Old Aristocracy Hill in Springfield in Sangamon County, Illinois — The American Midwest (Great Lakes)
Price-Wheeler House
618 S. Seventh St.
Photographed by Duane and Tracy Marsteller, April 4, 2025
1. Price-Wheeler House Marker
Built 1899
Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Architecture. In addition, it is included in the National Register of Historic Places (NRHP) series list. A significant historical year for this entry is 1899.
Location. 39° 47.724′ N, 89° 38.785′ W. Marker is in Springfield, Illinois, in Sangamon County. It is in Old Aristocracy Hill. It is on South 7th Street south of East Edwards Street, on the left when traveling south. Seventh Street is one-way southbound on this block. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 618 S 7th St, Springfield IL 62703, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Regionally, this marker is in Central Illinois. It is also in the American Midwest and in the Corn Belt. Globally, it is in North America, the Western Hemisphere, the Western World, and the Anglosphere. Historically, it finds itself in what was once the territory of the Mississippian Culture and also the Northwest Territory.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: The Elijah Iles House (within shouting distance of this marker); Jameson Jenkins Ct. (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); Scott Burton Blvd. (about 300 feet away); William Donnegan Ln. (about 300 feet away); Thomas Houston Ave. (about 300 feet away); Town House (about 400 feet away); Lincoln Home National Historic Site (about 500 feet away); George W. Shutt House (about 500 feet away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Springfield.
Regarding Price-Wheeler House. Excerpts from the
this page online
The Price/Wheeler house has outstanding local significance in Springfield's architectural development. It is the city's first fully-developed Classical Revival house to be built in the period following the World's Columbian Exposition of 1892. The exposition is of course credited with influencing the passion for Neo-classical buildings in America during the next thirty years.
Isaiah Price who had the house built was an entrepreneur whose business firm controlled the great bulk of the clothing and tailoring business in Springfield, His new mansion was located socially if not technically on Aristocracy Hill. After Price's unexpected death at age 49 less than two years later, it was discovered that he was financially over-extended. His widow was forced to sell the house. The house's desirability was well illustrated in 1904 when Loren Wheeler, city postmaster, former mayor and later U.S. Congressman, paid nearly $9,000 for it at a time when neighboring houses were selling for $2,000 to $4,000 less. Most of these were of similar age and size.
Also see . . . Price/Wheeler House (PDF). National Register nomination for the property, which was listed in 1985. (Prepared by Edward J. Russo; via National Archives) (Submitted on April 21, 2025, by Duane and Tracy Marsteller of Murfreesboro, Tennessee.)
Photographed by Duane and Tracy Marsteller, April 5, 2025
2. Price-Wheeler House Marker
Unknown; via Library of Congress, Prints and Photographs Division (Public Domain), circa 1921
3. Loren Edgar Wheeler, III (1862-1932)
Springfield's mayor at the turn of the 20th century, he served five nonconsecutive terms in the U.S. House of Representatives between 1915 and 1927. He was among 50 House members who voted against declaring war on Germany in 1917.
Credits. This page was last revised on April 21, 2025. It was originally submitted on April 21, 2025, by Duane and Tracy Marsteller of Murfreesboro, Tennessee. This page has been viewed 161 times since then and 29 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on April 21, 2025, by Duane and Tracy Marsteller of Murfreesboro, Tennessee.
