Historic Joseph Perry House in Crete Granted Landmark Status

Will County Board Meeting | April 16, 2026

Article Summary: The Will County Board officially designated the Joseph Ferris Perry House in Crete Township as a historical landmark, protecting the 1890s Queen Anne-style home.

Historic Landmark Key Points:

• The home, located at 365 W. Exchange Street, was originally built circa 1854.

• It features distinct Queen Anne architecture, including a conical turret, a wrap-around porch, and fish-scale shingles.

The Will County Board on Thursday, April 16, 2026, voted 20-0 to approve Resolution 26-106, officially designating the Joseph Perry House in Crete Township as a Will County Historical Landmark.

Located at 365 W. Exchange Street (PIN # 23-15-09-318-016-0000), the property was nominated by owner Lauro Garcia, who purchased the home in 2018 and undertook a meticulous restoration of its exterior and interior to reflect its late Victorian Era heritage.

According to the historical nomination packet, the structure was originally built circa 1854 as an Italianate building by Dr. Joseph Perry IV, a physician, philanthropist, and early settler of Crete who ran his medical practice from the home. Following his death, his son, Joseph Ferris Perry, extensively remodeled the residence in the early 1890s, transforming it into the Queen Anne style seen today.

The house is recognized for maintaining a high level of architectural integrity, featuring defining characteristics such as an asymmetrical façade, a wrap-around porch with Ionic columns, multi-planed and steeply pitched roofs, and a southeastern turret crowned by a conical roof and finial. The original wood siding, curved glass windowpanes, and hand-carved interior woodwork remain intact.

The Will County Historic Preservation Commission previously held a public hearing on April 1, 2026, where they voted to recommend the landmark designation, confirming the structure meets the requisite criteria for preservation under the county’s ordinance.