George H. Miller House, Bloomington, Illinois
Since I began this McLean County series on March 2 of this year, the name of the Bloomington architect George H. Miller (1856-1927) has been mentioned countless times. Miller was the first architect to practice for any substantial period in Bloomington. He designed many public buildings, churches, office buildings, and private homes in Bloomington and the surrounding area, He also served as Superintendent of U.S. Buildings and designed many federal buildings throughout the midwest.
Many of the buildings Miller designed are now listed in the National Register of Historic Places or have achieved local landmark status. Between 1880 and 1910, it can be argued Miller had a greater impact on the appearance of Bloomington than any other single individual. This is particularly true in the period following the Great Fire of 1900 that, in a matter of eight hours, reduced 45 buildings and 4-1/2 blocks in the core of downtown Bloomington to little more than smoking rubble, including the 1868 McLean County Courthouse.
Miller's major works in downtown Bloomington that previously been posted in this McLean County, Illinois series includes the Central Fire Station, Chatterton Opera House, Corn Belt Bank Building, Livingston Building, H. J. Higgins & Co. Marble Works (a.k.a. Jung & Kleinau Building), George Brand Building, and the Elder Building.
This view shows Miller's house on W. Market St., five blocks northwest of the old McLean County Courthouse. Miller built this home in 1890 three years after his marriage to Rose Stautz, and lived here for the remainder of his life. The house is representative of a grander west side Bloomington home where many wealthier German Americans lived.
The Miller House is an eclectic variation on the Queen Anne design. Some have labeled the style as being Victorian Gothic, but the house does not rest well in any formal category. It is in a very real sense an expression of the architect's own personality, eclectic in detail but unified in overall conception.
The house features a hexagonal tower on its southeast corner and a conical dormer projecting from the front of the multi-component roof. The front entrance is arched and flanked by columns; small recessed porches are located above the entrance and on the east side of the house. The house also has several stained glass windows. The property was individually listed in the National Register of Historic Places on July 20, 1978.
It is disappointing to see how the George H. Miller House has been neglected. It is in need of substantial work to restore it to its historic appearance and, so far at least, I have come across no evidence that this is happening or is planned.
Bloomington is the seat of McLean County. It is adjacent to Normal, and is the more populous of the two principal municipalities of the Bloomington-Normal metropolitan area. Bloomington is home to State Farm Insurance, Country Financial and Beer Nuts. Illinois Wesleyan University is located here, while the neighboring twin city of Normal is home to Illinois State University and Heartland Community College. Bloomington is 135 miles (217 km) southwest of Chicago, and 162 miles (261 km) northeast of St. Louis. The estimated population of Bloomington in 2019 was 77,330, with a metro population of 191,067.
George H. Miller House, Bloomington, Illinois
Since I began this McLean County series on March 2 of this year, the name of the Bloomington architect George H. Miller (1856-1927) has been mentioned countless times. Miller was the first architect to practice for any substantial period in Bloomington. He designed many public buildings, churches, office buildings, and private homes in Bloomington and the surrounding area, He also served as Superintendent of U.S. Buildings and designed many federal buildings throughout the midwest.
Many of the buildings Miller designed are now listed in the National Register of Historic Places or have achieved local landmark status. Between 1880 and 1910, it can be argued Miller had a greater impact on the appearance of Bloomington than any other single individual. This is particularly true in the period following the Great Fire of 1900 that, in a matter of eight hours, reduced 45 buildings and 4-1/2 blocks in the core of downtown Bloomington to little more than smoking rubble, including the 1868 McLean County Courthouse.
Miller's major works in downtown Bloomington that previously been posted in this McLean County, Illinois series includes the Central Fire Station, Chatterton Opera House, Corn Belt Bank Building, Livingston Building, H. J. Higgins & Co. Marble Works (a.k.a. Jung & Kleinau Building), George Brand Building, and the Elder Building.
This view shows Miller's house on W. Market St., five blocks northwest of the old McLean County Courthouse. Miller built this home in 1890 three years after his marriage to Rose Stautz, and lived here for the remainder of his life. The house is representative of a grander west side Bloomington home where many wealthier German Americans lived.
The Miller House is an eclectic variation on the Queen Anne design. Some have labeled the style as being Victorian Gothic, but the house does not rest well in any formal category. It is in a very real sense an expression of the architect's own personality, eclectic in detail but unified in overall conception.
The house features a hexagonal tower on its southeast corner and a conical dormer projecting from the front of the multi-component roof. The front entrance is arched and flanked by columns; small recessed porches are located above the entrance and on the east side of the house. The house also has several stained glass windows. The property was individually listed in the National Register of Historic Places on July 20, 1978.
It is disappointing to see how the George H. Miller House has been neglected. It is in need of substantial work to restore it to its historic appearance and, so far at least, I have come across no evidence that this is happening or is planned.
Bloomington is the seat of McLean County. It is adjacent to Normal, and is the more populous of the two principal municipalities of the Bloomington-Normal metropolitan area. Bloomington is home to State Farm Insurance, Country Financial and Beer Nuts. Illinois Wesleyan University is located here, while the neighboring twin city of Normal is home to Illinois State University and Heartland Community College. Bloomington is 135 miles (217 km) southwest of Chicago, and 162 miles (261 km) northeast of St. Louis. The estimated population of Bloomington in 2019 was 77,330, with a metro population of 191,067.