), National Register of Historic Places Nomination Form, Illinois Historic Preservation Agency, HAARGIS Database. Retrieved 15 April 2007.
  2. Book: Ballance, Charles . The History of Peoria, Illinois . 1870 . N.C. Nason . 205, 215 . en.
  3. Web site: Alani . Hannah . 2022-02-25 . Uncovered history: Peoria's Underground Railroad was dangerous. But abolitionists persisted . 2023-10-06 . WCBU Peoria . en.
  4. Book: Rice, James Montgomery . Peoria City and County, Illinois: A Record of Settlement, Organization, Progress and Achievement . 1912 . S. J. Clarke . 978-0-608-36869-6 . 464 . en.
  5. Web site: Lynn . Greg . 2016-01-25 . Fortuitous & Fruitful Finds . 2023-10-06 . Peoria Magazine . en-US.
  6. Book: Bonham, Jeriah . Fifty Years' Recollections: With Observations and Reflections on Historical Events, Giving Sketches of Eminent Citizens--their Lives and Public Services . 1883 . J. W. Franks & Sons . 390 . en.
  7. Web site: Pettengill–Morron House Museum . Peoria Historical Society . . 2008-11-01 . 2009-01-13 .
  8. Web site: Illinois Adventure - Pettengill-Morron House . 2023-10-06 . www.illinoisadventuretv.org.
  9. Book: McCarthy, Stephanie E. . Haunted Peoria . 2009 . Arcadia Publishing . 978-0-7385-6008-3 . 84 . en.
  10. "West Bluff Historic District," (PDF), National Register of Historic Places Nomination Form, Illinois Historic Preservation Agency, HAARGIS Database. Retrieved 15 April 2007.
  11. Web site: Local Landmarks - Historic Residences Peoria, IL . 2023-09-29 . www.peoriagov.org.
  12. Web site: 2020-09-17 . Historic Peoria home gets preservation grant . 2023-10-06 . Peoria Journal Star . en-US.
  13. Web site: House Museum Tours . Peoria Historical Society . . 2008-05-21 . 2009-01-13 .
  14. Web site: 2018-05-07 . The Pettengill-Morron House celebrates 150 years in Peoria . 2023-10-06 . CIProud.com . en-US.
  15. Foster . Olive S. . 1983 . 1983 Annual Report . Journal of the Illinois State Historical Society . 76 . 3 . 213–223 . 40191585 . 0019-2287.