2012 Winter Newsletter

Holidays 2012, “Home for the Holidays,” featuring an Architectural Walking Tour of Market Square and “Give the Gift of Preservation,” with references to Pasquesi Home and Garden On the Square, and a “FROM THE PRESIDENT” message opening with a note that Amedei Mercantino demonstrates adaptive reuse of the alley and the skybridge linking buildings, then reflecting that in this season of coming together the Foundation celebrates home in Lake Forest and treasures special holiday moments and memories with loved ones, while noting that during this holiday season their thoughts are with the victims of Superstorm Sandy, and explaining that “Home for the Holidays” is the focus of this issue of Preservation with the spotlight on the unique Howard Shaw firm architecture of Market Square, described as recognized in 1979 on the National Register of Historic Places as America’s first planned shopping center and embodying a sense of place carried no matter where one spends the holidays, evoking community memories of gathering in Market Square the day after Thanksgiving for tree lighting and sing-along, twinkling lights and songs of the season, and noting an insert featuring Market Square with an architectural walking tour is included to share with visitors, and emphasizing that Market Square would not be the picturesque scene of holiday magic without dedicated efforts and stewardship of many people who value heritage and are committed to preservation, and asking for thoughtful consideration of the Lake Forest Preservation Foundation’s annual fund, “Give the Gift of Preservation,” supporting the Foundation’s ongoing preservation mission, and very sadly reporting that in late September friend and Board member Bruce G. Southworth passed away unexpectedly, describing him as uniquely aware of preservation’s importance and passionate about stewardship in saving historic homes, and extending sympathy to his family and friends, and thanking homeowners, tour-goers, Foundation Partners, the Home Tour Committee, and many volunteers for making the Classic Estates & Gardens Home Tour a success with funds raised to enhance preservation in Lake Forest, and congratulating Lake Forest Country Day School in partnership with Lake Forest Open Lands Association for sensitive restoration of a seven-acre woodland parcel on the south side of its campus along Green Bay Road, noting the restoration revealed natural beauty untouched for nearly a century and created a “living natural classroom” for LFCDS students to build connection and appreciation for the natural world and Lake Forest’s unique character, and crediting that this holidays issue was conceived and carried out—including the cover color photo—by Susan Reinfrank Dedo, and announcing that on December 2, 2012 LFPF will gather for the annual Holiday Celebration at the historic 1893 Insley House designed by Holabird & Roche, built for Isabelle Scribner (Scribner publishing heiress) and Carter Harrison FitzHugh (railroad tycoon who brokered sale of regauged Pennsylvania locomotives to Southern Reconstruction railroads), inviting attendance to celebrate another successful year of preservation and closing with an invitation to join the preservation journey, signed Suzanne Boren, followed by “Classic Estates & Gardens of Lake Forest” recap noting that on September 30th 160 members and friends enjoyed a beautiful fall afternoon walk along Lake Road to tour historic homes and gardens, expressing gratitude to homeowners who opened their homes and gardens and to Foundation Partners for support, stating that stewardship of current homeowners preserves Lake Forest’s architectural heritage for future generations, noting gardens were glorious in fall colors and guests lingered in the historic Mrs. Kersey Coates Reed garden recently renovated by Craig Bergmann, and that at venues guests were treated to short talks by Paul Bergmann, Diana Melichar, and Art Miller, and that a reception was held after the tour in a garden designed by Catherina Malmberg-Snodgrass in 2007, then masthead details “PRESERVATION Holidays 2012 • VOLUME 5, NUMBER 4” with Editor Susan Reinfrank Dedo, other contributors Maureen Grinnell and Arthur H. Miller, other photography contributors Cappy Johnston, Patrick Looby, Lake Forest–Lake Bluff Historical Society, illustration by Alice Moulton-Ely, and the Foundation address, followed by a “Home for the Holidays” feature introduced with an Edward Arpee quotation describing the central business district as defining community personality and charm and as first/last view from train with fine architecture that gratifies visually and emotionally, and narrative describing Market Square’s 1916 Howard Shaw firm design as backdrop to holiday shopping dining and gifting, with twinkling lights charming storefronts and evergreen wreaths creating uniquely Lake Forest holiday magic, and tying Market Square to Lake Forest’s legacy of natural beauty and sensitive development in harmony with landscape and noting it was built on success of train transportation enabling wealthy Chicago businessmen to move families away from city, and stating that today Market Square is emblematic and unifying center linking architectural social and cultural heritage with the present shaping quality of life and sense of home, then a section “Market Square: Uniquely Lake Forest” stating Market Square is iconic center, listed on the National Register in 1979 as “America’s first planned shopping center,” and explaining it was first to be planned as unified whole and to incorporate automobile, exemplifying essential elements of later shopping centers, described as first City Beautiful Movement town center, first privately funded commercial mall rather than supported by public funds and anchored by public building, and built through innovative shared-financing arrangement described as the first real estate investment trust (REIT), then recounting that in early 1900s downtown opposite the train station had dilapidated buildings and shabby storefronts and in 1912 resident Arthur T. Aldis partnered with architect Howard Shaw to form the Lake Forest Improvement Trust with others to upgrade and beautify business center, fundraising began in 1912 and Shaw accepted shares from the Trust as payment, real estate agent John Griffith was engaged to buy property, land acquired mid-1912 and Board of Trustees formed January 13, 1913 with trustees named Arthur T. Aldis, D. Mark Cummings, John V. Farwell Jr., David B. Jones, and Cyrus H. McCormick, and noting it took over two years to raise $100,000 and plan bond issue, and describing Shaw’s horseshoe-shaped mall with shops and apartments around central grassy lawn and large fountain, accommodating automobiles and blending modern elements with classic design inspired by European styles including English, Italian Renaissance, Tyrolean, Bavarian, and Flemish, with ground broken September 1915, shops on ground floors and offices/apartments above, total cost $750,000 including 25 stores, 12 offices, and 28 apartments, completed in 1916, and quoting Edward Arpee’s description of Market Square as coordinated in cultivated taste and enduring beauty, and concluding that original plan remains vibrant and virtually intact with businesses refreshing over time and that understanding these historic spaces helps understand human-scale history and traditions and that preservation keeps communities beautiful vibrant and livable, then sources list naming Susan Dart (1984), Michael Ebner (1988), Richard Longstreth (1997/1998), Arthur H. Miller and Shirley M. Paddock (2000), and Kim Coventry et al. (2003), followed by “Market Square Walking Tour” written by Arthur H. Miller (archivist and librarian for Special Collections, Lake Forest College) with step-by-step tour notes including: beginning at Pasquesi Home and Gardens On the Square, 695 N. Western Avenue, describing the 1900 Train Station as Tudor/half-timbered designed by Frost & Granger for Marvin Hughitt of Chicago & North Western Railway, noting Frost & Granger known for stations and a 2011 slate roof restoration overseen by preservation architect Gunny Harboe, and noting Pasquesi On the Square opened in 2012; observing the Western Avenue framing context by Anderson Block (1903) by James Gamble Rogers and Gordon and Griffith Buildings (including 1904 building attributed to Frost & Granger); recounting Market Square property purchase around August 1, 1912 by John Griffith for group that became LFIT and three successive multi-building plans 1912–1915 including “Town Market” (Dec 1912), 1914 plan showing library on west, and final 1915 plan with long park west of station, taller towers, redesigned central façade and north tower top, and referencing Longstreth’s account that the mall increased prime retail space by 300% while maintaining visibility from trains and framing it as first City Beautiful Movement town center planned around motor vehicles and first commercially driven without public buildings subsidizing development; noting Bay Tree Bank site formerly Krafft’s Drug Store (1916–1984), describing its gambrel roof and transition from three-story Anderson Block to two-story Market Square buildings and that World War I depressed conditions leaving most units rented and later second-floor apartments became offices; identifying Griffith, Grant & Lackie Realtors at 678 N. Western as the only Market Square business still in its original 1916 location with Griffith family leadership and noting LFIT records discovered in basement and donated to Lake Forest College Special Collections; describing South Tower design evolution and features including copper dome, clock faces with Roman numerals, balcony under each clock, and references to German medieval styles; describing North Tower recast in final plans to evoke Wren spires/cupolas or Stockholm Town Hall with sundial and urns; noting arcade walkway to south plaza and adaptive reuse and mentions of Peregrine Bryant’s Bay Tree Bank addition facade; identifying Market House Restaurant building (Frost & Granger ca. 1904) originally fire and police then rec dept; describing Classic Central Building tenants history including Public Service Company and First National Bank (today Northern Trust), Marshall Field & Co. (1931–2004), Macy’s (2004–2006), and Bluemercury and J. Crew (2009/2008 to present) and Palladio/Michelangelo inspirations; describing “Megan Winters and Lake Forest Jewelers” building as former Young Men’s Club built by Shaw in 1916 with former bridge connection and later rec department and later adaptive reuse into Amedei Mercantino; noting U.S. Post Office designed 1932 by Milman & Morphett; noting EJ Mirage (former Helanders) and Lake Forest Bank & Trust design by Peregrine Bryant extending Market Square planning style into 1990s; noting park space design variability balanced not symmetrical, two-story buildings with apartments above shops until 1984 reflecting Arts & Crafts reintegration of work and home; noting landscape stewardship led by Lake Forest Garden Club and Market Square 2000 project guided by landscape architect Rodney Robinson; describing fountain and Sylvia Shaw Judson sculptures and dedication to Howard Van Doren Shaw and “Girl with Baby on shoulder” sculpture and fountain restoration; flagpole dedication in 1917 honoring local men serving in World War I; and noting Gerhardt’s Pastry Shop at 720 N. Western and the scale relationship to station, followed by “Give the Gift of Preservation” annual fund appeal with David Brown quote, asking what residents love most about Lake Forest and listing local treasures, stating since 1976 LFPF commitment and accomplishments protecting 30+ landmarks and investing more than $2 million in grants, education and enabling funds, launching first annual fund with contributions directed to landmarks through expanded education advocacy and funding partnerships, requesting tax-deductible donations via enclosed envelope or online at annual fund page, signed Suzanne Boren, Maureen Grinnell, and Jerry Henry, followed by board roster 2012–2013 with Executive Committee and Directors and Honorary Directors and Executive Director Marcy Kerr, then membership note announcing change of membership year to April 1 through March 31 with 2012 membership valid through March 31, 2013 and “exciting new Membership options and benefits,” and finally the Holiday Celebration invitation for Sunday, December 2, 2012, 2–4 p.m., at Historic Holabird & Roche and Preservation Award–winning home of Kim and John Kipp, 360 North Mayflower Road, with RSVP by November 28 via www.LFPF.org, phone, or email, and parking instructions.