William Howard Thompson Home

1152 West State Street

Date Built:  Around 1868 or 1872, remodeled extensively 1900-1902

Architectural Style:  Originally probably Italianate, but remodeling changed it to Beaux Arts Classicism

• An eclectic home style combining aspects of different styles, decorated pretty elaborately outside as well as inside.

Who has lived here: 

• William Howard Thompson built the house when his 6-year-old daughter Anna had a severe case of measles which left her deaf.  The family moved to Jacksonville to be near the Illinois School for the Deaf.  

• While the house was being built, Anna had scarlet fever and her hearing was restored.  She never attended ISD.