The Oak Park and River Forest Historical Society welcomes spring with its annual Housewalk “Tales Our Houses Tell,” which features five private homes in River Forest south of the Metra tracks.
House walk chair Linda Marcangelo said that this is the 20th year of the historical society housewalk, and the enduring tradition has been a favorite way for locals and visitors to learn more about the historic architecture and people in Oak Park and River Forest. This year’s theme is “South of the Tracks.”
Four of the houses are on Gale Avenue and one on Keystone. The homes were built between 1890 and 1910, and each has details that shine a light on the history of home building at the time.
An American Four-Square home on the walk also has some markers of the early Prairie Style. Marcangelo said the home has an expansive front porch with removable screens, which allow the space to become an expansion of the living room during the warmer months. When large oak trees on the property had to be cut down, the present owner made furniture for the house from the trees.
A Craftsman Style home was first owned by John Steen. He emigrated to the United States alone at the age of 13, and his family joined him 7 years later. Steen owned a varnish company that he sold to Sears, Roebuck and Co. when he retired. The house was listed for sale during the Depression for $8,500, and when it didn’t sell, the bank rented it out for $60 a month.
A rectilinear Queen Anne Style home has been restored by the current owners inside and out. They removed the stucco and recreated the exterior using a photo they found at the Historical Society. The present owners also built a new garage that matches the house. Marcangelo shares a fun fact that the first owner of the home installed a marble ice chest that could hold 800 pounds of ice.
A Shingle Style home was built in 1898. According to an article in the Oak Park Vindicator, it was built for two “lady” superintendents of Chicago Public Schools. The house was featured in the 2009 television series The Beast, starring Patrick Swayze.
The final home is a Queen Anne Style home that has been restored by the present owners. In 2018 their paint job of the exterior, which features dark blue siding and crisp white trim, won a Painted Lady Award. The home was owned by Amelia and Charles Gabriel in 1908. Charles was a noted composer and lyricist.
Although Historical Society volunteers are busy researching the homes’ pasts, they will be on hand inside and outside to share stories during the walk. Many of the homes have had a number of owners and were rented out during the Depression.
Marcangelo said that this year’s walk is very walkable and said that walk organizers wanted to make sure participants could make it to all five houses easily. “You can park once and just walk everywhere,” she said.
That closeness is reflective of the neighborhood itself. Marcangelo remarks, “All of the people seem to know each other here. It’s a community in itself.”
Before You Go
“Tales Our Houses Tell,” will take place Sunday, May 5 from 1 to 5 p.m.
Tickets are $30 each or $25 for members and may be purchased in the Historical Society’s online store or at Oak Park River Forest Museum, 129 Lake St., Oak Park, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday.
Tickets will cost $35 on the day of the walk at River Forest Community Center, 8020 Madison St., which will also be the site of ticket pick-up after 12:30 p.m. for advanced sales. Advanced ticket purchasers must come to the pick-up location to get their program book featuring a map with addresses, photos, and a history of each house.
There is a parking lot at the River Forest Community Center and street parking around each home. The walk is also located a few blocks south of the River Forest Metra station for those traveling on public transportation.
For questions, call 708-848-6755.
