the alexander briggs house is a historic house located at 210 jackson st. in charleston, illinois. prominent local stonemason alexander briggs built the stone house in 1894; it is the only stone house remaining in coles county. the house's design incorporates features of the italianate and renaissance revival styles; the combination is unusual, as the renaissance revival style was rarely used in small houses. briggs built the house with multicolored sandstone and used marble and granite to form decorative belt courses and quoins, giving the house its renaissance revival appearance. the house's italianate elements include its tall, narrow arched windows and its gently sloping roof.