Libertyville historic home tour features Broadway Street
The MainStreet Libertyville Design Committee will present the 9th Annual Historic Walking Tour from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, June 2.
This year's theme, "A Walk Down Broadway," differs from previous years in that it will focus on something new.
"For this year's tour, we have decided to change the direction of our event theme and will highlight an entire street of homes rather than just one particular style of home," said Al Scott, co-chair of the design committee.
"Our goal is to encapsulate each decade from 1890 to present, taking a trip down memory lane - providing a historic timeline of the homes on the street,"
Tara Quinn, the other co-chair, said historic preservation is an important part of maintaining and enhancing the community.
"Our committee and homeowners are very excited to highlight an entire street, showcasing varying home types as well as some wonderful interiors and gardens," she said.
Among them is John and Julia Randolph's catalog kit home at 304 Broadway St. Built in 1920, the kit - offered for sale from 1916 to 1932 - was developed by the Gordon Van-Tine Company, based in Davenport, Iowa.
The original owners of this house were James and Margaret Mack. James Mack was born in McHenry County in 1863 and moved to Libertyville in 1901. He worked for 15 years for Samuel Insull on the Hawthorn Farm as a carpenter and builder and served as Libertyville Township supervisor from 1933 to 1941.
Mack moved in 1948 and the house was remodeled, which is when the porch may have been enclosed. The first floor living room and dining room have the original 1920 wood flooring, and the original front door between the coat room and the front hallway remains.
The Randolphs enjoy the uniqueness of their home, the oak woodwork and trim, curvy upstairs walls in the hallway, high ceilings on the first floor, built-in china cabinet and cedar closet.
This unique tour focuses on Libertyville's distinctive character and its residents, and it highlights the town's movement and contribution to historic preservation. There also will be vintage cars (25 years and older) parked on the street during the house walk.
Residents are the key to the success of the Historic House Tour, participants said.
"People who came through our home were genuinely interested in the history of the house. It was great to talk with longtime residents like us, who had a connection to or a story about our home," said Nan Grupe, a Libertyville resident who participated in the house walk last year.
One of the unique elements of Libertyville's annual house walk are the interior home tours, which can raise awareness of the importance of historic preservation and renovation.
Tour booklets describing the history or style of the houses and directions to the various properties will be distributed for a $10 donation to MainStreet Libertyville at Cook Park, Milwaukee Avenue and Cook Avenue.
The design committee will conduct a trivia contest for the tour participants to complete and return to Buss Flower Shop, where the winner will receive a $50 bouquet of flowers.
Sponsors for this event are The Tranel Financial Group, Great Lakes Credit Union, Allstate/Phoenix Insurance and Financial Services and Make It Better magazine.