W.E. White Building, building in Illinois, United States of America
The W.E. White Building is a red brick structure in downtown Stockton, Illinois, built in 1897 in the Queen Anne style. It features a cone-shaped turret at the corner, a wrapped bay window, ornate pediments, and classical elements like garland swags and acanthus leaf motifs.
The building was constructed in 1897 following a devastating fire in 1896 that destroyed much of the downtown. It replaced an earlier store and post office run by the O'Rourke family and was designed by local builder Peter Schroeder, who shaped Stockton's character.
The building carries the name of Wilbur E. White, the owner who had it built in 1897. The Queen Anne style architecture with its decorative details shows how the community took pride in rebuilding after a major fire.
The building sits at the corner of Front and Main Streets downtown and is easy to spot from the sidewalk. The diagonal corner entrance makes it a natural starting point for exploring the historic area on foot.
The original O'Rourke family store and post office were not demolished but moved behind the new building, and they still stand there today. This unusual construction solution shows how the community preserved its heritage while rebuilding.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 60,000 contributors worldwide.
