Within the Community
of Lake View
Let's begin with
The Current Historical View
photo above - Chicago History Muesum
'The
winter of 1917-18 was a snowy one for Chicago with season’s total snowfall of
64.1 inches. Back then, it was the city’s snowiest winter, but today ranks as
seventh snowiest.'
A Residencial Sampler
530 W Hawthorne Place
The asking price in 2018 was $4,795 million
"With an enormous yard suitable for pick-up soccer games, tented parties, or even an intimate dinner party under the stars, this magnificent house offers a lifestyle better than anything you will find in the suburbs - or even in the City. Literally across the street from the harbor, lake, and Lincoln Park, the location of the house is absolutely ideal. In a minute,you can jog along the lakefront path, take a bike ride to Millennium Park, hop on the drive to the symphony or Art Institute, or enjoy the myriad of exciting neighborhood cafes & boutiques.One of the most prized homes on historic Hawthorne Place, this residence is ideal for grand-scaled living and entertaining: soaring ceiling heights, a flexible floorplan,rich original details, and a commercial kitchen with breakfast area leading to the terrace and yard.A long driveway for your guests' parking leads to a massive 3+ car garage, creating an opportunity to have it all in the city" - Estately
In 1957, Chicago City Council 5th ward Alderman Leon Despres began the landmark preservation movement in Chicago that led to the formation of the City Landmarks Commission of 1968. This commission was instrumental in the salvation the late 19th century mansions that would later include the 1/2 block street
called Hawthorne Place. By 1990 some of these former mansions were still 'cut-up' rental units or abandon buildings that were saved from the wrecking ball by concerned citizens of the neighborhood. The houses along this street were in decay and mostly vacant. One house literally split in-half by the forces of decay and neglect-one half of a mansion sinking into the earth. By the mid to late 90's these houses were restored to their pristine condition by architecture firms and independent contractors.
Hawthorne Place was designated a Chicago Landmark in 1996.
1987 Rascher's Atlas
A Failed Name Change
in 1908
1894 Sanborn Fire Insurance Maps
southside view
this map splits the block into two sheets
before Sheridan Road (inner LSD) & Lake Shore Drive
Mr & Mrs Rockwell King
Mr & Mrs H H Hettler
27 Hawthorne Place = 577 Hawthorne Place
Mr & Mrs Philip C Dyrenforth & Authur Dyrenforth
and below
17 Hawthorne Place = 585 Hawthorne Place
(pre 1909 address change vs post 1909)
Mr. & Mrs Granger & Francis Hart
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Address change chart in 1909
the X's indicate
1894 addresses in map above
page 240
text - Chicago Blue Book & selected names
northside view
.jpg)
60 Hawthorne Place = 546 Hawthorne Place
Mr & Mrs John McConnell
&
Edward D McConnell
.jpg)
36 Hawthorne Place = 568 Hawthorne Place
Mr & Mrs BF McConnell
30 Hawthorne Place = 574 Hawthorne Place
Mr & Mrs George E Marshall
&
Mrs AJ Marshall
and below
10 Hawthorne Place = 592 Hawthorne Place
(pre 1909 address change vs post 1909)
Mr Mortimer McRoberts
The Canary in the
Coal Mine Warning:
The Bartiett Residence
525 W Hawthorne Place
1923 Sanborn Fire Insurance Map
The replacement to 541 family residence
A House
that is on the Watch List
The Herman H. Hettler House
with a pre 1909 address
of 37 Hawthorne Place
Herman H Hettler was a owner of a lumber company in Chicago.
These photos below tell a tale about a Queen Anne style mansion originally owned by Herman H. Hettler. This house was held at public auction in 1984. As 2011, this house is owned by the Day School and now apparently vacant with an unknown future.
1923 Sanborn Fire Insurance Map
About the Man who
First Lived Here
the business in 1909
Residences
built in 1884
when Lake View was a township
in Cook County
+568+W.+Hawthorne+Place.jpg)
1987 photo below - Ravenswood-Lake View
Community Collection
1923 Sanborn Fire Insurance Map
built in 1885
when Lake View was a township
in Cook County
1923 Sanborn Fire Insurance Map
The McConnell's Brothers Sailboat
photo above - Tales of the Chicago Mackinac Race
The brothers, John and his other brother Ben, owned and sailed a schooner
called the Hawthorne. They participated in the first race to Mackinac Island in
1898. They finished third
out of 5 crafts that raced that year.
photos below - Chicago History Museum
All the other Buildings
on Hawthorne Place
2014 photos - Garry Albrecht
and like many other homes on the block at coach house in back
601 Hawthorne Place
was replaced by condos by 2015
photos - Garry Albrecht 2015
A Blog Interview
from Former Residents:
The Interviewee's
August 10, 2015 with me
Marion Eisendrath Rosenbluth
& Jane Rosenbluth Baldwin
Marion Eisendrath Rosenbluth home as of the age of four.
The Prep-Interview
by Jane R. Baldwin
Marion Eisendrath Rosenbluth, b. 1928
"My family moved to 546 Hawthorne Place when she I two or three. Most of her pre-college education was at Francis W. Parker School. She was married at 546 Hawthorne Place in 1950. They lived in Old Town, then bought 503 W. Barry Avenue in about 1956. She sold it in the late 70's and moved to the Gold Coast to this day."
Jane Rosenbluth Baldwin, b. 1953
"I grew up at 503 Barry, and frequently visited my grandparents on Hawthorne. Hawthorne was the home of my grandmother until her death at 99 in 1992; my uncle lived with her for many years, and the house was finally sold in 1993. I also was married at 546 Hawthorne Place. My husband & I bought house on Janssen Avenue in 1987 and have lived there ever since. I went to Parker, as did my kids."
This magazine article was written by her nephew in 1989, seven years before Hawthorne Place received its historical due from the City of Chicago Landmark Commission.
One story of interest that is not in the article was when her father needed to dismantle and replace the "rotten" Queen Anne porch. This removal/replacement was during the WWII years when rations were the normal due to labor and material shortages. One day, to the surprise of family and some other neighbors and apparently, completely uncharacteristic of him, Marion’s father took on the task of porch removal on a block where everyone had their own private staff to maintain their homes & properties. In fact, Marion recalled that her parents had their own live-in laundress, landscaper, and a chauffeur named Fitz. Her father's project apparently raised a few eyebrows during the course of this project. She chockled a few times during this telling.
the extended Eisbendrath family 1940ish
a list from Ms. E. Rosenbluth's of her neighbors on the block. The list begins on old Sheridan Road (inner LSD) and ends on Broadway.
That Luncheon Interview
My Notes - Garry Albrecht
August 10, 2015
Marion Eisendrath Rosenbluth, her daughter Jane Rosenbluth Baldwin, and I met at The Grill next to the Westin Hotel in downtown Chicago for lunch one weekday. Ms. M.E. Rosenbluth was the focus of conversation on this particular interview along with her daughter Jane supporting her mother with some memory clues. Ms. E. Rosenbluth, much like all the former and current residents of Hawthorne Place, are proud and strong-willed folks who had the determination to create their own unique futures. These folks of Hawthorne Place during the turn of the 20th century were titans of manufacturing or elite businessmen of Chicago. Although a good family name could allow Marion to enter and graduate from
Francis Parker School her grades at Parker would later earn her a degree from Harvard in 1949 during time period when women were meant to stay at home. After raising a family she returned to college and earned a Phd from the University of Illinois in 1973. During the course of her 'salad lunch' she beguiled me with short stories that are mostly identical to this 1989 magazine article she provided me before lunch that who nephew wrote for the Chicago Times Magazine in 1989.
that magazine article of hers
(click on article segments to enlarge)
One story of interest that is not in the article was when her father needed to dismantle and replace the "rotten" Queen Anne porch. This removal/replacement was during the WWII years when rations were the normal due to labor and material shortages. One day, to the surprise of family and some other neighbors and apparently, completely uncharacteristic of him, Marion’s father took on the task of porch removal on a block where everyone had their own private staff to maintain their homes & properties. In fact, Marion recalled that her parents had their own live-in laundress, landscaper, and a chauffeur named Fitz. Her father's project apparently raised a few eyebrows during the course of this project. She chockled a few times during this telling.
Also during the course of our three hour salad lunch interview Marion and Jane mentioned that 'their world' only existed east of Broadway and used Lake Shore Drive (called Sheridan Road at the time) to travel south to Hyde Park in order to visit the extended family on Drexel Avenue. Any mention of places western of of Broadway did not strike any memories for the simple reason she never walked beyond Broadway. Luckily, most of the other short stories Marion bequiled me with are within her nephew's article – a most entertaining piece. After the interview I felt I just interviewed the sweet characters of films from Downton Abbey.
The block is located 3800 north and 1050 west
the design was transplant from England
with countless photos from
1906 photo - Chuckman Collection
The Alta Vista Historical District is a another historic district located in Lake View. The development was built in 1900-04 as an replica of the row-house style community within London England called the Mayfair. The development in Lake View was the dream of real estate developer Samuel Eberly Gross, who after a visit to Mayfair felt inspired to duplicate the architectual style. J.C. Brompton was the architect of most of the buildings on the block. The homes on the other side of the street is a mirror image of the other.
view more from above link
the artist is Ed Walaitis 1975 via Ebay
1971 photo - Chuckman Collection
photo - William Brubaker via University of Illinois
The following article tells the story of the landmark status of this historical district
Photos in 1972
Chicago Public Library
.jpg)
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A Timeless Terrace
in 1974
The Vintage Doors in 1987
photos below - Ravenswood-Lake View Community Collection
photos below - Ravenswood-Lake View Community Collection
by Yo Chicago
The Vintage Doors in 1990's
by Ruth Sackheim
A realtor tours the interior of one home
photo - Photographic Images of Change
via University of Illinois at Chicago
via University of Illinois at Chicago
Photos by Cory Steinberg 2022
800 block of Oakdale Avenue
View more photos on this district
The Surf/Pine Grove District
postcard & photo - Chuckman Collection
Initially called Lincoln Park Palace in 1900
1000 block of Oakdale
the 400 & 500 blocks of Surf
and 2800 block of Pine Grove
take a vitual Google tour of Surf Street!
photo - University of Illinois-Chicago via Explore Chicago
Sheridan-Surf Hotel - 423-425 West Surf Street
and below
420 W Surf Street
photo - University of Illinois-Chicago via Explore Chicago
and below
420 W Surf Street
photo - University of Illinois-Chicago via Explore Chicago
which includes ...
The rooftop German style restaurant
text- Hidden History of Lincoln Park by Patrick Butler
between Sheffield & Seminary
The houses in this district were built with a terra cotta exterior by the
Northwestern Terra Cotta Company, one of the leading manufacturers of a architectual terra cotta revolutionized modern architecture and was uniquely significant to Chicago. The term "terra-cotta row" refers to the concentration of dwellings built by executives of the company, as well as the elaborate
terra-cotta detailing of the buildings and an unusual terra-cotta walls. The buildings below represent this historical district.
the president of the company
and his residence
photos - Cory Steinberg
photo below - City of Chicago Landmarks
(a timelapse video)
This building was moved from the new Redline tracks
toward the corner of Clark Street & Newport Avenue
in 2021
Some Vintage Views:
Oakdale viewing east on Sheridan Road
The mansion was located on 338-342 Oakdale Avenue
photo - Chicago Public Library via Explore Chicago
Arthur Apfel residence
341 W Wellington
photo - Chicago Public Library via Explore Chicago
photo - Art Institute of Chicago
341 W Wellington
photo - Chicago Public Library via Explore Chicago
a google map view
Oscar Mayer
a meat-packer founder
335-337 Wellington Avenue
Lester Armour
grandson of Philip Armour
Oscar Mayer
a meat-packer founder
335-337 Wellington Avenue
Lester Armour
grandson of Philip Armour
of the meat-packer founder
325 Wellington Avenue
Philip T. Starch
330 Wellington Avenue
The Dwellings that Did Not Survive:
on Wellington Avenue
325 Wellington Avenue
Philip T. Starch
330 Wellington Avenue
The Dwellings that Did Not Survive:
on Wellington Avenue
Blue Prints for 331-339 W Wellington
Art Institute of Chicago via Explore Chicago
Art Institute of Chicago via Explore Chicago
photos above - Photographic Images of Change
via University of Illinois at Chicago
via University of Illinois at Chicago
and below
The South-East
Ravenswood District
photo - Andrew Johnson via Wikipedia
The National Register of Historical Places designated this community as a landmark in 1991. It was listed because it was known as the first pre-planned subdivision of the former Lake View Township community of Ravenswood in Chicago with it's limestone & brick Victorian/Queen Ann homes on over-sized urban lots. Real estate developer John Cochran and Samuel Crowen known as the architect for the Biograph Theater created this suburban-like area. The district's street range is south of Lawrence Avenue (Uptown), west of Clark Street, north of Irving Park Road and east of Ravenswood Street (east of the Metra tracks). [Montrose Avenue is the border between communities of Uptown and Lake View.] About the
Greater Ravenswood Area:
The District Borders
Suburban
The History 1870's-1889
Public Transportation was the Key
Photographs as of the 1970's
photos - Ravenswood-Lake View Community Collection
4053 North Greenview Avenue
4108 North Greenview Avenue
4059 North Greenview Avenue
4232 North Paulina Avenue
4317 North Paulina Avenue
and below
4323 North Paulina Avenue
A Post Note:
Read about the dos and don'ts of owning a building in a historical district along with a list of the districts as of 2013 with this article from Curbed Chicago.
Please follow me to my next post called
Important Note:
These posts are exclusively used for educational purposes. I do not wish to gain monetary profit from this blog nor should anyone else without permission for the original source - thanks!
