DuPage estate lands preservation grant

Coal baron Francis Stuyvesant Peabody wanted to emulate the past when he built his Tudor-style mansion in Oak Brook back in 1919.

Frank Lloyd Wright wanted to create a revolutionary new style of architecture when he designed the Robie House in Chicago's Hyde Park neighborhood back in 1908.

Despite their differences, both architectural gems captured the attention of people voting in the Partners in Preservation program. The Robie House and Peabody Estate ended up garnering 6 percent of the popular vote in the contest sponsored by American Express, tying for fifth place.

As a result, the Robie House will receive $55,000 for restoration and the Peabody mansion, located in the Mayslake Forest Preserve, will get $80,000 from Partners in Preservation for rehabilitation of the solarium.

DuPage County Forest Preserve Education Director Dave Guritz said district leaders were ecstatic over the grant.

The estate requires about $12 million in exterior and interior repairs to bring it back to its glory days. The $80,000 will pay for replacing windows in the solarium, which are not original.

"We have all the architectural drawings so we'll be able to restore the windows to look like they would have at the estate," Guritz said.

The Peabody mansion was designed by Benjamin Marshall. His firm is responsible for Chicago landmarks such as the pink stucco Edgewater Beach Hotel and the Blackstone Hotel.