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Restoration Success: Lockport Street House Earns Landmark Status After Years of Care
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Published in House and Home on Tuesday, December 16th 2025 at 15:31 GMT by Patch- 🞛 This publication is a summary or evaluation of another publication
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Restoration Success: Lockport Street House Earns Landmark Status After Years of Care
The quiet, tree‑lined block of Lockport Street in Plainfield, Illinois, now hosts a gleaming example of historic preservation in action. The century‑old house, originally built in the late 19th century, has been painstakingly restored to its former glory and officially designated as a local landmark by the Plainfield Historic Preservation Commission. The story of the house—its origins, the challenges of its restoration, and the community’s celebration of its new status—was the centerpiece of a Patch.com feature that highlighted the enduring value of preserving local heritage.
A House With a Story
The house in question dates back to 1892, when it was constructed by a prosperous local entrepreneur, Samuel “Sam” R. Hargrove, who made his fortune in the paper manufacturing industry that once thrived in the region. Architectural historians point out that the house is a fine example of the Queen Anne style, with its asymmetrical façade, ornate gingerbread trim, and a distinctive wrap‑around porch that once served as a social hub for the neighborhood. Over the decades, the house underwent a number of modifications that, while practical, gradually obscured its original character.
By the early 2000s, the property was in disrepair. Original windows had been replaced with cheap aluminum frames, the clapboard siding had been painted over in a uniform beige that muted the original color palette, and the intricate spindlework on the porch had been removed. The interior was gutted for modern use, leaving only a skeleton of the original layout.
The Restoration Journey
The restoration effort began in 2014 when a pair of local residents—Marianne Lee, a retired teacher, and her sister-in-law, James Foster, a licensed contractor—bought the property with the clear intention of returning it to its historic state. The Patch article’s photos show their early meetings in the house’s kitchen, which, even at that time, still bore evidence of the original plaster and a 1920s wallpaper pattern hidden behind a new coat of paint.
“Sam R. Hargrove was a man of great taste,” Lee recalled. “He wanted his home to be a place where people could come together, and the porch was a literal gathering place.” Her statement sets the tone for the restoration: a project that respected the house’s original social function as well as its architectural integrity.
The restoration plan was meticulous. A consultant from the Illinois Historic Preservation Agency evaluated the building and produced a comprehensive report that highlighted areas needing repair and recommended materials that matched the original as closely as possible. The report suggested that the original clapboard siding, which was made of Douglas fir, be replaced with new board and batten siding of the same species and finish. The porch’s spindlework, which had been removed, was sourced from a salvage yard that specialized in period furniture and architectural elements.
Funding for the project came from a mix of sources. The Foster-Lee team received a $50,000 grant from the Illinois Historical Commission’s “Preserve the Past” program, a community fund of $20,000 from the Plainfield Cultural Arts Council, and an additional $30,000 in private donations from local businesses and residents who saw the restoration as a way to revitalize the neighborhood’s historic character. In addition, the owners were eligible for a property tax abatement during the restoration period, thanks to a new ordinance passed in 2016 that encouraged historic preservation.
The restoration itself spanned three years. First, the interior was stripped back to the original plaster and joists. The original floorboards—oak, dating back to the house’s construction—were carefully restored with hand‑sanding and oiling rather than replacement. The attic, which had been filled with insulation and modern roofing, was cleared to reveal the original wooden trusses and a decorative panel that had been painted over in the 1950s.
Exterior work began in earnest in 2015. The new siding was carefully installed, and the porch was reconstructed, using the salvaged spindlework. A new roof, crafted to match the original pitch and covered in cedar shingles, replaced a flat, synthetic roof that had been installed in the 1970s. The original windows, which had been replaced with energy‑inefficient frames, were restored or replaced with custom, historically accurate sashes that matched the original muntin patterns.
Perhaps most striking was the restoration of the house’s front door. A rare, handcrafted iron‑handed door—originally a gift from a friend of Hargrove—was carefully re‑inlaid with period‑accurate hardware, re‑stained, and polished to its original sheen. The porch’s railings were re‑assembled using the salvaged ironwork, and the entire porch was finished with a new, natural‑looking oil to protect the wood from weathering.
Landmark Status and Community Celebration
On July 12, 2018, the Plainfield Historic Preservation Commission formally declared the Lockport Street house a local landmark. The commission’s decision, which was announced at a small ceremony in the town hall, recognized not only the house’s architectural significance but also its role in the town’s social history. The event was attended by local officials, community members, and a handful of people who had followed the project on the community’s Facebook page.
In her remarks, Mayor Susan Carrow praised the effort: “What Marianne and James have done is more than just restore a building; they have restored a piece of our collective memory. Their commitment reminds us that our heritage can thrive if we invest in it.”
The designation carries several benefits. The owners are now eligible for tax incentives for future maintenance, and the house is listed on the state’s official historic register, which offers further protection against demolition or unsympathetic alterations. Moreover, the landmark status is expected to serve as a catalyst for additional preservation projects in the neighborhood, encouraging other property owners to consider restoration.
A Model for Future Preservation
The Lockport Street restoration has been hailed as a model for other communities in the region. Patch’s follow‑up link to an article from the Plainfield Times highlighted how the city’s new historic preservation ordinance—enacted in 2016—provides a framework that other towns can adopt. The ordinance includes a “Preservation Grant Program” that funds projects like the Lockport house, and a “Tax Credit Initiative” that allows owners to deduct up to 30% of restoration costs from their property taxes.
The restoration team also partnered with the Illinois Architectural Conservation Society (IACS), whose volunteers provided technical guidance and helped source period‑appropriate materials. The IACS’s involvement is underscored in a linked research note, which explains that the society’s archives contain a number of original building plans and photographs of Hargrove’s house from the 1890s, giving the restoration team a blueprint to follow.
Legacy and Looking Forward
In the years since the restoration, the Lockport Street house has become a point of pride for Plainfield residents. The local school district now uses it as an educational site, with field trips that focus on architecture, historic preservation, and local history. The house has also become a backdrop for wedding ceremonies and community events, demonstrating the practical benefits of historic preservation beyond aesthetic appreciation.
Marianne Lee and James Foster, now older, reflect on the journey with a sense of quiet satisfaction. “We started this project with a dream,” Lee says. “And we’re glad that people see it now, not just as a beautiful house, but as a living part of our town’s story.”
For Patch readers and other local history enthusiasts, the story of the Lockport Street house underscores an important truth: preserving our past requires patience, community engagement, and sometimes a lot of money, but the rewards—a tangible link to our collective past and a renewed sense of place—are immeasurable. The house stands as a testament to the idea that history isn’t just something to look at from a distance; it’s a living, breathing part of the neighborhood we can all cherish and protect.
Read the Full Patch Article at:
[ https://patch.com/illinois/plainfield/lockport-street-house-underwent-painstaking-restoration-receives-landmark-status ]
