Vine–Oakwood–Green Bay Road Historic District facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Vine–Oakwood–Green Bay Road Historic District
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Two houses (464 and 486 Oakwood Ave.) in the Vine–Oakwood–Green Bay Road Historic District.
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 Location in Illinois
Location in the United States
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| Location | Green Bay Rd., E. Vine and N. Oakwood Aves., Lake Forest, Illinois |
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| Area | 13 acres (5.3 ha) |
| Built | 1859 |
| Architect | Multiple |
| Architectural style | Late 19th And 20th Century Revivals, Late Victorian |
| NRHP reference No. | 80001381 |
| Added to NRHP | March 28, 1980 |
The Vine–Oakwood–Green Bay Road Historic District is a special neighborhood in Lake Forest, Illinois. It is a "historic district" because it has many old and important houses. This area includes about twenty homes on Oakwood Avenue, Vine Avenue, and Green Bay Road. These houses show us what homes looked like a long time ago.
Contents
What is the History of This Historic District?
How Did the Neighborhood Start?
The story of this district began in 1856. A man named Patrick Conlin built a house in this area. The next year, in 1857, the eastern part of Lake Forest was planned out. The Vine–Oakwood–Green Bay Road area was part of this early plan. It was set up in a simple grid pattern. This was west of the Chicago and North Western Railways tracks.
Who Lived Here in the Early Days?
Over time, eastern Lake Forest became a popular spot. Wealthy people from Chicago built large homes there. They liked the tree-lined streets. However, the Vine–Oakwood–Green Bay Road area was different. It was meant for people with more average incomes. This continued until at least the 1890s.
Later, in the 1910s, a business area grew nearby. This made the Vine–Oakwood–Green Bay Road neighborhood a great place to live. It was close to shops and services.
What Kinds of Houses Are in the District?
The houses in this district are usually not very big. Many of them are built in "historical revival styles." This means they look like older styles from history. One of the oldest houses in Lake Forest is here. It is an Italianate style house at 481 Oakwood Avenue. Joseph Barnett built it in the 1860s.
Many interesting people lived in these homes:
- Kate McLaughlin built a house in 1883. She became the Lake Forest postmistress in 1887. Her house was made bigger in 1919.
- High Smith, who took over from Kate, built his house in 1891.
- John J. McIntyre was an early settler. He built his house in 1884 after he retired.
- John Dean is thought to have built three houses in the district in the mid-1890s.
- Wallis Simpson once rented a house here. She later became the Duchess of Windsor. She lived at 494 Oakwood Avenue for about a year.
- Lars Nielson built a duplex (a house with two separate living units) in 1910. He lived in one part of it.
The most famous house for its design is the William E. Clow, Jr. House. It is at 461 North Green Bay Road. A famous architect named David Adler designed it in 1913.
Why Was It Made a Historic District?
The neighborhood was officially listed as a historic place on March 28, 1980. This was done by the National Park Service. People were worried that the nearby business area might expand. They wanted to protect the historic homes in this neighborhood. Making it a historic district helps keep these special houses safe for the future.
Images for kids
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461 Green Bay Road
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454 Oakwood Avenue
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455 Oakwood Avenue
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210 Vine Avenue
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295 Vine Avenue
