VILLAGE WIDE ARCHITECTURAL + HISTORICAL SURVEY Final
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VILLAGE WIDE ARCHITECTURAL + HISTORICAL SURVEY Final Survey Report August 9, 2013 Village of River Forest Historic Preservation Commission CONTENTS INTRODUCTION P. 6 Survey Mission p. 6 Historic Preservation in River Forest p. 8 Survey Process p. 10 Evaluation Methodology p. 13 RIVER FOREST ARCHITECTURE P. 18 Architectural Styles p. 19 Vernacular Building Forms p. 34 HISTORIC CONTEXT P. 40 Nineteenth Century Residential Development p. 40 Twentieth Century Development: 1900 to 1940 p. 44 Twentieth Century Development: 1940 to 2000 p. 51 River Forest Commercial Development p. 52 Religious and Educational Buildings p. 57 Public Schools and Library p. 60 Campuses of Higher Education p. 61 Recreational Buildings and Parks p. 62 Significant Architects and Builders p. 64 Other Architects and Builders of Note p. 72 Buildings by Significant Architect and Builders p. 73 SURVEY FINDINGS P. 78 Significant Properties p. 79 Contributing Properties to the National Register District p. 81 Non-Contributing Properties to the National Register District p. 81 Potentially Contributing Properties to a National Register District p. 81 Potentially Non-Contributing Properties to a National Register District p. 81 Noteworthy Buildings Less than 50 Years Old p. 82 Districts p. 82 Recommendations p. 83 INVENTORY P. 94 Significant Properties p. 94 Contributing Properties to the National Register District p. 97 Non-Contributing Properties to the National Register District p. 103 Potentially Contributing Properties to a National Register District p. 104 Potentially Non-Contributing Properties to a National Register District p. 121 Notable Buildings Less than 50 Years Old p. 125 BIBLIOGRAPHY P. 128 ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS RIVER FOREST HISTORIC PRESERVATION COMMISSION David Franek, Chair Laurel McMahon Paul Harding, FAIA Cindy Mastbrook Judy Deogracias David Raino-Ogden Tom Zurowski, AIA PROJECT COMMITTEE Laurel McMahon Tom Zurowski, AIA Michael Braiman, Assistant Village Administrator SURVEY TEAM Nicholas P. Kalogeresis, AICP, The Lakota Group Jean Guarino Douglas E. Gilbert, AIA Michael Kritzman, The Lakota Group Michael Peterson, The Lakota Group SPECIAL ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS Special thanks to Frank Lipo, Executive Director of the Historical Society of Oak Park and River Forest for research assistance and providing additional photos and images for use in this document. Additional thanks to Anthony Rubano of the Illinois Historic Preservation Agency for providing additional consultation regarding River Forest’s Ranch and Mid- Century Modern homes. INTRODUCTION INTRODUCTION INTRODUCTION SURVEY MISSION River Forest is widely known for its diverse It is the Village’s desire to identify and preserve architecture, especially its rich collection of its important architectural and historical resources Victorian and 20th Century Period Revival, for future generations. Therefore, in 2011, Prairie, Craftsman and Mid-Century Modern the Village engaged a professional preservation styled homes, and its lush suburban setting and planning team that included the Lakota Group of landscape of mature trees and expansive lawns. Chicago, architectural historian Jean Guarino and It is in River Forest that a young Frank Lloyd preservation architect Douglas E. Gilbert, AIA, Wright began his illustrious career with his to conduct a community-wide historic resources first commission — the path-breaking William survey and inventory. The principal objective of Winslow House, a house that inspired Wright’s the survey is to identify, document and evaluate later Prairie work and a generation of Prairie properties within River Forest’s existing National School architects that left their own architectural Register Historic District as well as inventory legacies in the Village, such as William other historic resources located elsewhere in the Drummond, Tallmadge and Watson, and Robert community that are considered architecturally and Spencer. Beyond the Prairie School, Tudor historically significant. Revival mansions and French Eclectic country houses became the more predominant styles as Other important objectives in undertaking this River Forest’s “Northwoods” area was developed Village-Wide Architectural and Historical Survey by investors and contractors seeking to attract are the following: families to the “most beautifully wooded blocks” in the Village. After World War II, modern • Identify and document properties that are ranch homes with slanted roofs and colored stone significant to the architecture and history facades became popular as families and returning of River Forest, especially those that veterans continued to seek out the Village’s unique are potentially eligible for listing in the residential environment. National Register of Historic Places. The The principal objective of the survey is to identify, document and evaluate properties within River Forest’s existing National Register Historic District as well as inventory those resources elsewhere in the community that are considered architecturally William Winslow House, 515 Auvergne Place, 1893; Frank Lloyd and historically Wright’s first major independent commission. Listed in the National significant. Register of Historic Places, 1970. 6 RIVER FOREST ARCHITECTURAL AND HISTORICAL SURVEY INTRODUCTION National Register is this nation’s official list of buildings, structures and sites worthy of preservation. • Assess the need to adjust the current boundaries of the existing National Register Historic District to include resources that were not considered significant or contributing buildings when the District was first listed by the National Park Service in 1977. • Recognize opportunities for additional National Register Historic Districts River Forest Tennis Club, Frank Lloyd Wright, Charles E. White Jr., Vernon S. Watson,. 1906 in other areas of the Village where concentrations of potentially significant historic buildings may exist. • Serve as a baseline of information for future research and documentation for individual properties. Future research may yield new information allowing other buildings to become eligible for listing in the National Register of Historic Places. • Establish priorities for future local preservation efforts in designating local landmarks and districts. An Italian Renaissance house at 807 Lathrop Avenue, • Encourage the use of survey information 1925 in educating residents about the history of their community and the legacy of the citizens, architects, and builders that shaped River Forest’s urban design and development. • Promote a community historic preservation “ethic” that encourages the long-term stewardship of River Forest’s remarkable architectural legacy. The Village-Wide Architectural and Historical Survey should be considered a work in progress and efforts to identify other significant properties River Forest residential landscape RIVER FOREST ARCHITECTURAL AND HISTORICAL SURVEY 7 INTRODUCTION and potential districts through regular updates of Prior Surveys the survey should be an on going mission of the This Village-Wide Architectural and Historical Village and its Historic Preservation Commission. Survey represents the first comprehensive survey Activities that disseminate survey information of all properties, sites and structures within the to the public, through regular outreach and Village. The Village-Wide Survey also builds on educational activities and initiatives, should also prior survey work, including the Illinois Historic be undertaken. Structures and Landmarks Surveys undertaken by the State of Illinois from 1970 to 1975. A recent building survey conducted by the School of HISTORIC PRESERVATION IN RIVER FOREST the Art Institute’s Historic Preservation Program The Village of River Forest adopted its Historic completed in May 2008, was also reviewed. Preservation Regulations in August, 2007 in order The State of Illinois surveys, conducted at a to “identify, preserve and enhance the distinctive reconnaissance level, documented 233 River Forest character, history and architectural heritage of properties considered to be of either architectural River Forest,” and to “…maintain and update a and historical significance. The majority of these register of areas, properties, structures, sites and documented properties have been included in the objects of historical or architectural significance.” Significant Properties List, developed by the River The Regulations also seek to protect important Forest Historic Preservation Commission in 2010 historic buildings and resources through the and evaluated by the survey team as part of this designation of local landmarks and to encourage assignment. their proper restoration and rehabilitation. The River Forest Historic Preservation Commission, Landmarks and Districts established in 2007 under Section 13-1-3 of Currently, there are three individual properties Regulations, consists of seven members appointed listed in the National Register of Historic Places, by the Village President to administer the including the William H. Winslow House and Regulation’s provisions, including ongoing survey Stable, designed by Frank Lloyd Wright and and inventory projects, consider designation of located at 515 Auvergne Place; the William H. local historic landmarks, and approve or deny Hatch House at 306 Keystone Avenue; and the Certificate of Appropriateness applications for William E. Drummond House at 559 Edgewood building improvements and demolitions of local Place. In 1977, an area bounded by Harlem landmarks. Avenue and the Des Plaines River, with two extensions