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42. 1203-05 17th Street – Willis House
Broadway National Register Historic District: 1998
Architectural Style: Colonial Revival, with Queen Anne influences
Construction Date: circa 1897
The double house is one of Broadway’s most intriguing designs. Frequently, they were built for relatives, usually siblings or parents and an adult child to share. The original owners of this house were Charles and Charlotte E. Willis, who lived at 1205. For many years Mrs. Martha Willis, a widow, and her adult children lived at 1203.
Mr. Willis was once deputy sheriff of Rock Island and in the early 1900s was the 4th Ward Alderman for the city. The Willis family maintained this home until the 1960s.
Although some double houses had one side that was larger and more elaborate, the two dwellings in this building are mirror images of each other. Queen Anne and Colonial Revival styles are both represented in the Willis House. The irregular angles of the roof are classic Queen Anne elements while the simple, Tuscan-style porch columns represent the Colonial Revival style.
Return to 50 Broadway Buildings tour page.
Return to Broadway’s Queen Annes tour page.
Return to Broadway’s Colonial & Classical Revival Architecture tour page.
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