Red Brick Store (reconstructed), Nauvoo, IL
Nauvoo, IL (Hancock County)
The city of Nauvoo, located on the east bank of the Mississippi River in Hancock County, Illinois, was the principal city of the Mormons, and the headquarters of the church from 1839 to 1846. First settled by church members after their flight from northwestern Missouri.
Beginning in May 1839, land was purchased by Mormons in and around the small town of Commerce, in an area of western Illinois that had demonstrated some sympathy for the trials of the church. The following year, the name of the community was officially changed to Nauvoo , a word meaning beautiful site or habitation. The original plan of the Mormons was to establish two new communities, one at Nauvoo and the other on the west bank of the Mississippi at Montrose, Iowa Territory. The latter town was the site of Brigham Young's first home in this area. Later, because of difficulties in proving land titles, the Mormons on the Iowa side were compelled to abandon their property and move into Nauvoo.
During the seven year Mormon occupation, the location of the undeveloped towns of Commerce and Commerce City on the east bank of the Mississippi grew into the prosperous frontier city of Nauvoo, and with an estimated population of 12,000, it was for a time the largest city in Illinois. Hundreds of homes and commercial structures were built, a number of which are extant today. (1)
The original Red Brick Store opened for business on January 5, 1842, with Joseph Smith as owner and proprietor. The main floor was a general store. At the back on this floor, Bishop Newell K. Whitney had an office where people could pay their bills and tithing.
By 1890 the building had deteriorated to the point that it was torn down. It was reconstructed on the original site and open to the public in April 1980. (2)
References (1) NRHP Nomination Form s3.amazonaws.com/NARAprodstorage/opastorage/live/0/8916/2...
(2) Historical Marker Database www.hmdb.org/m.asp?m=55437
Red Brick Store (reconstructed), Nauvoo, IL
Nauvoo, IL (Hancock County)
The city of Nauvoo, located on the east bank of the Mississippi River in Hancock County, Illinois, was the principal city of the Mormons, and the headquarters of the church from 1839 to 1846. First settled by church members after their flight from northwestern Missouri.
Beginning in May 1839, land was purchased by Mormons in and around the small town of Commerce, in an area of western Illinois that had demonstrated some sympathy for the trials of the church. The following year, the name of the community was officially changed to Nauvoo , a word meaning beautiful site or habitation. The original plan of the Mormons was to establish two new communities, one at Nauvoo and the other on the west bank of the Mississippi at Montrose, Iowa Territory. The latter town was the site of Brigham Young's first home in this area. Later, because of difficulties in proving land titles, the Mormons on the Iowa side were compelled to abandon their property and move into Nauvoo.
During the seven year Mormon occupation, the location of the undeveloped towns of Commerce and Commerce City on the east bank of the Mississippi grew into the prosperous frontier city of Nauvoo, and with an estimated population of 12,000, it was for a time the largest city in Illinois. Hundreds of homes and commercial structures were built, a number of which are extant today. (1)
The original Red Brick Store opened for business on January 5, 1842, with Joseph Smith as owner and proprietor. The main floor was a general store. At the back on this floor, Bishop Newell K. Whitney had an office where people could pay their bills and tithing.
By 1890 the building had deteriorated to the point that it was torn down. It was reconstructed on the original site and open to the public in April 1980. (2)
References (1) NRHP Nomination Form s3.amazonaws.com/NARAprodstorage/opastorage/live/0/8916/2...
(2) Historical Marker Database www.hmdb.org/m.asp?m=55437