Historic Carrollton farmstead open for tours during GCD’s
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By Carmen Ensinger
A unique opportunity will present itself during this year’s Greene County Days – the opportunity to tour the oldest continually occupied farmhouse in Illinois.
Members of the Black Family will be on hand to welcome visitors to the historic Black Farmstead near Carrollton on Saturday, Sept. 9. They will greet guests from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Bicentennial home, which was built in 1823 from bricks made on-site from clay that was found on site.
The all-brick manor house was designed by Margaret Hobson Black, a widow, who came to Greene County in 1822 from Wigton, England, along with two brothers and her five children. She wrote a construction contract and directed the building operation, which began in April, 1823, and completed that December.
When it was constructed, it was unique because it was a two-story structure located in a tall grass prairie. It contained four bedrooms and was heated by six fireplaces.
Wooden additions were built in 1855, including a two-story porch, wash house and a carriage/woodshed building. A brick smokehouse was added in 1865, and a horse barn erected in the late 1800s. All structures are still being used, some for different purposes, and all are in a good state of repair for being viewed and photographed.
The home is thought to be the oldest, continually occupied farm house in Illinois north of Edwardsville still run by members of the original settler’s family, who are now fifth and sixth generation descendants of Margaret Black, her five children and 29 grandchildren.
The house and farm were listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2005, based on architectural design, early settlement and agriculturally significant standards. In addition, the Homestead received a plaque as an Illinois Bicentennial Farm in 2022, and had earlier received a plaque commemorating its Centennial status.
The farm is located at 89 SW 200 Avenue, two miles west of Carrollton, and one-half mile south off State Route 108, in Greene County. In addition to the historic buildings and beautifully landscaped surroundings, pictures, old documents and other treasured family heirlooms will be on display. Everyone is welcome and there is no charge to tour the homestead.
