Property transfers p. B11
November 13, 2019
Homes
Powered by the Oak Park Area Association of Realtors
New Oak Park landmark approved
Kenilworth Avenue house has two significant architectural connections By LACEY SIKORA
O
Contributing Reporter
n Nov. 4, the Oak Park Village Board of Trustees approved landmark status for the Robbins-Chapman House at 408 N. Kenilworth Ave., acting on the recommendation of the Historic Preservation Commission, which approved the application in October. Myrtle and George Mason have lived in their home on Kenilworth Avenue for 50 years, and while they loved the stucco structure in Oak Park’s Frank Lloyd Wright Historic District, they didn’t delve into its history when they first moved in. The two transplants from Jamaica were busy raising three children, working and serving the community through their time on local school boards and with the Frank Lloyd Wright Trust. Now, in their retirement, the two were prompted to look into the provenance of their home by a young visitor. “My cousin and her 9 year old were visiting from Florida,” Myrtle said. “Rohan was curious about our house -- he loves Frank Lloyd Wright -and I had no idea what to tell him about it.” Neighbors had suggested the house might have been a Tallmadge and Watson design, but the Masons wanted to know more. They called the village and spoke to Doug Kaarre, who at the time was on staff as an urban planner. He gave them a packet on historic homes that included the names of experts willing to help research. They were immediately drawn to Oak Park architect Jack Lesniak. “We’d met before as he volunteers with the Frank Lloyd Wright Trust, and George was on the See LANDMARK on page B7
ALEX ROGALS/Staff Photographer
ISN’T THAT SPECIAL? The Oak Park Village Board recently voted to designate the home at 408 N. Kenilworth Ave. at a local landmark. Built in 1890, it was expanded and extensively remodeled by Tallmadge and Watson around 1910.
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November 13, 2019 ■ Wednesday Journal/Forest Park Review
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