Bungalow Appreciation Week: May 2012
A familiar sight along Blue Island streets and across Chicagoland, the humble bungalow is about to get its day… or week… in the sun. Helped by a resolution from State Sen. Martin Sandoval of Berwyn, the first week of May is now officially “Bungalow Appreciation Week” in Illinois!
Bungalows are much loved in our area, with a truly unique twist to the housing style known as the “Chicago Bungalow.” While the original bungalow craze in the 1910s was influenced by Arts and Crafts design from California (see a remarkable example at the NW corner of Walnut and Maple), in Chicago builders turned to brick. The classic Chicago Bungalow is one and a half stories tall, and is noted for having its gables (the open, “pointy” end of the roof) facing the street. The bungalow boom in Chicago took hold in the 1920s, and through the 1940s the bungalow remained the most popular housing style in the area.
In Blue Island we are fortunate to have our FIRST bungalow landmark. Pictured above, this home was built in 1924 for Ernest and Irene Rauch at 2517 Orchard and is now owned by Mike Mech, the Bungalow Chef. The Rauch House was designated by City Council on March 27, 2012. We truly appreciate Mike’s enthusiasm for Blue Island landmarks - and of course all things bungalow - and hope his example will encourage others to landmark their homes.
Sandoval says Bungalow Appreciation Week will raise awareness about the history of bungalows and promote programs to preserve them. The week coincides with the annual Preservation Month sponsored by the National Trust for Historic Preservation, whose theme this year is “Discover Hidden Gems.”
Students make it their mission to preserve mid-century architecture | WBEZ
Congrats to Dan O’Brien and Emily Wallrath. You may have seen this top historic preservation team wandering our own streets as they completed a survey of landmark properties in Blue Island for the Historic Preservation Commission.
Canoe & Kayak the Cal-Sag!
Ever look at the Cal-Sag and think… wow, wish I could take a trip down there, if only I had a kayak or a canoe…
SATURDAY, OCTOBER 22 - CAL-SAG CHANNEL PADDLING TOUR!
Jason Berry will be leading a GUIDED TOUR of Blue Island’s waterfront by kayak or canoe. Tour departs from Fay’s Point at 12:30pm and returns by 4pm. $10/person. Limit 25 boats. Bring your own boat or rent a single or tandem kayak (recommended) or canoe from Chicago River Canoe & Kayak. EMAIL MIKE SIOLA ASAP TO RESERVE! Send an e-mail to msiola@csu.edu with the subject “Calumet Heritage Conference” and include the information requested on the registration form (name address, phone, whether you want to rent a kayak or canoe). Register via paypal.
Points of Interest include: Little Calumet River; Fay’s Point / Confluence; Blue Island Locks; Division and Chatham bridges; MWRD SEPA station; Western Ave / Rock Island bridge; Stony Creek / Calumet Feeder; former gas plant site; rail bridges (5 bridges)
BIHPC Turns 30
The Blue Island Historic Preservation Commission (HPC) turns 30 in September!
Created by Blue Island’s Historic Preservation Ordinance, adopted Sept. 8, 1981, the HPC is charged with identifying and protecting one of Blue Island’s greatest assets: its landmark architecture and the places that tell the stories of our past.
Some fun facts about the Historic Preservation in Blue Island… did you know:
- There are 43 individually listed landmark homes and buildings in Blue Island, plus 31 properties in the Olde Western Historic District.
- The Olde Western Historic District was created in 1981 with the City’s preservation ordinance, making these properties our longest-standing landmarks.
- The first home to be landmarked was the William Webber House, 12956 Greenwood Ave., designated April 13, 1982. This home was designed by Prairie School architect George Washington Maher.
- Blue Island’s “oldest” home, the Wilson/Cooley House, 2626 Vermont St., was built in 1838 and was designated a landmark on July 29,1982.
- Blue Island’s “youngest” landmark is Bertrand Goldberg’s design for Dr. Aaron Heimbach, 13020 Greenwood Ave., built in 1939. The Doctor’s office and home was landmarked on April 12, 1994.
- Blue Island’s “newest” landmarks are the Heber Rexford House, 2546 Burr Oak Ave., built c. 1845 and the Fred & Mamie Dorman House, 2451 Oak St., built 1903. Both were designated in 2010 by the Malysa Family.
- Blue Island has been a CLG (Certified Local Gov’t, recognized by the State Historic Preservation Office) since 1990. There are now 72 CLGs in Illinois.
- Blue Island was recognized as a Preserve America community in 2008.
Many citizens have served terms as Commissioners on the HPC….
Nominate Now for Cavalcade 2011
The FORUM is accepting nominations NOW for September’s Cavalcade of Pride, an annual event that recognizes homeowners, businesses, gardens and blocks that have gone the extra mile to make their properties - and in turn, our community - look its best.
CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE 2011 CAVALCADE OF PRIDE NOMINATION FORM
For over 20 years, the Blue Island FORUM, the Historical Society, the Historic Preservation Commission, and the City of Blue Island has sponsored this annual award. In 2011, the Cavalcade of Pride also celebrates the 30th Anniversary of the City’s Historic Preservation Commission and the founding of the Olde Western Historic District. What a remarkable milestone!
Don’t delay, nominate your neighbors today and be a part of this terrific event. For more, visit our partners:
Statewide Historic Preservation Conference
The City of Blue Island helped sponsor this year’s Illinois Statewide Historic Preservation Conference, held June 2-4 at Lewis & Clark College near Alton, IL.
Old is Our New Green was the conference theme. The event kicked off with a screening of The Greenest Building, and director Jane Turville was on hand to introduce the film and take questions. The Greenest Building addresses the role historic buildings will play in our future and helps refocus “green” as a commitment to sustainability, which economic, social, and ecological dimensions. Keynote speakers included Jean Carroon, architect and author of Sustainable Preservation: Greening Existing Buildings and Walter Sedovic, who told the crowd “Historic buildings are green by nature. New buildings should be green with envy.”
Old is the new green means that not only are our “old” buildings now expected to complete a in a newly “green” world, but that they’re able to hold their own.
A Busy Spring for Historic Preservation!
New Landmark Property Plaques
Thanks to our Preserve America grant, Blue Island’s newest landmark properties will soon be recognized with plaques, along with several additional homes and properties that are long overdue for recognition.
New Historic Preservation Grant Award
The Community Development Department was also recently awarded a new grant from the Illinois Historic Preservation Agency to update its Landmark tour, so that each of these homes could be included. In addition to the walking tour brochure, the City plans on bringing preservation into the 21st century with podcasts and scanbars, turning your iPod or smart phone into a virtual tour guide.
Interested in seeing your own home become a landmark?
It’s not too late to get in our guidebook! Email Jason Berry or call 708-396-7146 or for more information.
Help us develop a Preservation Library
This spring the Community Development Department will be developing a preservation library with the help of volunteers from the Historic Preservation Commission as well as rewriting the historic preservation ordinance. If you were a member of the Historic Preservation Commission or Main Street and have items or documents you think are best saved in our archive, we’d love to talk to you! Email Historic Preservation to help.
