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Gifford Park Association Presents
A preview of the 35th Annual Historic Elgin Housetour
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359 Park Street
This 1887 Queen Anne-style home w
on the 2016 Chicagoland Painted Ladies Grand Prize. The visual appeal carries through to the interior and is the culmination of more than 20 years of restoration efforts. The current owners have added the crowning touch to almost everything in the house. A new kitchen, bath and other features make this a perfect example of modern comfort and convenience in a traditional setting.
Click here to see the progression of the home's restoration.
162 College Avenue
Dating back to 1867, this Greek Revival-style home was enlarged about 20 years later with Italianate features. For decades, it was the residence of Elgin Academy's headmasters. Now in private ownership, it is slowly undergoing rehabilitation and is featured as the tour's "work in progress." The side porch, overlooking a stone wall and patio, provides private outdoor space for this roomy home with classical details.
141 Hill
This 1885 home, typical of many in the neighborhood, combines a variety of architectural details reflecting both Romantic-era charm and vernacular influences. The recently completed rehabilitation expanded on the efforts of three previous owners and brought the house back to stellar condition. A new landscape plan topped off the curb appeal with a simple but very effective front yard flower garden.
Here is a picture from 1981 before the porches were restored.
490 Division
Small is both beautiful and comfortable in this completely refurbished stone and brick worker's cottage from the late 1890s. Originally built by one of Elgin's most talented masons, this house was plucked from near ruin in 2014 by two of today's most talented historic preservation contractors. It is now owned by a couple who are very much Elgin supporters in both word and deed.
442 DuPage
This 1889 Queen Anne-style residence underwent a restoration effort beginning in the 1990s, when the home's potential emerged from beneath a layer of aluminum siding. The effort resumed in 2012 with new owners who brought the façade back to its original exuberant display of detail, all highlighted by a stunning paint job. This house was the 2015 Chicagoland Painted Ladies Grand Prize winner. The interior got a similar refurbishing, making it totally compatible with today's lifestyles.
Here is a picture of the home in 1981
600 E. Chicago St.
This landmark property has long welcomed and fascinated old-house admirers entering the Elgin Historic District. Built in 1892 in the Queen Anne style, this home embodies what most people imagine as an integral part of the "good life" from that decade. Situated on the edge of a small bluff, the home's soaring three-story tower symbolically reflects the prominent status of its original owner.
225 Villa
This home, built in 1905, is a variation of the American Foursquare typology with Queen Anne-style detailing. The sunlight-filled interior with modest but finely crafted details, plus a wide front porch make this American Foursquare especially appealing. This one has been carefully rehabbed, including a new kitchen, among other amenities.
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