The Joshua P. Young House, also known as the McGee House, is a historic house at 2445 High Street in
Blue Island,
Illinois. The house was built in 1852 for land developer Joshua P. Young, who led the development of both Blue Island and many neighborhoods on
Chicago's
South Side. Young also helped bring the
Rock Island Railroad through Blue Island and led the city's Board of Trustees for two years. The house has a Chicago Cottage plan, a style of
balloon framing
Framing, in construction, is the fitting together of pieces to give a structure support and shape. Framing materials are usually wood, engineered wood, or structural steel. The alternative to framed construction is generally called ''mass wal ...
popular in mid-nineteenth century Chicago; as the style was banned in Chicago after the
Great Chicago Fire burned through many of the homes, surviving examples are relatively uncommon. The house's detailing is eclectic, incorporating elements of
Greek Revival,
Italianate, and
Gothic architecture.
The house was added to the
National Register of Historic Places on August 12, 1982.
References
Houses on the National Register of Historic Places in Cook County, Illinois
Houses completed in 1852
Blue Island, Illinois
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