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.[2]
Lewis H. Thomas House | |
   | |
| Nearest city | Virden, Illinois |
|---|---|
| Coordinates | 39°30′31″N 89°38′37″W / 39.50861°N 89.64361°W |
| Area | 5.1 acres (2.1 ha) |
| Built | 1863-65 |
| Architect | Myers, Elijah E. |
| Architectural style | Victorian |
| NRHP reference No. | 83003586[1] |
| Added to NRHP | December 7, 1983 |
The house was added to the National Register of Historic Places on December 7, 1983.[1]
References
edit- ^ a b "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service. July 9, 2010.
- ^ Fuchs, Marc E. (January 9, 1983). "National Register of Historic Places Inventory - Nomination Form: Lewis H. Thomas House" (PDF). National Park Service. Retrieved June 19, 2014.[dead link]