The East Rockford Historic District is a historic commercial area of
Rockford, Illinois,
United States
The United States of America (U.S.A. or USA), commonly known as the United States (U.S. or US) or America, is a country primarily located in North America. It consists of 50 states, a federal district, five major unincorporated territori ...
.
History
Rockford, Illinois was first settled around 1834. As Rockford grew, the east side of the
Rock River developed into a commercial district, featuring the post office and the first two hotels. State Street, which runs through the district, became an important transportation corridor between
Belvidere and
Galena. The first bridge in Rockford was built on State Street across the river in 1852; it was the only crossing until 1890. Also that year, the
Galena and Chicago Union Railroad reached the east side of Rockford, built along the eastern riverfront, providing economic stimulus. By 1860, the entirety of State Street from the tracks to Second Street was commercial development. The commercial building at 324–30 East State Street is the lone remnant from this era that has not been substantially altered.
[Illinois Historic Preservation Agency]
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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 ...
and Panic of 1873
The Panic of 1873 was a financial crisis that triggered an economic depression in Europe and North America that lasted from 1873 to 1877 or 1879 in France and in Britain. In Britain, the Panic started two decades of stagnation known as the ...
halted construction for the next two decades. Prosperity returned in the late 1870s, prompting the construction of the Nash–Superior–Van Zandt Block. The paving of State Street in 1889 brought another wave of construction, including a building for the YMCA
YMCA, sometimes regionally called the Y, is a worldwide youth organization based in Geneva, Switzerland, with more than 64 million beneficiaries in 120 countries. It was founded on 6 June 1844 by George Williams (philanthropist), Georg ...
and the Germania Hall. The ornate, Romanesque Revival
Romanesque Revival (or Neo-Romanesque) is a style of building employed beginning in the mid-19th century inspired by the 11th- and 12th-century Romanesque architecture. Unlike the historic Romanesque style, Romanesque Revival buildings tended to ...
YMCA hall dominated the east side for decades. The Panic of 1893 again slowed development. Further development in Rockford largely centered on the west side district.[
The first Rockford City Hall was commissioned in 1904 and completed three years later. The last major east side building of the early 20th century was the Rockford Wholesale Grocery Building in 1909. The YMCA was converted to the East Side Inn in 1911, which stayed in business until the 1970s. The ]Roaring Twenties
The Roaring Twenties, sometimes stylized as Roaring '20s, refers to the 1920s decade in music and fashion, as it happened in Western society and Western culture. It was a period of economic prosperity with a distinctive cultural edge in the ...
provided another period of prosperity for the district, and it was during this period that many of the other significant buildings were constructed. Just before this period, the Midway Theater opened on the east side. J. E. O. Pridmore's design included a tower. The Manufacturer's National Bank was constructed in 1925 and the Faust Hotel was built in 1927. The last major building in the district was the Morning Star Newspaper Building, which featured a seven-story tower.[
]
Buildings
The following buildings contribute to the historical fabric of the district:[
*Rockford Wholesale Grocery Building, 1909
*Morning Star Newspaper Building, 1932
*Old Y.M.C.A. Building, 1889
*Germania Hall, 1890
*324–30 East State Street, c. 1855-60
*Old City Hall, 1907
*Nash–Superior–Van Zandt Block, 1879
*Manufacturer's National Bank, 1925
*Shumway Market, c. 1920
*Midway Theater, 1918
*Faust Hotel, 1927
]
References
{{commons category, East Rockford Historic District
National Register of Historic Places in Winnebago County, Illinois
Victorian architecture in Illinois
Italianate architecture in Illinois
Neoclassical architecture in Illinois
Buildings and structures in Rockford, Illinois
Historic districts on the National Register of Historic Places in Illinois
Geography of Rockford, Illinois