A Bulletin from The Lake Forest Preservation Foundation, Vol. 2, No. 2, Fall 1996; COMMUNITY RALLIES TO “SAVE WALDEN BRIDGE”: Goal Within Reach, but…Homestretch Always Hardest; thanks to continuing generous donations from hundreds of concerned Lake Foresters, Walden Bridge might well be saved; the Foundation is spearheading the campaign to save the bridge from demolition, highlighted by the drive to raise $100,000 by November 1996 toward its restoration; to date, over 80% of the goal has been achieved; Foundation President Dick DuBourdieu: “We’re in the final stretch of our 1996 drive to save Walden Bridge…But we’re painfully aware that the very hardest part of this campaign lies immediately before us…so many of our staunchest supporters have already given.”; the historic bridge, now in a state of disrepair, was built in 1901 as the gateway to “Walden,” the 1894 Lake Forest estate of Mr. and Mrs. Cyrus McCormick, Jr.; Walden Bridge is the last significant remnant of the McCormick estate and illustrates rare bridge engineering; the City of Lake Forest is willing to spend what it would cost to demolish the bridge (slightly over $200,000) on restoration (estimated cost: over $300,000) if additional funds can be raised privately; call to action: “We’re almost there! The final push is on!…now is the time to make your donations…please include a generous allocation to save the bridge…Tax deductible donations should be made to the Lake Forest Preservation Foundation, earmarked for ‘Walden Bridge Fund.’…We must not let this historic landmark be demolished…Only you can save Walden Bridge!”; History of Walden Bridge: 1901 Built as gateway to historic “Walden” estate; 1957 Deeded to city for public benefit; 1972 Dedicated for pedestrian use only; 1989 Further maintenance largely abandoned; 1995 Demolition proposed unless $100,000 is raised; 1996 Named to Illinois “10 most endangered sites” list; 1996 Fund drive to save bridge begun; 1997 Demolition or restoration???; Lake Forest Day Parade: “Our Lake Forest Day Parade entry, featuring Bridge replica and antique autos, won first prize!”; DISCOVER THE “IRON MAGIC” OF LAKE FOREST ON OCTOBER 20: invitation to program “Iron Magic: The Amazing Artistry of Samuel Yellin,” presented by his granddaughter Clare Yellin, president of the Samuel Yellin Metal Worker’s company in Philadelphia; Sunday, October 20, 4:00 p.m., Gorton Community Center auditorium; jointly sponsored by the Lake Forest Preservation Foundation and the Lake Forest–Lake Bluff Historical Society; focus on Yellin’s wrought iron work; Samuel Yellin described as “the master iron craftsman of all time,” worked 1909–1940; Lake Forest examples include the wrought iron entrance gates at the Lake Forest Cemetery and the Charles H. Schweppe estate on Mayflower Road; Yellin designed and constructed gates, grilles, light fixtures, hardware, screens, entry doors, and other wrought iron work from his Philadelphia shop for homes/institutions/businesses in 38 states, including iron work at the Art Institute, Northwestern University, and the University of Chicago in Illinois; Preservation Periscope: Housewalk to Benefit Bridge Great Success—Foundation “Tour of Homes and Gardens,” Saturday, September 28, raised $7,000 in admissions and contributions for the Bridge fund; about 300 people toured the bridge and five homes on the former McCormick estate “Walden”; featured stops: “Casa Forgan,” a renovated 1941 Cape Cod style home overlooking the Walden Bridge ravine; a 1957 lakeside home with award-winning landscaping including rose and perennial gardens; “Ravello,” a 1960 contemporary house with gardens and terrace on a high bluff edging Lake Michigan; an award-winning modern house built for C. R. Walgreen III in 1979, in a park-like setting; an 8-acre Lake Michigan estate with a Palladian-style house built in 1953 for J. T. Pirie, Jr. of Carson-Pirie-Scott; Prescription for Preservationists: First Midwest Bank Supports Bridge—First Midwest Bank of Lake Forest offering an exclusive certificate of deposit to support the “Save the Bridge Fund,” donating 1/8% of total CDs opened under the program to the fund; call 234-7000 for details; Walden Bridge Prints Still Available—limited edition hand-colored, silk-screened 22×15 inch prints from Mark McMahon painting, numbered and signed; prints cost $150, with $100 tax deductible; send order and check to Bridge Fund, Box 813, Lake Forest, IL 60045; BENNETT MEMORIAL BELL DEDICATED ON FOUNDATION’S 20th ANNIVERSARY: August 4, 1996 dedication honoring late Edward H. (“Ted”) Bennett, Jr. for life work as architect, historic preservationist, city and regional planner, and benefactor; ceremony at historic downtown Lake Forest train station attended by family, Foundation members, friends, city officials, residents, and well-wishers; noted as fitting because Bennett was a lifelong railroad enthusiast and founding president of the Preservation Foundation, August 4 marked the Foundation’s 20th anniversary, and Bennett/Foundation helped accomplish renovation of the downtown Lake Forest Northwestern train station over ten years earlier; memorial designed by Bennett’s stepson, architect Frederick F. Philips; houses an antique brass bell once on a 19th-century steam locomotive engine; installed on the north side of the train depot; will be rung to announce special civic occasions and locked on display throughout the rest of the year; photo captions: “LF Mayor Waud (right) pays tribute to Ted Bennett with Bennett’s widow, Kay, and Memorial designer Frederick Phillips.” and “Crowd admiring Memorial Bell includes Edward Bennett III (with beard) and wife Marcia Bennett, a PF director (touching bell).”; mailing panel: The Preservation Foundation, Box 813, Lake Forest, IL 60045; Non Profit Org, U.S. Postage PAID, Permit No. 184, Lake Forest 60045.
