Orland P. Bassett House facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
|
|
Orland P. Bassett House
|
|
|
U.S. Historic district
Contributing property |
|
 |
|
 Location in Illinois
Location in the United States
|
|
| Location | 329 E. Sixth St., Hinsdale, Illinois, U.S. |
|---|---|
| Built | 1899 |
| Architectural style | Colonial Revival |
| NRHP reference No. | 04001299 |
| Added to NRHP | December 7, 2004 |
The Orland P. Bassett House is a special old home in Hinsdale, Illinois. People also call it the "American Beauty" House. It is built in a style called Colonial Revival, which looks like older American homes. This house is important because of its history and its connection to a famous rose.
Contents
A House with a History
The Orland P. Bassett House was built in 1899. A small building for carriages was also built at the same time.
Who Was Orland P. Bassett?
Orland P. Bassett started his career as a printer. In 1874, he moved to Chicago to manage a company called Pictorial Printing. He and his wife moved to Hinsdale in 1887.
The Famous Rose
In Hinsdale, Mr. Bassett started growing roses as a hobby. In 1888, he created a new type of rose in his greenhouse. He named this beautiful new flower the American Beauty rose.
Mr. Bassett then started a company called Bassett & Washburn. This company was the first to sell the American Beauty rose to others. Selling flowers was a new business back then. People in America were just starting to have extra money to spend on things like flowers.
One of their biggest customers was the Chicago, Burlington and Quincy Railroad. This railroad bought the roses to decorate their dining cars. In 1900, Bassett & Washburn was the biggest employer in Hinsdale.
Later Years of the House
Orland P. Bassett retired in 1907. He gave his business to his son-in-law. In 1910, Mr. Bassett moved to Pasadena, California.
His grandson, Edgar Washburn, lived in the house until 1913. Then, the house was sold to Robert Gordon. Mr. Gordon was the treasurer for the Quaker Oats company. The house was updated in 1942.
What the House Looks Like
Mr. Bassett bought the land for his house in late 1898. He hired a builder named Ole Anderson to construct it. The house cost $25,000 to build, which was a lot of money back then!
Design and Style
We don't know who the original architect was. Even though the building plans still exist, they don't say who drew them. People in the area nicknamed the house the "American Beauty" House. This was because of Mr. Bassett's famous rose business. The house was finished in December 1899.
The house is mostly built in the Colonial Revival style. This style often includes features like columns and balanced designs, similar to homes from early American times. It also has some parts of the Queen Anne Style. This style often features decorative details and different textures.
Special Features
The third floor of the house has a large ballroom. The Bassett family used this room to host dancing parties. Imagine having a big party room in your house!
