The Mistake House (1931) - Principia College Historic District - Elsah, IL - NRHP Historic Districts - Contributing Buildings on Waymarking.com

In Elsah, within the Principia College Campus, is the Mistake House, which is a contributing building of the Principia College National Historic District.

Principia College is located east of the center of the village of Elsah. From the village center, go east on Maple Street to the entrance on the right.

The Mistake House is located at the circular quad area near the edge of the bluffs and opposite the chapel, another contributing building. It is located within the circular road that defines the green, and is close to the Marshall Brooks Library.

The building is a smallish structure that is about 1 1/2 stories tall. It has a saltbox peaked roof (shorter on one side vs. another). The walls vary in building types from brick to 'tudor.' The roof has the impression of a grey thatched roof. There is a door at ground level at one end and a stairway leading to the upper floor on the other. a chimney rises through the roof and there is a small dormer window.

The entry for this building on the nomination form is as follows:

"1. The Mistake House (1931); The first structure
built at Elsah by Maybeck was an experimental building
originally named the Sample House, and now known as the
Mistake House. Between April and June of 1931 Maybeck
personally supervised the construction of this
reference-point for the new college construction. It
was his intention to use the Sample House as a basis
for written instructions coming from his San Francisco
office to the architects and construction supervisors
in Elsah. The little building includes all kinds of
construction techniques including half-timbering mixed
with brick, concrete, and stone. In order to imitate
the effect of thatch in an English village, Maybeck
used gunite on the north slope of the Mistake House
roof with poured concrete dormers and a concrete
chimney. Principia administrators required that the
architect experiment with terra cotta tile on the south
slope, the method ultimately adopted for the executed
dormitories. (Contributing)"

The building is now used as a storage shed.

I don't know specifics on access. The entrance has a security shed. I would try to contact the college, first, to arrange a visit.

Name of Historic District (as listed on the NRHP): Principia College Link to nationalregisterofhistoricplaces.com page with the Historic District: [Web Link] Address: 1 Maybeck Place Elsah, IL How did you determine the building to be a contributing structure?: Other (Please explain in the Private Message field) Optional link to narrative or database: [Web Link] NRHP Historic District Waymark (Optional): Not listed

Recent Visits/Logs:

There are no logs for this waymark yet.