rRESERVATION FOUNDATION OFFICERS AND DIRECTORS Officers Linda L. Shields PRESIDENT Janet M. Gibson Vice PRESIDENT, MEMBERSHIP Kimberly Nicastro Vice PRESIDENT, PROGRAMS Elaine B. Hughes SECRETARY Judith A. Harris TREASURER Directors David Bahlman Marcia C. 0. Bennett Edward H. Bennett, Ill Paul Bergmann Priscilla A. Billington Susan Dillon Bryant Carol A. Champ Loreen Grieve Susan Halle Arthur H. Miller, Jr. Pauline M. Mohr Alice F. Moulton-Ely Dustin O’Regan Shirley M. Paddock Patricia C. Riess Christine L. Shaw Dan Sutherland Honorary Directors Herbert Geist Gail T. Hodges Lorraine A. Tweed Henry P. Wheeler Sarah D. Wimmer PRESIDENTS OF THE J’RESERVATION 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 D. Wimmer, 1988-1990, 1992-1993 Linda L. Shields, 1990-1992 Pauline M. Mohr, 1993-1995, 1997-1999 Richard J. DuBourdieu, 1995-1997 Edward H. Bennett, 111, 1999-2001 Preserl’atio11! is published by The Lake Forest Foundation for Historic Preservation, Box 813, Lake Forest IL 60045 (847) 234-1230 www.LFPF.org Gail T. Hodges, Editor
President’s Message “Teardowns on a Tear” a recent Chicago Tribune headline proclaimed. The article quoted area builders and developers who pride themselves on having made teardowns mainstream. They believe that the shock effect of teardowns on the public is over and that communities are in an acceptance mode. Judging by the number of calls I’ve received, both before this article was published and since, people in Lake Forest definitely do not agree. Our March program, which was devoted to the teardown issue, drew one of our largest crowds of the year. Teardowns are no longer something that happens in someone else’s neighborhood. We all are seeing the effects of a modest house being torn down and replaced by a house two to three times its size. From requests to tear down historic homes, such as the Gordon Phelps Kelley house at Elawa Farm, to requests to demolish smaller less-significant homes, teardown petitions are now a monthly item on the agendas of City boards. Not only does the built character of the streetscape change with teardowns, there is a loss of open space and landscape in the neighborhood as well. Lake Forest was designed to be a “city in a park.” The parklike character of Lake Forest neighborhoods is gradually being eroded. Further, when a home worth $500,000 is replaced with a home worth $3 million, the demographics of our community also change. If you, too, are concerned about what some have called “million-dollar tract homes” invading our community, learn more about the process to try to control such development. Channel 17, the City cable channel, broadcasts the Building Review Board meeting on the third Wednesday of each month and the Historic Preservation Commission meeting on the fourth Wednesday of the month. Representatives of the Preservation Foundation Board attend the meetings and provide input when needed. You also can check agendas and review the minutes of these meetings by logging on to the City’s web site at cityoflakeforest.com. Our City officials need to know that the community supports their actions on matters that could have a serious impact on the visual character of Lake Forest. Become informed, and if you have an opinion, share it with your aldermen and City board representatives. Get in touch with the Foundation too; the email addresses and phone numbers of our Board members can be found at www.lfpf.org. And be sure to watch our programs, which are broadcast periodically on Channel 17. Linda Shields
Please Join Us at the Foundation, 2nd Annual A Celebration of Preservation “Concert in the Square” Sunday, August 18 7 to 8:30 p.m. Market Square
Come join the fun and bring the whole family to Market Square for the Foundation’s 2nd Annual “Concert in the Square” celebration of preservation. Please join us in downtown Lake Forest on Sunday, August 18, from 7–8:30 p.m. The renowned United States Naval Ceremonial Band from the Great Lakes Naval Training Center will again perform a concert featuring American themes and celebrating preservation in our region. The Great Lakes Naval Training Center itself is one of Lake County’s most historic sites. Before and after the concert, browse the windows around Market Square, which will feature some of the 91 Lake Forest properties which have won historic preservation awards. This exhibit recognizes the contributions to Lake Forest made by property owners whose commitment to stewardship of our historic resources enhances the quality of life for all of us. Thank You! to Lake Forest Bank & Trust Company, which has graciously provided the desserts and other refreshments for this special preservation event. Thanks also to The City of Lake Forest for sharing Market Square for the concert. Mark your calendar today, and plan to join us for this historic evening. Look for the balloons and the Foundation’s preservation flags in Market Square. And be sure to bring chairs and blankets for casual seating around the Square! Watch Your Mail and the Local Press for Future Foundation Programs Year ’Round!
Views from City Hall: Teardowns in Perspective
Historic homes, large as well as small, are vulnerable to demolition, even with the protections recently enacted by The City of Lake Forest. Examples such as those below, which took place in the late 1970s before present ordinances were in place, could still occur without sufficient public support for preserving Lake Forest’s visual character.
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This Italianate structure from the 1860s was one of the oldest houses remaining in Lake Forest before it was demolished in 1979 to make way for a condominium on Oakwood Avenue.
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The manor house at “Havenwood,” the magnificent estate of Edward L. Ryerson, was demolished in 1979, when the estate was subdivided into individual lots. Only the coach house is extant.
Some believe that the loss of just one house in an historic neighborhood makes little difference, particularly if its replacement seems to blend in with the neighborhood, is up to date, and maximizes the real estate value of the property. Bit by bit, demolition erodes the “real” Lake Forest, its roots and its sense of history, that truly has increased in value as its attributes become more rare. Consider the following extract from a City staff summary for a petition that was considered by the Historic Preservation Commission on February 27, 2002:
“Tearing down an historic home in the historic district to replace it with a home that meets the ‘needs of modern family living’ is changing the purpose of the term ‘historic district’ from its original intention as a preservation tool—one that promotes the educational, cultural, economic, and general welfare of the City—to a real estate tool (promoting) the desire to live in a new home surrounded by…historic visual character…
By supporting the demolition of this historic home, (all) the historic districts are at risk of being redeveloped with new homes of traditional style and character similar to what the historic districts once had but have now lost. Although this home may not be the finest in the area, it is not one that deserves to be lost from history and replaced with a home that ‘derives its design and spirit from the historic homes in Lake Forest.’ This IS an historic home. Why replace it with something that simply ‘derives’ its character from other historic homes, particularly ones…thought to be more significant?”
Question: Why buy an historic house if you don’t want to live in one?
Alternatives:
(1) Don’t buy an historic property if historic preservation isn’t of interest to you.
(2) Look for creative ways to adapt the historic house to fit your needs. For examples, you need look no further than the Preservation Award winners featured on pages 5–13.
Trees Are Important, Too!
On December 3, 2001, the Lake Forest City Council approved a revised Tree Preservation Ordinance aimed at keeping the “forest” in “Lake Forest.” Important definitions include:
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Heritage Tree: Any tree having a 25″ diameter at breast height (54 inches from the ground).
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Protected Areas: Areas in which tree protection measures are required, including those with Heritage Trees.
2002 Preservation Awards (By Gail T. Hodges)
Lake Forest is nationally recognized as a distinctive community with a unique sense of place. Three districts, including more than 1,000 structures, are designated National Register Historic Districts, having received the Nation’s highest property honor. Six individual homes and one complex of six historic farm buildings are listed individually on the National Register. The Preservation Foundation was founded in 1976. Among the purposes defined by its charter is helping to preserve this distinctive character and to ensure that new development would be compatible with the City’s historic visual character. That is why each year the Foundation recognizes property owners who exemplify outstanding stewardship of Lake Forest’s historic buildings and landscapes. This year, twelve awards were presented at the Foundation’s Annual Meeting on April 28, 2002. New this year were awards given for landscapes that preserve and enhance the community’s founding vision of being “a city in a park.”
Landscape Awards
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Gorton Community Center Commission — Gorton Community Center
Landscape Architects: Don Fiore and Lisa Fiore
Gorton Community Center was designed as the Central School in 1901 by James Gamble Rogers and later renamed the Edward F. Gorton School to honor a respected Lake Forest mayor. Over time, the original parklike setting was lost. In 1999–2000, a landscape plan was developed to restore the original ambiance alongside the building renovation. Mr. Fiore also donated maintenance of the site to The City of Lake Forest for 2001–2003. Annual flower gardens at the south entrance are planted and maintained by Mr. and Mrs. Roland Ford and members of Woodlands Garden Club. -
Jon Crim — Landscape Architect: Jon Crim
Cottage gardens enhance two adjoining Oakwood Avenue homes built between 1911 and 1915 for residents who provided services and products for Lake Forest estates. The older home (1911) is Prairie-style and includes a barn/garage that originally housed livestock.
Adaptive Re-use Awards
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Carol and Bob Angell — 1934, Architect: David Adler
A former south gate house and coach house for the Green Bay Road estate of Mrs. J. Ogden Armour. The Angells adapted the structures for modern living while restoring historic character, including restoring the garage cupola and replacing glass walls with traditional windows and doors. -
City of Lake Forest — Dickinson Hall
1930, Architect: Edwin Hill Clark; 2000–2001, Architect: Charles P. Riesterer
Part of the Grove Cultural Campus (originally Ridge Farm Preventorium). Renovation included restoring historic features, removing a 1970s addition, adding an ADA-accessible entrance, installing a new slate roof, restoring windows, and closely matching brick and slate to the 1930 building.
Infill Award
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Jim and Di Stebbins — 2001–2002, Architects: Mclean Strassburger & Associates
A Shingle-style new residence replacing the owners’ former home; well scaled and architecturally true to the historic style and compatible with the landscape.
Neighborhood Awards
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Clifford Milton Leonard Farm (Meadowood Dairy Complex) — Meadowood Dairy Complex neighbors
1923–1926, Architect: Ralph Varney; Landscape Architect: Jens Jensen
A National Register and City Landmark complex inspired by Normandy farm architecture. Jensen’s landscape vision included a lake, campfire site, bird features, gardens, orchard, and an allee. The original buildings were converted to private residences after 1958, with careful preservation of details and recent cooperative work to restore thatched shingle roofs. -
David and Melinda Rohrbach; John Tomeis — Date unknown, Architect: Alfred Granger
Two well-preserved homes forming an important corner at Rose Terrace and Edgewood Roads, built for D. P. Pierson. (The Foundation is seeking additional information.)
Heritage Awards
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Mr. and Mrs. J. G. Krakora — 1900, Architect attributed to Pond and Pond (“Rookwoods”)
Home of philanthropist Helen Culver, linked to the founding of Hull House in Chicago; features include a porte cochere. -
Mr. and Mrs. Wesley Clark — 1860(?), 1870, Architect attributed to Rufus Rose (“Forest Lawn”)
Early estate-scaled Lake Forest home built by David J. Lake (founder and third mayor), among few surviving pre-1871-fire era houses; adapted over time while retaining significance.
Preservation Awards
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Pauline and Roger Mohr — 1929, Architect: Wolcott and Work; Landscape Architect: Ralph R. Root
Exceptionally preserved Provençal/French residence on Knollwood Club grounds; strong formal landscape allee framing views to golf course and woods. -
Margo and Richard Martino — 1929, Architect: Puckey and Jenkins; Landscape Architect: Frans Lipp (“Windswept”)
French Eclectic stone house overlooking Shaw Prairie (Lake Forest Open Lands); includes restoration of original landscape plan in the 1980s.
Restoration Award
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Ted and Marcia Bennett — 1902 Gates from George A. McKinlock House “Brown Gables”
Historic gates cleaned, repaired, repainted; new bases constructed—illustrating stewardship of remaining estate amenities.
Membership Update (By Janet M. Gibson, Vice President, Membership)
Members Enjoy June 22 House and Garden Tour: Nearly 200 attendees and 54 docents joined “Stanley D. Anderson Re-visited: Deerpath Hill Estates Architectural Walking Tour.” Proceeds will help renovate Deerpath Hill Estates gates; donations can be sent to the Foundation at Box 813, Lake Forest, IL 60045. The Foundation applies revenue to public service projects, research, engineering studies, publications, and tax-benefit information. Membership includes publications, program info, and invitations to members-only events; gift memberships available.
In Memoriam: Anthony Mitchell Ryerson (1918–2002)
Director (1984–1999), fundraiser for the Walden/Bluff’s Edge Bridge, and longtime civic contributor (including Alderman 1948–1954). Born at “Rathmore” on Stone Gate Road, with family ties to Walden/“Havenwood.”
Join Us / Membership Form (summary)
Lake Forest Preservation Foundation, Box 813, Lake Forest, IL 60045
Membership categories shown: Member $35; Contributing $50; Sponsor $100; Sustaining $250; Patron $500; Life Member $2,500+; volunteer interest checkbox.
