1999 Fall Newsletter

PRESERVATION FOUNDATION OFFICERS AND DIRECTORS Officers: Edward H. (Ted) Bennett, III, PRESIDENT; Marcia O. Bennett and Kimberly Nicastro, VICE PRESIDENTS; Alice Moulton-Ely, SECRETARY; Warren F. Harshbarger, TREASURER; Directors: Paul Bergmann, Pricilla A. Billington, Susan D. Bryant, Carol A. Champ, William H. Emerson, Joseph F. Huber, Elaine B. Hughes, Arthur H. Miller, Jr., Pauline M. Mohr, Shirley Paddock, Patricia C. Riess, David Schlott, Christine L. Shaw, Linda L. Shields, Dan Sutherland, Louise Weithas; Honorary Directors: Herbert Geist, Gail T. Hodges, Lorraine A. Tweed, Henry P. Wheeler, Sarah Wimmer; In Memoriam: Edward H. Bennett, Jr., Richard J. DuBourdieu, Leonard C. Everson, David R. Moulton; PRESIDENTS OF THE PRESERVATION FOUNDATION: Edward H. Bennett, Jr., 1976-1978; Gayle K. Dompke, 1978-1980; Gail T. Hodges, 1980-1982; Herbert Geist, 1982-1984; Lorraine A. Tweed, 1984-1986; Henry P. Wheeler, 1986-1988; Sarah Wimmer, 1988-1990, 1992-1993; Linda L. Shields, 1990-1992; Pauline M. Mohr, 1993-1995, 1997-1999; Richard J. DuBourdieu, 1995-1997; Preservation! is published by The Lake Forest Foundation for Historic Preservation and distributed without charge to the residents and businesses in the City of Lake Forest, Illinois, (847) 234-1275, http://www.lfpf.org, Box 813, Lake Forest IL 60045, (847) 234-1275, http://www.lfpf.org, Box 813, Lake Forest IL 60045; President’s Message: “Infill” is an ugly-sounding word, it doesn’t roll easily from one’s lips, at its root is “fill,” a word that does especially when one thinks of jars brimming with warm, freshly baked cookies, and yet “fill” also evokes visions of questionable substances being placed to bring ground to a certain level, this analogy carries quite far in our interests about Lake Forest’s future, throughout our city are numerous examples of buildings placed on the grounds of former estates, farms, and business areas, some built after removal of earlier buildings, lakeshore sites, downtown Lake Forest properties, and west side farm lands all have been, are, and will be target areas for infill, this is, of course, only logical, you may ask “what does this have to do with your analogy,” your Foundation’s primary mission is to protect Lake Forest’s historic character, that means striving to persuade all who live or work in our city that infill, in Lake Forest, must have style, scale, and quality compatible with the historic character of the town, consider already built infill projects and some of the current proposals being floated about town, done thoughtfully infill construction can be almost indistinguishable from its surroundings, most of us never notice the infill home on Woodland near Summit at West Park, it fits in so well that your Foundation awarded it a plaque in recognition of its design, this is what we wish for all such projects, perhaps the largest imaginable infill project in our main business district has been proposed for Western Avenue between Laurel Avenue and Franklin Place, early plans proposed a development larger than Market Square, and there has been other talk about housing and expansion of municipal offices and garages in that area, one thing is sure: whatever we Lake Foresters choose to allow to happen to that land will impact our town for the rest of time, your Foundation won’t tout a particular land use, but we will try to ensure that any project enhances, rather than disturbs, historic character, we’d like to be able to award a plaque for its design too, how can you help: stay current with infill proposals in Lake Forest, read newspapers and City communications, check agendas of our City Council, boards, commissions, and committees, try to attend the meetings, think about what attracted you to Lake Forest or what keeps you here, develop an informed opinion; A Clarification: Laurance H. Armour, writing from Texas, asked that I comment on the past ownership of the property at 395 North Green Bay Road known as “Two Gables,” as is common in Lake Forest we often refer to estates by the names of their better known owners, what is conveniently known as the Babcock/Armour/Mr. T. estate was actually sold to Mr. T by an owner who purchased the entire Babcock/Armour estate from the Armour family, subdivided the eastern portion, and then sold the western portion to Mr. T; Howard Van Doren Shaw House Saved! Pam and Rob Merrilees were successful in their efforts to sell their home at 1414 North Green Bay Road, before continuing you should know that Pam and Rob believe in historic preservation and have been members of your Foundation since 1997; Upcoming Events and Programs: Educational Lecture Series “Preservation and Politics,” an informative chat with David Bahlman, Executive Director, Landmarks Preservation Council of Illinois, Stuart Community Room, Gorton Community Center, mark your calendar to come hear Lake Forest resident David Bahlman in the first Education Lecture of the new millennium, look for an information flyer in your mail; Special Events: “Holiday Gathering for Members,” plan to celebrate the season at this festive party for members only, look for the invitation in your mail, and sent in your reservation early; “House Tours, House Tours!” Spring Tour: a Preservation Foundation Award Winner by Architect Harrie T. Lindeberg, space will be limited, look for details in your mail, and make your reservation early; Other Tours to Follow, look for details in your mail; THURSDAY FEBRUARV 3 7 P.M., DATES AND TIMES TO BE ANNOUNCED, Continued on page 4; President’s Message cont’d: you may recall from past articles that this was my childhood home and that it was in danger of demolition, the Merrilees actively marketed the property but were not successful, almost all of the prospective buyers felt that all or a part of the house should be demolished to make it more saleable or to allow the land to be sold as vacant, after a brief tussle with the City and with your Preservation Foundation both a demolition permit and a subsequent appeal were denied, this meant that the owners were bound only by a two-year delay until January 5, 2000 before they could compel the City to grant them a demolition permit, throughout this entire period the Merrilees continued to try to sell their home intact, your Foundation tried to help by letting the public know more about this endangered property, this summer the property was sold, Pam and Rob loved their home but had decided they might prefer to live closer to Rob’s business interests in Chicago, you may know Pam as a local realtor, she worked diligently to sell the house and we owe her our thanks, the new owners are extremely interested in renovating the house, you’ll hear more about them in a future issue, for now however let me tell you that they wrote one of their first checks on their new Lake Forest bank account for membership in your Foundation, wouldn’t it be wonderful if the fate of all such endangered properties or controversial infill projects were resolved so well, perhaps it just goes to show that historic character can be preserved with the courage to say “no” on the part of City bodies, the willingness to be patient and community minded on the part of property owners, and the willingness of volunteers like Preservation Foundation members to spread the word about these properties; Elawa Farm Designated an Official Project of the “Save America’s Treasures” Program, Richard J. DuBourdieu 1919-1999, directors were saddened to learn of the death in October of the Preservation Foundation’s eleventh president Richard J. DuBourdieu, we knew Dick as a good friend, hard worker, Lake Forest resident since the 1950s, former advertising copywriter, and especially as our president who guided the successful campaign to save the Walden-Bluff’s Edge Bridge, what most of us didn’t know was that he flew bomber and airsea missions in World War II, was the Navy’s 26th licensed helicopter pilot, cofounder of the Suburban Veterans’s Chorus, and namer of the “butterfly” needle, we are honored to have had the opportunity to know Dick and to share his talents; Leonard C. Everson 1923-1999, in September we were saddened to learn of the death of Leonard C. Everson, a member of the Foundation Board from 1991 to 1994, a Lake Forest resident since 1975, Len pursued community service following his retirement as Senior Vice President and General Counsel of American National Can Company and later as counsel at Jenner and Block, he served the Chicago Crime Commission and as a trustee of Lake Forest Library, Len provided valuable counsel to the Foundation Board, among his contributions were addressing the City Council on behalf of the Foundation on topics ranging from subdivisions within the historic district to the preservation of “Handy Green,” to the Preservation Ordinance; As You Think About Year-End Giving… your Foundation hopes that membership or a year-end contribution to our work will be on your list, by joining in you’ll help advance the Foundation’s efforts to maintain the historic character of our town on behalf of the entire Lake Forest community, whereas in many communities the work the Foundation does is handled entirely by tax-funded municipal bodies ours is an entirely volunteer organization, this publication, the funding of special studies or interns to help advance historic preservation in Lake Forest, the funds that were collected and the planning involved to save the Walden-Bluff’s Edge Bridge, the organization and funds collected to renovate the downtown depot in Lake Forest, educational lectures and tours are just a few examples of contributions made by your Foundation through the funds collected from voluntary memberships and donations, preservation of the quality built environment that helps define Lake Forest as a unique community requires a partnership between Foundation volunteers, area residents, and the City of Lake Forest, we hope you’ll join the team, just use the form on page 15, your support will be appreciated greatly; pictured above is the entrance to the 1917 barn at Elawa Farm included on the historic 16-acre parcel of land that once was part of the A. Watson Armour family’s early 20th century 200-acre gentleman’s farm estate, the property was purchased by the City of Lake Forest in September 1998, at that time the City identified three components of the property designated for wide-ranging future use by the entire community: (1) a site for a future elementary school, (2) a site for a neighborhood park, and (3) the site on which the original estate’s architecturally significant farm-building complex is located; the “Save America’s Treasures” Program: in October the Elawa Farm Project adjacent to the Middle Fork Preserve west of Waukegan Road was honored by being designated as a project of the “Save America’s Treasures” Program, application made by the Preservation Foundation and the Landmarks Preservation Council of Illinois, Save America’s Treasures is a public-private partnership between the White House Millennium Council and the National Trust for Historic Preservation, dedicated to the celebration and preservation of our nation’s threatened cultural treasures for future generations including significant historic structures, monuments, documents, objects, and collections that document and illustrate the history and culture of the United States, the distinctive architecture of the Elawa Farm buildings contributed to its designation, view of main barn complex shows auxiliary wings, sheltered courtyard formed by brick wall and wrought-iron gate, designation is an important step in local efforts to restore and preserve this historic farm of natural splendor and historical significance, as Mayor Howard Kerr noted in recommendations to City Council this August “we have an opportunity to bring together individuals with a passion to restore and preserve this historic farm and create a spectacular, one-of-a-kind community asset, it also will provide opportunities for a variety of historical, recreational, and nature/ecology programs,” and offers Lake Forest a “unique opportunity to partner (local resources in historic preservation, environmental education, and conservation) to develop Elawa Farm into nothing short of a spectacular community asset unmatched in the Midwest and possibly in the United States”; The Report on the Restoration and Operational Development of Elawa Farm and Its Future Use: in August following communitywide visioning sessions the report concluded “this site has implications for not only local recognition but national attention, Elawa Farm is historically unique as one of the last remaining, intact gentlemen’s farms in the Midwest, Elawa Farm is ecologically unique because of its close proximity with Middlefork Savanna, one of the finest examples of a black soil, tall grass prairie in the United States, and finally Elawa Farm is unique because of the desire of many organizations and individuals to collaborate and partner together to build one of the finest facilities of its kind in the nation, where the twin concepts of historic preservation and nature conservation can work together hand in hand”; Elawa Farm Executive Steering Committee: the report was received by the Lake Forest City Council in August, individuals appointed include Christine L. Shaw, Co-Chairman (Chairman, Elawa Fundraising Campaign, and Director, Preservation Foundation); Ashley M. Maentz, Co-Chairman (Ward Two Alderman and City Council Liaison); David A. Bahlman (Executive Director Landmarks Preservation Council of Illinois); Edward H. Bennett, III (President, Preservation Foundation); Carol Calabresa (President, Lake County Forest Preserve); Harry Griffith (Superintendent of Schools, District 67, and Educational Institutions Liaison); James P. Richter (President, Land Foundation, and Past President, Lake Forest Open Lands Association); Robert G. Shaw (President, Preserve of Middlefork Farm); Thomas E. Swarthout (Chairman, Lake Forest Park and Recreation Board); Georgia West (Past President, Lake Forest-Lake Bluff Historical Society); Lake Forest City Staff Support, Rob Carmichael (Program Supervisor, Lake Forest Recreation Department), gateway to important nationally significant nature preserve and conservancy areas such as Open Lands oak savanna and wetlands mitigation project and Lake County Forest Preserve’s Middlefork Savanna, overall view of farm building complex located on environmentally distinctive property including magnificent oak savanna; this public-private partnership in words of Mayor Kerr brings together both private and public resources working to maximize the value of a public asset and enrich the social fabric of our community; Work of the Executive Steering Committee: reviewing report, developing master business plan, preparing to implement, presenting plan and recommendations to City Council for approval, making periodic status reports, public meetings open to all; Mission of the Committee: to develop a nationally recognized and renowned historic 16-acre multipurpose multiuse publiclic complex that features a Museum for promoting cultural development, an Educational Center for study, training, and research particularly in fields of history, architecture, landscape architecture, historic preservation, local culture, nature conservation, ecosystems management and wildlife education, and potential District 67 elementary school, Park and Recreation Facilities, Social/Cultural Activities Center, key link between area facilities and programs including Lake Forest Open Lands nature programs, Preservation Foundation programs, and Historical Society activities; Phases of Operation: evolve through four stages from planning and development to implementation to initial programming and operations to evolution into a permanent Elawa Farm Governing Board, interested members invited to share ideas; The Role of the Preservation Foundation: enthusiastic about opportunity to help bring this promising and significant asset to the community, opportunities to create wonderful facility enjoyed by residents from every part of town and to develop a nationally recognized center serving as a model for historic preservation and conservation nationwide, welcome participation to help plan preservation and restoration and create lasting community institution; Gentlemen Farms in Lake Forest: watch your mail early in 2000 for next issue of Preservation! featuring background on history of this significant property and other similar farms, view to the west showing Middle Fork preserve exceptional black soil savanna rare in North America; Thank You! Thank You! Pre-Restoration Picnic at “Two Gables” a success for Lake Forest Historic Preservation, hosts Christine and Bob Shaw welcomed nearly 900 guests, Foundation President Ted Bennett greeting guests who helped raise over $45,000 for projects to help preserve historic visual character, August 1 event attended by nearly 900 raising over $45,000, thanks to patrons, attendees, docents, suppliers, special committee, hosts Robert and Christine Shaw, most successful fundraising event in Foundation history with tours, barbecue picnic and ice cream social, antique autos, entertainment featuring The New Tradition Chorus, games and activities for children, docents provided insider’s look, docent Nancy Bradley provided insights, intact features include dressing room designed by David Adler with decorator Frances Elkins, Ted Bennett, Christine and Bob Shaw and the New Tradition Chorus, antique cars and entertainment, Picnic at “Two Gables” thank you to all and especially those listed, $1,000 Platinum Preservation Patrons: Academy Woods, Ltd., Alim Builders, AlphaGraphics Bannockburn, Broadacre Management Co., Carroll International Corporation, Conway Farms, David Woodhouse Architects, First Chicago Bank Lake Forest, First Midwest Bank, Griffith, Grant, & Lackie, Realtors, Harris Bank Lake Forest, Hendricksen The Care of Trees, Johnson Bank, Jonathan Clair & Associates, Koenig & Strey, Inc., Lake Forest Bank & Trust Co., Lori Ipsen Stotler, Metro SelfStorage, Lake Bluff, Northern Trust Bank Lake Forest, R.M. Swanson & Associates, The Preserve of Middlefork Farm, Tom Tropp & Co. Inc.; $500 Preservation Patrons: Mr. and Mrs. Edward H. Bennett, III, Mr. and Mrs. Bruce A. Reid, Mr. and Mrs. Wesley M. Dixon, Jr., Mr. and Mrs. Robert G. Shaw, Mr. and Mrs. Joseph F. Huber, Howard A. Stotler, Mrs. Edward H. Bennett, Jr.; Other Generous Donors: Mr. and Mrs. Philip Hartung, Former Mayor Rhett Butler and Board member Pricilla Billington and her husband Bill, Foundation Board members group portrait, Mr. and Mrs. Garrison P. Benson, Mr. and Mrs. John Cahill, Ms. Emily Chappule, Mr. and Mrs. H. James Du Bach, Mr. and Mrs. Morton Engle, Mr. and Mrs. Herbert R. Faulks, The Green Team Network, Mr. and Mrs. Robert A. Lindholm, Mrs. Benjamin C. Masters, Mr. and Mrs. David A. Schlott, Mr. and Mrs. James R. Seeley, Mr. and Mrs. Marc Tanenbery, Ms. Suzanne Van Den Broeck; Suppliers of Service: Ben and Jerry’s Ice Cream, Vernon Hills, Blue Boy Portable Toilets, Lake Bluff, Carousel Linens, Chicago Car Exchange, Inc., Phil Kuhn, Don’s Finest Foods, Havey Services, Helander’s, Inc., Kinnucan Tree Experts, Inc., LF Parks and Recreation Department, Leisure Pursuit Charters, NewTrad_ition Chorus, Pasquesi Home & Garden, Lake Forest, Stellar Productions, Steve Foley RollsRoyce/Bentley; The Preservation Foundation was founded in August 1976 as a tax-exempt public charity committed to preserving the City’s visual character and guiding its change and growth for consistency with that character, chartered to preserve through acquisition, development, restoration, selected historic sites, structures, and amenities of architectural or historic interest, increase and diffuse knowledge and appreciation, assist through research, planing studies, acquisition of historic easements, operation of revolving funds and related methods, preservation and conservation of cultural resources of Lake Forest, What Is Historic Visual Character: nationally recognized community identified by Market Square, old estates, human scale buildings, extensive landscapes natural and designed, City codes and enforcement ensure new construction compatible, environment sought after and increasing value, revenue from memberships and donations directly to public service projects including funding Historic District Survey for City of Lake Forest historic preservation ordinance, publication of educational newsletter distributed to every household and business, funding of research, engineering studies, and photography for endangered buildings and neighborhoods, encouraged and supported renovation of historic buildings such as Old Recreation Center, Old Fire Station, City Hall, Handy Green, Gorton Community Center, planning and fundraising for renovation of historic downtown North Western (now Union Pacific) Station with City and contributions and Station tenants, and project to renovate historic Walden/Bluff’s Edge Bridge, maintains revolving fund and building endowment, encouraging easements to preserve visual character and advising residents on tax benefits, directors observe meetings of City Council, Plan Commission, Historic Preservation Commission, Building Review Board, and Zoning Board of Appeals and offer constructive input on preservation-related issues; JOIN US! THE LAKE FOREST FOUNDATION FOR HISTORIC PRESERVATION Box 813, Lake Forest, Illinois 60045 (847) 234-1275, I/We want to help preserve the historic character of Lake Forest please enroll in membership category (contributions tax deductible, checks payable to The Preservation Foundation, for credit cards see below), Mr./Mrs., Mr., Mrs., Ms., Street, City, Member Annual Dues $35, Telephone, State, Zip, Sustaining Member Annual Dues $250, DI/We wish to make a donation to help preserve the historic character of Lake Forest (contributions tax deductible, checks payable to The Preservation Foundation, for credit cards see below), Mr./Mrs., Mr., Mrs., Ms., Street, Telephone, City, State, Zip, I/We would like to work actively with the Foundation please call me/us to discuss areas of interest, the Preservation Foundation, an Illinois 501(c)(3) public foundation, is open to all who share its goal of “Progress Through Preservation.” 11199