The C. H. Moore Homestead, in Clinton, Illinois, is one of two

Registered Historic Places The National Register of Historic Places (NRHP) is the United States federal government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures and objects deemed worthy of preservation for their historical significance or "great artistic v ...

in DeWitt County. The other, the

Magill House The Magill House is a historic hotel located at 100 N. Center St. in Clinton, Illinois. Construction on the building began in 1872 and was completed in 1873. The hotel was built in order to entice the Illinois Central Railroad to move the headquar ...

, was added to the Register in 2003. CH Moore Homestead DeWitt County Museum was added in 1979.

History

Construction was started on the C. H. Moore Homestead by John and Minerva Moore Bishop. Mr. Bishop was a prosperous grain and lumber dealer in Clinton. Work on the C. H. Moore Homestead was completed after the

Civil War A civil war or intrastate war is a war between organized groups within the same state (or country). The aim of one side may be to take control of the country or a region, to achieve independence for a region, or to change government policies ...

had ended and life took on a more normal pattern. Soon after this, the Bishops lost their only child. After Minerva Bishop's death in the early 1880s, Mr. Bishop sold the house to his brother-in-law, Clifton H. Moore. Moore, an educated man, was the first resident attorney to commence practice in Clinton, having hung out his shingle in 1841. He served as co-counsel with

Abraham Lincoln Abraham Lincoln ( ; February 12, 1809 – April 15, 1865) was an American lawyer, politician, and statesman who served as the 16th president of the United States from 1861 until his assassination in 1865. Lincoln led the nation thro ...

on several cases heard in the DeWitt County circuit court, of which future

United States Supreme Court The Supreme Court of the United States (SCOTUS) is the highest court in the federal judiciary of the United States. It has ultimate appellate jurisdiction over all U.S. federal court cases, and over state court cases that involve a point o ...

justice David Davis was the presiding judge. The west wing of the home was added in 1887 to house Mr. Moore's vast collection of books. At the time of his death, he owned approximately 7,000 volumes, the largest collection of books in downstate Illinois. The two-story high library has a vaulted ceiling and stenciled walls. There are four-season windows on the upper level, and an iron railing around the suspended upper gallery. The furniture and paintings include many of the original Moore furnishings. Moore's book collection was left to the city of Clinton upon his death and is now housed at the Vespasian Warner Public Library. Moore lived in the house until his death in 1901. The house sat in disrepair for several decades until 1967 when it was purchased and restored by the newly formed DeWitt County Museum Association. The Apple 'N Pork festival, held annually the last full weekend in September and established by the DeWitt County Museum Association, was first held in 1967 to help raise funds to restore and maintain the mansion.

C.H. Moore Homestead Dewitt County Museum

The C. H. Moore Homestead DeWitt County Museum is the centerpiece of the Apple 'n Pork Festival. This festival is held annually on the last weekend of September and has become one of central Illinois' largest festivals. The C.H. Moore Homestead DeWitt County Museum includes the restored

Victorian mansion Victorian architecture is a series of Revivalism (architecture), architectural revival styles in the mid-to-late 19th century. ''Victorian'' refers to the reign of Queen Victoria (1837–1901), called the Victorian era, during which period the st ...

, special exhibits, the Kent Collection, original carriage barn, gardens, replica of an Indiana-style covered bridge, operable blacksmith shop, three barns filled with antique farm equipment, tools, buggies, sleighs, autos, railroad items, and working telephone display.

Notes

External links

C. H. Moore Homestead Dewitt County Museum
{{DEFAULTSORT:Moore, C. H., Homestead Houses on the National Register of Historic Places in Illinois Houses in DeWitt County, Illinois Historic house museums in Illinois Open-air museums in Illinois Museums in DeWitt County, Illinois National Register of Historic Places in DeWitt County, Illinois