1995 Fall Newsletter

View 1995 Fall Newsletter

A Bulletin from Vol.1, No. 1 The Lake Forest Preservation Foundation Fall, 1995: ‘NEW’ LF HISTORIC DISTRICT TO BE DESIGNATED As distinctive as Lake Forest already is, it is about to become even more so, the Preservation Foundation is pleased to announce that we have now received final approval of our application to have a third district in Lake Forest listed on the National Register of Historic Places, final approval is considered to be a great achievement and would be the culmination of a monumental amount of work and years of diligent and painstaking effort, our application, which had already been approved by the Illinois Historic Preservation Agency, was sent to the U.S. Department of the Interior and, on November 7th, received the signature of the Keeper of the National Register, this third geographic area in Lake Forest to be so historically designated, the Green Bay Road National Register District trict, includes the properties along Green Bay Road extending from the Lake Bluff line in the north down to Onwentsia Road at the district’s southern boundary, Historic Green Bay Road, the National Register of Historic Places, maintained by the U.S. Department of the Interior, is the nation’s official list of places that are recognized for their historical, architectural or archaeological significance and considered worthy of preservation, the Green Bay Road National Register District has won approval in two areas of significance: (1) architecture and (2) social history, the period of significance for Lake Forest’s registry is from 1890 to 1945, the era of great estate building in the Chicago area, a property must be at least 50 years old to be listed on the National Register, election to the Register is the highest national honor that can be awarded to an historic place, properties within a National Register District or listed individually on the National Register are eligible for Federal and state tax benefits and may be afforded protection from adverse effects of any Federally funded or licensed project, no restriction is placed upon the property owner, listing on the Register does not protect a property from demolition, PF Turns Fond Farewell into Fitting Memorial for Founder Ted Bennett, on the first anniversary of the death of its founder and first president, Edward H. Bennett, Jr., fondly known to all of us as “Ted,” the Lake Forest Preservation Foundation announced its plan for a proposed “memorial bell” to honor Mr. Bennett’s life work as an architect, historic preservationist, city and regional planner and life-long railroad enthusiast, the Foundation revealed it has engaged architect Frederick F. Phillips, Mr. Bennett’s stepson, to design a fitting monument to house an antique train bell as a lasting commemoration for Mr. Bennett’s inestimable civic contributions to Lake Forest and Lake County, the Foundation proposes that the “Bennett Memorial Bell,” which originally adorned a late 19th century steam locomotive engine owned and operated by the Southern Pacific Railroad, and which has been in Mr. Bennett’s family for years, be installed at the historic downtown Lake Forest train station, Mr. Bennett and the Preservation Foundation were instrumental in accomplishing the historic renovation of the downtown Lake Forest North Western train station over ten years ago, a resident of Lake Forest and a member of a prominent family, Mr. Bennett, a noted architect and Chicago area planner, died at his home on December 7, 1994, from 1960 to 1970, Mr. Bennett was chairman of the Lake County Regional Planning Association after serving two years as vice chairman, it was during this time that he led the fight to keep the North Shore electric railroad from going out of business, sible to save them,” said Mr. Bennett’s widow, Kay, “Not only did trains fascinate him, but he felt strongly that railroads should be preserved as a mode of transportation in this country, he worked especially hard to save the Chicago, North Shore & Milwaukee railroad.” Unfortunately, the effort was ultimately unsuccessful, Mr. Bennett also served as director of the Chicago Regional Planning Association for a number of years in the 1950s, his father, along with Daniel H. Burnham, developed and wrote the famous Chicago Plan of 1909 which laid out how the Chicago region should grow in the twentieth century, in addition to his active role as first president of our own Preservation Foundation, Mr. Bennett was an early director of the Lake Forest Open Lands Association, was a trustee emeritus of the Art Institute of Chicago, a director of the Lyric Opera of Chicago, and director of the National Association of Railroad Passengers (NARP), which has worked to save railroads in America, “Ted was tremendously interested in trains and did everything pos- * Preservation Periscope WALDEN BRIDGE CAN BE SAVED! Instead of being demolished, the historic Walden’s Bluff Edge Bridge, located across a ravine on the old Cyrus McCormick estate and dating backto the turn of the century, can be preserved! This was the decision made by the Lake Forest City Council at its meeting on December 4, 1995, the wooden pedestrian bridge is unsafe, in a sad state·of repair and must either be renovated or demolished, the City, in its 1997 budget, is willing to spend up to $202,000 (which would be the cost of demolition) on the restoration of Walden Bridge, the additional funding for the cost of renovation, estimated to be about $320,000, will have to be raised from private sources, Prescription for Preservationists PF GUIDEBOOK – 2ND EDITION, the Preservation Foundation Guide to National Register Properties in Lake Forest, Illinois, updated last year, is currently on.sale for $15 at Helanders, Lake Forest Book Store, B. Dalton, McMasters and Gorton Center in Lake Forest, this guidebook is intended as an introduction to some of the properties that contribute to the unique historic visual character of Lake Forest, it includes bri�f background information and new or historic photographs;Jor each of the eight-five Lake Forest properties that are listed individually on the National Register of Historic Places .or cited for significance in the City’s two National Register Historic Districts, sectional maps of the historic districts are included for those who may wish to explore the City on a walk or by bicycle, Preservation Program Preview … HOLIDAY PARTY SET FOR DECEMBER 17 0 Come, All Ye Preservation Faithful, and guests and newcomers, too! Please share our delightful holiday festivities and help us “Deck the Halls” at one of the loveliest restored historic homes in all of Lake Forest, our Foundation’s Christmas party reception will be held on Sunday, December 17, 1995, from 3-5 p.m. at historic “Insley,” 360 N. Mayflower Road, the recently renovated home which was the grand winner of the Preservation Foundation’s prestigious Annual Preservation Award for 1995, come and join us in our holiday celebration of the Spirit of Christmas Past, Present and Future! you will be treated to a brief presentation on the social and renovation history of “Insley” and to a tour of the lovely home given by its charming current owner, the historic Lake Forest home, “Insley,” was built in 1893 for Isabel Scribner, daughter of Charles Scribner, founder of the New York publishing firm, Isabel lived in the house from the time she was a debutante until she was 95 years old, the home was designed by Holabird & Roche, the noted Chicago architectural firm, in addition to celebrating the Spirit of Christmas Present by meeting and socializing with your fellow Lake Forest preservationist-minded friends, with whom you shall share delicious holiday refreshments, the $15 per person charge wil.l enable you to contribute to the Spirit of Christmas Future by supporting and benefiting future Preservation Foundation projects, please contact Elaine Hughes by December 15 at 234-3850 for reservations, Non Profit Org U. S. Postage PAID Permit No. 184 Lake Forest 60045 Non Profit Org U. S. Postage PAID Permit No. 184 Lake Forest 60045The Preservation Foundation Box 813, Lake Forest, IL 60045