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City Council recognizes the Historic Bernreuter Home
and United Church of Christ
In honor of National Preservation month (May), the City Council recently adopted legislation designating the Bernreuter Home at 216 W. Adams Street as a local historic landmark, and United Church of Christ at 206 W. Adams Street received a local heritage award. Members of the O’Fallon Historic Preservation Commission assisted property owners with the applications and historic research.
United Church of Christ
206 W. Adams
The United Church of Christ marked its beginning on October 29, 1876, when a number of Evangelical followers organized a congregation of the Evangelical and Reformed Church in O’Fallon. The first church building was erected in 1878 at its present location; the corner of West Adams and North Cherry Streets. The architecture was Gothic in style, 35 by 69 feet, and cost $7,500. It included an 85 foot bell tower. Although the bell tower is gone, the original bell still rings today. On March 29, 1905, a fire of unknown origin partly destroyed the church, but most fixtures and furnishings were saved. The congregation immediately set forth to rebuild, increasing its size by 20 feet. In 1957, the national denomination of the Evangelical and Reformed church joined in a union with the Congregation of Christian Churches to
form the present denomination known as the United Church of Christ. The O’Fallon Evangelical and Reformed Church was renamed as the present O’Fallon United Church of Christ. In 1971, a major renovation to the interior of the sanctuary was undertaken. Installation of new pews and altar, a new massive organ and choir area, and renovation of walls and flooring was done. The ceiling was completely reconstructed to expose the wood support beams of the roof. The original stained glass windows on the front of the church remain.
The Bernreuter Home
216 W. Adams
The Bernreuter Home was built in 1903. The George and Hilma Bernreuter family lived in the home in the 1930’s and 40’s. The house is currently owned by her daughter Ruth Bernreuter Smith and is occupied by her son Bill Smith, an artist who is nowin the process of restoring the home to its original condition. The house is a classic Queen Anne two-story four-square design. It is of frame construction with its original clapboard siding. It has a wrap-around front porch with large Doric columns and pediment and a back porch with turned wooden spindles. Original double-hung wooden windows have been kept throughout. The stained glass is original as are the transoms. Several features make this residence “one of a kind” including the hitching post in front of the house and the barn
which has been completely restored.
Property Tax Assessment Freeze Program for Historic Residences
The Bernreuter Home, and any property designated as a local historic landmark, may apply for the Property Tax Assessment Freeze Program administered by the Illinois Historic Preservation Agency. The program provides tax incentives to owner-occupants of certified historic residences who rehabilitate their homes. Through the Property Tax Assessment Freeze Program, the assessed valuation of the historic property is frozen for eight years at its level the year rehabilitation began. The valuation then is brought back to market level over a period of four years.
To qualify for the Property Tax Assessment Freeze, a property must be a registered historic structure, be used as a single-family, owner occupied residence or as an owner-occupied residential building with up to six units, have at least 25% of the property’s market value spent on an approved rehabilitation project, and be rehabilitated in accordance with the Secretary of the Interior’s “Standards for Rehabilitation.” For more information on the Property Tax Assessment Freeze Program, see www.state.il.us/HPA. If you have any questions
regarding the historic local designation process, please contact the Planning and Zoning Department at 624-4500, ext. 4.
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