Listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2011.
“The Richard Roytek House is a historic house located at 3420 Richmond Avenue in Mattoon, Illinois. Local businessman Richard Roytek built the house for his family in 1949-50.”
Wikipedia article Richard Roytek House, CC BY-SA 4.0.
One of 24 National Register listings published here for Coles County · listed in 2011 · category: Building.
Sources: the Wikipedia article · the case file at the National Archives · the National Register database, National Park Service
The chapter on Mattoon Township in The History of Coles County, Illinois ... Map of Coles County; History of Illinois ... History of Northwest ... Constitution of the United States, Miscellaneous Matters, &c., &c, published 1879 names Mattoon. This is what it says, exactly as the scans read.
The prairies are now the chief producing part of the township. They easily admit of good drainage and, though to some extent rather level, are exceedingly productive. Corn is the principal cereal grown. The others do w^ell, but throughout this part of Central Illinois are not the staple article of agriculture. Cattle and hogs are raised quite extensively. Mr. Elisha Linder and a few others have been for many years prominently engaged in this business. The railroads at Mattoon give a direct outlet to all the chief markets of the world and should maintain a constant sale for farm produce.
Passage source: The History of Coles County, Illinois ... Map of Coles County; History of Illinois ... History of Northwest ... Constitution of the United States, Miscellaneous Matters, &c., &c, published 1879.
In the summer of 1826, Mr. Charles Sawyer, a resident of Kentucky, came to this part of Illinois looking for a home. He remained a short time with the Trues, in what is now La Fayette Township, and examined the country to the south and west of them. Selecting a location at the north side of the timber, on the Little Wabash, he returned to the True settlement, and hired a man named Bates, for $10, to build him a cabin, while he should return to Kentucky for his family. Mr. Bates hired Levi Doty, a young man living in the neighborhood, to build the cabin, and, by winter, a very comfortable home was ready for " Uncle Charley " when he should return. This cabin was the first habitation for a white man known to have been built in the bounds of either Mattoon or Paradise Township. It stood near the site of Mr. John Sawyer's house in Section 28, and until a few other pioneers could erect similar habitations, was the home of the emigrant while he was selecting and preparing his own fireside.
Passage source: The History of Coles County, Illinois ... Map of Coles County; History of Illinois ... History of Northwest ... Constitution of the United States, Miscellaneous Matters, &c., &c, published 1879.
Machine-read from a century-old scan, so expect the errors a machine makes: misspelled names, dropped words, stray characters.
Read the whole chapter on Mattoon Township - 44,148 words on its settlement, mills, schools and churches.
Regional context, not property-specific evidence. The federal mineral resources record lists 1 working within 5 miles of Richard Roytek House: 1 past producer. None of them still produces. What was taken out: Stone, Crushed/Broken. Distance is straight-line from the map coordinates, so a quarry counted here may appear on a neighbouring settlement's page as well.
| Where | Site | Commodity | Status | Recorded |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mattoon City Eng | Stone, Crushed/Broken | Past Producer |
Regional context, not property-specific evidence. The National Weather Service names Mattoon, the town this property stands in, in 126 storm reports between 1993 and 2026: 72 thunderstorm wind, 34 hail, 13 flash flood, 4 tornado. The reports record 7 injuries. Each account below is quoted exactly as the forecast office filed it, from the NOAA Storm Events Database, and each date opens the federal record of that event.
| When | Event | Place named | Harm | What the report says |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| March 1998 | Tornado (F2) | Mattoon | 3 hurt, $3,000,000 | A tornado touched down 1 mile southwest of Mattoon and travelled to the northeast. It damaged 4 homes in the initial touchdown area and then crossed a set of railroad tracks turning over 4 empty 30-ton coal cars. After crossing the railroad tracks, the tornado hit a self-storage facility, where six of the ten buildings in the complex were destroyed. The tin and steel girder buildings were not bolted down to the cement slabs, so they were lifted up, "wadded up" into a big pile, and deposited downstream about 200 yards. Further to the northeast, it damaged or destroyed numerous homes and businesses before lifting. It remained aloft for several blocks, then touched down again, tearing off treetops and damaging several roofs in the area. It lifted again and touched down a final time about a block away. Damage in this area was to tree tops and roofs. Overall, the tornado was on the ground for 1.5 miles and it either damaged or destroyed 120 homes and businesses. Damage is estimated between $2.5 and $3 million. Two people sustained minor injuries and one 9 year old child was seriously injured when a picture frame blew off the wall, hit her in the back, and cut her, causing her left lung to partially collapse. |
| August 2012 | Thunderstorm Wind | Mattoon | 2 hurt, $40,000 | Numerous trees were blown down and a few power poles were snapped along Route 16 west of Mattoon. Two people were injured when they were hit by falling tree branches as they were trying to take shelter from the storm. A semi and trailer were blown over on Route 16 2 miles west of Mattoon. Many corn fields sustained wind damage as well. |
| September 2003 | Tornado (F1) | Mattoon | 1 hurt, $10,000,000 | A tornado touched down 4 miles north northeast of Mattoon near a printing plant. It then traveled east damaging several buildings at the plant. Almost 500,000 square feet of the roof was damaged or destroyed. Contents in the buildings including electronic equipment and over 5 million pounds of paper were damaged. With over 400 employees in the plant at the time of the tornado, only one person suffered minor injuries but didn't need immediate medical attention. After hitting the plant, the tornado damaged some outbuildings at a nearby farm before lifting and dissipating. Damage to the plant was estimated around $10 million. |
| July 2009 | Lightning | Mattoon | 1 hurt | An employee at WMCI radio in Mattoon was injured when lightning struck the radio station tower. The employee was indoors, working on radio transmission equipment. |
| April 2018 | Flash Flood | Mattoon | $2,000,000 | A steady, but moderate to heavy rain, moved into the southern parts of Coles County shortly after 7 am CDT. Thunderstorms caused the rain to intensify between 9:00 and 10:00 am CDT, when nearly 2.00 inches of rain was measured. Total rainfall ranged from 4.00 to 6.00 inches in about a nine hour period. Flash flooding rapidly developed in Mattoon, Charleston and other surrounding areas, where numerous streets were flooded and had to be closed. Illinois Route 16 was closed in several spots as well as parts of I-57 between milepost 184 and 192. Five houses in Mattoon were flooded, resulting in the evacuation of 11 people, where the water was 3 to 5 feet deep, mainly due to the flooding of Kickapoo Creek. Numerous water rescues were also conducted by local officials for people trapped in vehicles. Lakeland College just south of Mattoon cancelled classes due to all of the road closures from the flooding. |
| June 2008 | Thunderstorm Wind | Mattoon | $250,000 | Widespread tree and power line damage occurred in and around Mattoon. In addition, several buildings in town sustained roof damage, a cinder block wall partly collapsed at a tire dealership, and numerous vehicles were damaged at a car dealership by flying debris. |
| May 2013 | Thunderstorm Wind | Mattoon | $125,000 | Numerous trees, tree branches, and power poles were blown down throughout Mattoon. |
| June 2016 | Thunderstorm Wind | Mattoon | $75,000 | Empty semi trailers were pushed over and numerous trees and power lines were blown down. |
| August 2012 | Thunderstorm Wind | Mattoon | $65,000 | Numerous trees and power poles were blown down across Mattoon. Electricity was knocked out to many residents for about 2 hours. Power lines were blown down and blocked Lake Mattoon Road. |
| July 2016 | Thunderstorm Wind | Mattoon | $60,000 | A tree was blown onto a garage on 22nd Street and several trees and tree branches were blown down along Western Avenue. |
| June 2009 | Thunderstorm Wind | Mattoon | $50,000 | A substation was damaged by strong winds. |
| July 2016 | Thunderstorm Wind | Mattoon | $40,000 | Numerous trees were blown onto power lines near East County Road 1000N and Dole Road. |
| June 2016 | Thunderstorm Wind | Mattoon | $32,000 | Several power lines were blown down just west of Mattoon. |
| July 2016 | Thunderstorm Wind | Mattoon | $25,000 | Several large tree branches were blown down in Mattoon. |
| September 2015 | Thunderstorm Wind | Mattoon | $25,000 | Several tree branches were blown down around Mattoon. One tree fell onto a house. |
| July 2013 | Thunderstorm Wind | Mattoon | $25,000 | Numerous tree branches and power lines were blown down on the west side of Mattoon. |
| June 2011 | Thunderstorm Wind | Mattoon | $25,000 | Several tree limbs were blown down in Mattoon. |
| July 2008 | Thunderstorm Wind | Mattoon | $25,000 | The roof was damaged at Central Illinois Transmission in Mattoon. There were also several trees and power lines blown down in the area. |
| August 2007 | Thunderstorm Wind | Mattoon | $20,000 | Numerous trees, large tree limbs, and power lines were blown down across Mattoon.| |
| August 1999 | Thunderstorm Wind | Mattoon | $20,000 | Numerous tree limbs and power lines blown down. |
| August 2009 | Thunderstorm Wind | Mattoon | $17,000 | A tree was blown down near Mattoon High School. In addition, wind damage occurred to the Mattoon Dispatch Center. |
| August 2009 | Thunderstorm Wind | Mattoon | $16,000 | A couple of semi trailer tankers were damaged at 21st and Marshall in Mattoon. |
| August 2019 | Thunderstorm Wind | Mattoon | $15,000 | A tree was blown onto a house, tearing a hole in its roof. A large oak tree was knocked down near the golf course. Numerous power lines were blown down around town. |
| December 2008 | Thunderstorm Wind | Mattoon | $12,000 | Trees and power lines were blown down in the town of Coles. |
| June 2017 | Thunderstorm Wind | Mattoon | $10,000 | A porch roof was flipped onto a house. |
| July 2014 | Thunderstorm Wind | Mattoon | $8,000 | Several large tree branches were blown down. |
| October 2007 | Thunderstorm Wind | Mattoon | $8,000 | Numerous tree branches were blown down.| |
| May 2018 | Thunderstorm Wind | Mattoon | $3,000 | An uprooted tree fell and hit a power line. |
| July 2010 | Thunderstorm Wind | Mattoon | $3,000 | A 1.5-foot diameter healthy tree was snapped. |
| May 2015 | Thunderstorm Wind | Mattoon | $2,000 | A tree was blown down. |
| October 2014 | Thunderstorm Wind | Mattoon | $1,500 | A large tree was blown down across Lafayette Street. |
| September 2014 | Thunderstorm Wind | Mattoon | $1,500 | A tree was blown down across a road. |
| June 2011 | Thunderstorm Wind | Mattoon | $1,500 | A large glass window was blown out in the phone company office building at 17th and Charleston in Mattoon. |
| August 2009 | Thunderstorm Wind | Mattoon | $1,000 | Two 4-inch diameter tree branches were blown down in Mattoon. |
| March 2026 | Thunderstorm Wind | Mattoon | - | Multiple small trees were snapped, a pine tree was blown over, and a fence was damaged. |
| March 2026 | Thunderstorm Wind | Mattoon | - | Air conditioner units were ripped off a building. |
| March 2026 | Thunderstorm Wind | Mattoon | - | The sign and roof of a shopping center were damaged and traffic lights were snapped at 18th Street and Rudy Avenue. |
| March 2026 | Thunderstorm Wind | Mattoon | - | A shed was flipped upside down in the middle of the road near the intersection of 18th Street and Olive Avenue. |
| June 2025 | Thunderstorm Wind | Mattoon | - | A large tree was uprooted, and other trees had branches blown down. |
| June 2025 | Thunderstorm Wind | Mattoon | - | Trees were blown down onto power lines. |
| July 2025 | Thunderstorm Wind | Mattoon | - | A tree was blown onto a home. |
| July 2024 | Thunderstorm Wind | Mattoon | - | A tree was blown down across Western Avenue between 25th Street and 26th Street. |
| July 2024 | Thunderstorm Wind | Mattoon | - | A large tree was blown down onto two cars near the intersection of Marshall Avenue and 36th Street on the southwest side of Mattoon. |
| July 2024 | Thunderstorm Wind | Mattoon | - | Large tree branches were blown down. |
| June 2023 | Thunderstorm Wind | Mattoon | - | A large tree limb was blown down. |
| August 2022 | Flash Flood | Mattoon | - | There was flowing water four to five inches deep on Charleston Avenue near 21st Street. |
| August 2022 | Flash Flood | Mattoon | - | Water was flowing across numerous streets in Mattoon...including Western Avenue and Charleston Avenue. Vehicles were stalled in high water on Charleston Avenue between 14th Street and 15th Street and on Charleston Avenue near 26th Street. |
| July 2022 | Flash Flood | Mattoon | - | Water over the intersection of 28th St and Commercial Avenue in Mattoon. |
| June 2021 | Thunderstorm Wind | Mattoon | - | A tree was blown down. |
| June 2021 | Flood | Mattoon | - | Portions of IL-16 east of downtown Mattoon were closed due to flooding. IL-316 and US-45 on the north side of town were also closed. Some vehicles were stranded in high water. |
| December 2021 | Thunderstorm Wind | Mattoon | - | A semi was blown over near the Rural King Distribution Center. |
| June 2019 | Thunderstorm Wind | Mattoon | - | Numerous trees and power lines were blown down. |
| August 2019 | Thunderstorm Wind | Mattoon | - | Numerous large tree branches were blown down. |
| April 2018 | Flood | Mattoon | - | A steady, but moderate to heavy rain, moved into the southern parts of Coles County shortly after 7 am CDT. Thunderstorms caused the rain to intensify between 9:00 and 10:00 am CDT, when nearly 2.00 inches of rain was measured. Total rainfall ranged from 4.00 to 6.00 inches in about a nine hour period. Flash flooding rapidly developed in Mattoon, Charleston and other surrounding areas, where numerous streets were flooded and had to be closed. Illinois Route 16 was closed in several spots as well as parts of I-57 between milepost 184 and 192. Five houses in Mattoon were flooded, resulting in the evacuation of 11 people, where the water was 3 to 5 feet deep, mainly due to the flooding of Kickapoo Creek. Numerous water rescues were also conducted by local officials for people trapped in vehicles. Lakeland College just south of Mattoon cancelled classes due to all of the road closures from the flooding. Additional periods of rainfall during the late morning and afternoon of April 3rd kept many areas from Mattoon to Charleston flooded the remained of the day. The flooding subsided during the very early morning hours of April 4th. |
| May 2018 | Thunderstorm Wind | Mattoon | - | Several large tree limbs were blown down. |
| February 2008 | Flash Flood | Mattoon | - | Flooding closed 9th Street in Mattoon between Stinson Avenue and Old State Road. One vehicle stalled in the high water. |
| March 2008 | Hail | Mattoon | - | Spotters reported penny to quarter sized hail on the west and north sides of Mattoon. |
| July 2007 | Flash Flood | Mattoon | - | Several streets in Mattoon closed due to flooding. |
| April 2006 | Thunderstorm Wind | Mattoon | - | Numerous trees and power poles blown down. Roof and siding damage to several homes. Machine shed destroyed and grain bins damaged 1 mile north of Mattoon. |
| June 2006 | Thunderstorm Wind | Mattoon | - | No damage was reported. |
No historic map-sheet match is published for this property yet. That does not mean no map exists. This record needs a coordinate-quality review before it can be joined to a sheet boundary. Browse the county's mapped places while that work is pending.
Other National Register properties close enough to walk or drive between, ordered by distance from this one. Both positions come from the same geocoding pass that matched these properties to their map sheets.
| Photograph | Property | Distance | Listed |
|---|---|---|---|
 | Unity Church | 0.9 miles | 1982 |
 | Starr Hotel | 1.2 miles | 1994 |
 | Railway Express Agency Building | 1.3 miles | 1994 |
 | Illinois Central Railroad Depot | 1.3 miles | 2002 |
 | U. S. Post Office | 1.4 miles | 1979 |
 | Burgess-Osborne Memorial Auditorium | 1.4 miles | 2018 |
| National Archives record | The nomination case file for reference 11000030 in Record Group 79. |
| Wikipedia article | Community-written account of this property, licensed CC BY-SA. |
| Coles County | All 24 listed properties in this county. |
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