Page last updated on November 17, 2017 at 9:43 am
Cottage Grove Historic District is one of Bloomington's most architecturally diverse neighborhoods.
A section of the district was platted as early as 1853. At that time,10th Street was a rural road called Unionville Pike. Several simple two room vernacular structures from that era are still standing along 10th Street. These double pen, saddle bag and central passage structures were among the earliest house forms in the county and are still seen more commonly in rural areas.
The district also boasts the only brick Queen Anne structure remaining in Bloomington. Built in an early subdivision called Hunter's Addition, it was once part of a lengthy corridor of impressive homes. Among these was the General Morton C. Hunter House. With its grand two-story columns, it was a memorable part of Bloomington's most important street. In the 1970's a much-neglected Hunter House was at the center of a controversial rezoning from residential to commercial. The attempt was defeated, however the house was demolished anyway, giving rise to the local historic preservation movement.
The uniquely Bloomington bungalow depicted is sturdily built of rock-faced limestone block, a material that is more familiar on post offices and churches than residences anywhere else in the country.