Lake Forest, Illinois “New Numbered Series,” Volume 3, Number 2 (Awards 2010) centers on the 2010 Historic Preservation Awards, noting that 2010 marked the 20th consecutive year of the Foundation’s awards program and that an “extraordinary number” of entries were received, with 10 awards presented at the April 25 Annual Meeting; it adds that 161 awards had been presented since the program began, all recognizing efforts that preserve Lake Forest’s historic visual character, and describes the solid bronze award plaque (inscribed with award type and year) displayed on winning structures, along with green and white lawn signs used around town for several weeks before and after the meeting, and points readers to the Foundation’s website for the full list of awardees.
A featured award narrative highlights 440 East Wisconsin Avenue (Restoration) recognized for Fred and Laura Fellows, with Landscape Restoration by Rocco Fiore & Sons, describing the property as a 1922 Howard Van Doren Shaw summer residence originally built for J. O. Hinckley; after purchasing in 2007, the Fellows are described as meticulously researching original materials and replacing them in kind, including importing mercury glass window panes from England when they were no longer available locally, carefully repairing (but not washing) the exterior’s sand-finish stucco to preserve its near-century patina, and focusing the restoration around a sunken English garden and patio, where decaying bluestone surfaces were removed, cement was repoured, stone reset, and a long-inoperable fountain rebuilt—now topped by a bronze statue of a playful girl.
The issue also includes a President’s Message from Tom Daly reflecting on the town-wide visibility of the 20th-anniversary lawn signs honoring the 161 award recipients, underscoring ongoing work to preserve the east side train station through a commissioned study and interim stabilization measures while larger funding is pursued, promoting 2010 programming such as the “Exploring Lake Forest’s Neighborhoods and Gardens” series and the Family Fair in Market Square (June 19), welcoming new board members (Norman Abplanalp, Kristen Chun, Stephen Douglass, Linda Medema, Carl Silberman), and encouraging membership support to sustain the Foundation’s preservation impact.
A “2010 Historic Preservation Award Winners” section then lists multiple recognized projects and summarizes several in capsule form, including: 797 Oakwood Avenue (Rehabilitation) for James and Lynn Engelland, credited to architect Lake Forest Landmark Development, describing a circa-1895 residence in the Devillo Holt subdivision area whose later porch/garage changes show up in 1917 vs. 1929 Sanborn maps and which had fallen into major disrepair before a “masterful rehabilitation” restored its period charm; The Ragdale Foundation / Meadow Studio (Restoration) credited to IIT Associate Professor Frank Flury and a team of IIT architecture students, explaining that the original 1943 studio by architect John Lord King for sculptor Sylvia Shaw Judson (Howard Van Doren Shaw’s daughter) was replaced due to mounting structural issues, with a new studio built on the original footprint to echo the original form using windows/skylight and natural cedar intended to weather into the prairie setting; 246 West Laurel Avenue (Infill) for Blair and Becky Nagel, architect Melichar Architects, describing a 2008 Colonial Connecticut farm-style house inspired by David Adler’s 1926 Crab Tree Farm summer home, using materials such as Halquist Wisconsin limestone, cedar roof shingles, and beaded siding, with design details like dormers, copper gutters/downspouts, cupolas, and classically proportioned columns, and emphasizing compatibility with neighboring homes and adjacent Open Lands; 120 Woodland Road (Rehabilitation) credited to Suzanne Boren, describing a West Park property traced to early-1900s land division and a 1907 lot purchase, shown as stucco on a 1917 fire insurance map, followed by a decade-long rehabilitation including extensive stucco repair and renovation of home and garage exteriors; 301 Oakdale Avenue (Restoration) for David and Gail Wesson, describing a 1938 house designed by office-building architect Louis Bouchard as his personal residence, later clad in aluminum siding, with the current owners restoring the façade by removing the aluminum and bringing back the intended porch entrance character; 570 Rosemary Road (Preservation) for Heather Heiberger and C.J. Oates, architect Michael Molinaro, describing a three-year effort to preserve the character of a 1928 Stanley Anderson–designed home with grounds including ravine areas restored by Clifford Miller; 207 Maple Court (Rehabilitation) for Dennis and Cathryn Johnston, architect Raymond A. Shlaustas, recounting a gardener’s cottage built around 1910 (once accessed over a ravine bridge from the Rumsey estate) that was moved about 100 yards east after 1953 subdivision activity and later underwent major rehabilitation including foundation stabilization and reworking additions to better fit the wooded ravine context; and 900 East Illinois Road (Preservation) for Roger and Sandy Deromedi, landscape architects Kettelkamp & Kettlekamp, describing restoration of original Jens Jensen prairie-style garden design character using original plans, alongside context that the English manor-style house was designed about 100 years earlier by Charles Coolidge (Shepley, Rutan & Coolidge) for Henry Rumsey.
Beyond awards, the newsletter reports on civic preservation initiatives, including an update that the City of Lake Forest received a Certified Local Government (CLG) Grant from the Illinois Historic Preservation Agency to update the citywide survey (originally assembled in 1998) and revise/update the 1976 Lake Forest Historic District National Register nomination, noting the grant amount ($12,833) plus local “soft match” time ($5,453), that Benjamin Historic Certifications was hired and work includes reviewing buildings constructed 1948–1965, altered properties, and new construction, with Preservation Foundation volunteers assisting research; it explains that the 1976 nomination was less comprehensive than current requirements and that reclassification of contributing/non-contributing resources is expected, and briefly defines CLGs as governments recognized for local preservation ordinances and review commissions, with 70 CLGs in Illinois and over 2,000 nationally.
The issue also includes shorter updates and calls-to-action: a note that the Lake Forest Garden Club’s Conceptual Master Plan gift for Forest Park was accepted by City Council on May 17, with the Foundation having written a Position Paper available online; an east side railroad station update stating the Foundation commissioned an Historic Structures Report, the City allocated $150,000 for immediate repairs, and Metra agreed to a temporary asphalt roof replacement pending future conditions for a slate roof; a “Welcome New Board Directors” blurb repeating the new director names and noting a reception held after the Annual Meeting at the historic “Broadlea” Carry Playhouse; and a full promotional section for the 2nd Annual Family Fair in Market Square on Saturday, June 19, 2010 (11:00 a.m.–3:00 p.m.), framed as a family event celebrating Howard Van Doren Shaw’s 1916 Market Square with kid-friendly activities (architectural bingo/clue hunts, tunnel tours with souvenirs, sno-cones and popcorn, a build-an-architecture activity, croquet demonstration, and trolley/architectural tours), co-promoted with the Lake Forest–Lake Bluff Chamber of Commerce and directing readers to the Foundation website or phone number for details.
