Reef House - Carbondale, Illinois
Posted by: 
BruceS
N 37° 43.392 W 089° 13.291
16S E 304213 N 4177427
Historic Queen Anne style house in Carbondale, Illinois.
Waymark Code: WM6AGC
Location: Illinois, United States
Date Posted: 05/03/2009
Views: 2
"The Reef House, a decorated Queen Anne cottage, is an unusual survivor in Carbondale architecture since most other houses of its style and period have been demolished, resided inappropriately, or otherwise altered past recognition. It retains largely intact its original siding, decorative stickwork and patterned shingles as well as its singular southside only structural awnings. The proximity of the structure to two known A.M. Etherton houses and the treatment of the gables as well as the general careful attention to detail suggest that is also may be the work of this Carbondale carpenter who was prominent in builder's circles in 1890-92, and who is known from an article in the January 28, 1893 Southern Illinois Herald to have built eight houses in the Poplar Street area in 1892-1893. It is also of interest that this well known craftsman built and occupied the house at 500 S. Poplar.
The Reef House although owned and occupied by four families between the time of its construction and the present has always been used as a single family residence and so has been spared the alterations which often accompany conversion to multi-family use. It stands as a rare remaining example of the decorated Queen Anne cottage of Carbondale in the decades of the 1890's" - National Register Nomination Form