Herrick Cobblestone

Herrick Cobblestone is a house from the 1840s with unusually thick walls made from large stones and smaller pebbles. The walls are built from locally sourced materials from the Rock River area and reinforced with distinctive stone corners.

The house was built in 1847 by Elijah Herrick and ranks among the few remaining examples of this stone construction technique. This building method came westward after the Erie Canal was completed, spreading from New York.

The house shows how settlers brought building traditions from the northeast and adapted them in new places. Stone construction was a familiar method for people coming from New York to create stable and long-lasting homes.

The house sits on a residential street and is easy to spot from outside. The classical windows and unusual stone structure make it recognizable even for passing visitors.

The foundations use locally quarried dolomite while the corner reinforcements come from limestone in another region. This mix of materials from different sources is unusual for stone houses of that era.

Location: Rockford

Inception: 1847

Architectural style: Greek Revival architecture

Address: 2127 Broadway

GPS coordinates: 42.25222,-89.06222

Latest update: December 14, 2025 18:20