Ragdale facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Ragdale
U.S. National Register of Historic Places
Ragdale
Location in Illinois Show map of Illinois Location in the United States Show map of the United States
Location	1230 N. Green Bay Rd., Lake Forest, Illinois
Area	33 acres (13 ha)
Built	1897
Architect	Howard Van Doren Shaw
Architectural style	Arts and Crafts
NRHP reference No.	76000717
Added to NRHP	June 3, 1976

Ragdale is a special place in Lake Forest, Illinois, United States. It used to be the summer home of a famous architect named Howard Van Doren Shaw. Today, it is home to the Ragdale Foundation. This foundation is a program where artists can come to live and work. Many different kinds of artists visit, like writers, musicians, poets, filmmakers, visual artists, and dancers.

The Historic Ragdale House

The main house and barn at Ragdale were built in 1897. They were designed by Howard Van Doren Shaw himself. He built them in a style called Arts and Crafts. This style focuses on simple designs and natural materials.

Shaw named his country home "Ragdale" after an old house in England. He liked the sound of the name. For him, Ragdale meant a place with meadows, woods, and old apple trees. He wanted the property to look natural and a bit wild, not perfectly neat. He liked the look of messy bushes and low tree branches. Even violets growing in the lawn were part of his plan. He wanted a relaxed, country feel for his home.

Ragdale, the historic home for artists.

The Ragdale Ring Outdoor Theater

In 1912, something new was added to Ragdale: the Ragdale Ring. This was an outdoor theater! Shaw's family and friends often put on plays here. They performed works by Frances Shaw for the people of Lake Forest. This happened a lot in the 1930s. Benches were put in so that over 200 people could watch the shows.

The Famous Bird Girl Sculpture

Ragdale is also where Sylvia Shaw Judson created her famous sculpture. Sylvia was Howard Shaw's daughter. She sculpted a piece called Bird Girl. You might have seen it on the cover of the popular book Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil.

In 1943, a special building called the Meadow Studio was built. It was placed on the open prairie. This studio was made for Sylvia to work on her sculptures. It was here that she created Bird Girl and other well-known pieces like Cats and Summer.

The Ragdale Foundation's Story

In 1976, Shaw's granddaughter, a poet named Alice Judson Hayes, started The Ragdale Foundation. It is a non-profit group. Its goal is to give artists a peaceful place to rest and create.

Alice Hayes was very thankful for the house and her family. She was also grateful to all the artists who came to Ragdale. They made the idea of the foundation real with their creativity. She also thanked everyone who helped the foundation work. She even thanked the house itself for its special feel and views.

At first, Alice Hayes ran the foundation mostly by herself. She took care of the gardens, cooked, and managed the buildings.

Growing the Foundation's Space

In 1980, the Ragdale Foundation got the Ragdale Barnhouse. This barn had been bought by another family years before. The foundation turned it into offices.

In 1986, Alice Hayes gave the buildings and 5 acres (20,000 m²) of land to the City of Lake Forest. She did this to make sure Ragdale would be protected. She also wanted to keep its natural beauty safe.

In 1991, another important building was added: the Friends' Studio. This new space gave choreographers, visual artists, musicians, and performance artists a place to work. It was also a great spot for art shows and performances because it had good lighting.

In 2006, the Ragdale Foundation celebrated its 30th birthday. Sadly, it was also the year Alice Judson Hayes passed away.

On April 9, 2008, the Meadow Studio was opened again. This was the same studio where Sylvia Shaw Judson had worked. The foundation worked with students from the Illinois Institute of Technology. They rebuilt the studio using its original design. They made sure the new building was good for the environment. The old roof had been damaged over the years. Luckily, the Ragdale Foundation found the money to rebuild it.

Notable Artists at Ragdale

Many talented artists have visited Ragdale. Here are some of them: