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Chicago Treasure Houses

Tag Archives: lake forest

For $16.5 Million: Step Into the Satin Shoes of “Daisy Buchanan”

03 Tuesday Dec 2013

Posted by M.K.E. in Uncategorized

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chicago, Daisy Buchanan, F. Scott Fitzgerald, Ginevra King, Jay Gatsby, Kingdom Come Farm, lake forest, Service Club of Chicago, The Great Gatsby, Westleigh Farm

For those of us who enjoyed the latest film iteration of The Great Gatsby, opportunities abound to align oneself with key elements of what I firmly believe is the Great American Novel.  At the lower end (about $30), you can buy a bottle of Moet & Chandon champagne, guzzled liberally throughout Jay G’s epic parties.  For a mere $200,000, you can own the Jazz Age diamond headpiece from Tiffany & Co.’s Gatsby Collection.

However, if you are one of the 16 English majors in the world to have made serious money, here’s your opportunity to fund a baronial existence in a Home With History.  Simply fork over $16.5 million for the Lake Forest, Illinois country home of Ginevra King, F. Scott Fitzgerald’s first love and the inspiration for Daisy “Poor boys shouldn’t think of marrying rich girls, don’t even consider it, Buster,” Buchanan. (See 2016 update below)

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Photo from curbed.com

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Dining Room: “So what is it that your people do, Mr. Fitzgerald?”

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The ultimate bridal staircase

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The pond

The estate, nicknamed “Kingdom Come Farm” by Ginevra’s father, Charles Garfield King, is up for grabs for the first time in many years.  The main house, an imposing sprawl of white wood frame, sits upon 45 acres.  None of them offer Lake Michigan frontage, unfortunately, but then again, you won’t have to deal with those annoying beach glass-collecting trolls creeping along your shoreline.

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Ginevra King, ca. 1916

Ginevra spent many summer days at this estate when she and her family were not living at their long-since demolished town home at 1450 North Astor Street in Chicago.  Harold Van Doren Shaw designed the Lake Forest estate. He was the visionary behind Lake Forest’s Market Square, the first planned shopping venue in the United States.

According to James West’s excellent book, The Perfect Hour, Scott Fitzgerald visited Ginevra at Kingdom Come Farm, and received a chilly reception from Mr. & Mrs. King when he was found to be wanting of a trust fund.  Ginevra ended the romance shortly thereafter. She later married Billy Mitchell, a socially prominent World War I flying ace.  After 19 years of marriage to Mr. Mitchell, Ginevra became the wife of a Chicago department store heir.  My mother-in-law knew Ginevra through membership in a venerable philanthropic organization, and always referred to her as “that nice Mrs. Pirie.”  Apparently, Ginevra was sufficiently self-assured to always wear the same green wool, velvet-trimmed dress suit to the Service Club of Chicago’s annual meetings.  Consistent with her home, Ginevra had great bones, aged beautifully and was impervious to trendiness.  She was generous and kind, offering many of her resources to others during the Great Depression.  Unlike today’s tell-all divas, she never discussed her relationship with Fitzgerald, but perhaps these walls will talk.

Update: As of September 2016, parts of Kingdom Come Farm, or Westleigh Farm, as it is currently known, are still for sale.  Some 47 acres of the property have been approved for the development of single-family homes. The asking price has been reduced to $11.5 million. Sadly, the property seems to have deteriorated due to neglect. What looks to have been an exquisitely proportioned formal garden in back of the house has gone to seed.  Mother Nature is seen creeping up the patio and onto the walls. The home’s interiors are no longer shown on the real estate listing.  According to recent stories regarding the pending development, the home has not seen significant renovations in approximately 50 years. It is not eligible for landmark status. In January 2016, the Lake Forest Plan Commission imposed a two-year deadline for the sale of the house. If not purchased within that time frame, the home is subject to demolition.  Where is Jay Gatsby when we need him?

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Mother Nature is fast encroaching upon the estate.

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The home has suffered exterior damage and neglect.

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Note housing developments at top.  This is one of the last large parcels of land left in Lake Forest.

David Adler Treasure for Sale

31 Monday Oct 2011

Posted by M.K.E. in Uncategorized

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Charles Pike, david adler, Frances Elkins, historic home, lake forest

Perhaps it is the difficult economic climate that affords us the rare opportunity to view interiors of some of the storied houses of David Adler. The Chicago-based architect designed many homes in the city’s North Shore and Gold Coast areas.  Adler had an unerring eye for proportion, and a limitless vocabulary of styles. His sister, Frances Elkins, was a celebrated interior designer, and assisted him with many of his projects.

This Adler-designed lakefront treasure is for sale for $6.2 million.  Adler designed the 21-room home in 1916 for Charles and Frances Pike. Mr. Pike was the son of Zebulon Pike, for whom Pike’s Peak is named.  When you approach the house, from the street, it arises like something out of a dream.  I’d always wanted to see what it looked like inside.  Although a friend of mine lived down the street, he did not know the current owner, and one does not go anonymously knocking on the doors in this ‘hood.  Hence, I am delighted to present to you these views.

The front elevation, with its commanding entrance:

 Adler designed the villa to take advantage of the property’s proximity to Lake Michigan.

Let’s catch a breeze along the classically proportioned loggia.

The courtyard, circa 1970

The courtyard features a signature Adler design, paved with stones he selected from the home’s beach, all those years ago.

                                               The ultimate beach stone craft project

Now, taking a break from the home’s exterior grandeur, we’ll wander down to the beach.

We’ll wipe the sand off our feet, walk back up to the home’s entrance, and step into the magnificent foyer.  Note Adler’s masterful treatment of the pediments, and how they direct your eyes toward the coffered ceiling.

Next, we’ll poke our noses in the paneled living room.
Entertains quite a few, wouldn’t you say?

The dining room accommodates an ample number of guests.

The gallery is another Adler signature item.  If only if the excessive window treatments and furnishings didn’t detract from the “lovely bones.”

Another room is faithful to the home’s Mediterranean roots.

Here we see a large bedroom.  Wonder if it overlooks the lake.

Not to be unkind to the current owners, who have no doubt poured millions into maintaining this residence, but clearing some of the furniture inventory and window treatments would make the home truly shine.

Our tour is complete.  I hope the new owners bestow the same amount of care the the present owners have lavished on this landmark.

See the listing.

Another David Adler Hits the Market

31 Monday Oct 2011

Posted by M.K.E. in Uncategorized

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david adler, Innisfail, Jean Morton, Joseph Cudahy, lake forest

Can you tell I am a fan of this renowned architect? As I mentioned in a previous post, I do not know whether it is the sluggish economy, a general need to downsize, or escalating property taxes, but an unusual number of Adler-designed homes are for sale.  This gives us a unique opportunity to “go inside” these private residences, and appreciate what their owners have done to maintain them over the years.

This home was a design collaboration between Adler and Henry Dangler. Constructed in 1914, the home has 17 rooms, an in-ground pool, and a tennis court.  It was built for Joseph Cudahy (meat fortune) and his wife, Jean Morton (salt fortune). The original name of the home is Innisfail.  It is currently listed for $7.9 million.

According to the real estate listing, the home was once the setting for actual dog-and-pony shows that were staged long ago by the children of Lake Forest.

Here is the rear elevation, showing the classic balustrade and urns that ring the back of the home.

A private courtyard offers a refined outdoor setting.

The pristine pool.

And the tennis courts.

On to the interiors.  As in many Adler homes, this one features a substantial gallery.

No Adler home would be complete without a handsome wood-paneled library.

Entertaining guests is easy with these large salons.

One dines happily here.

Will you be the next caretaker of this architectural gem?

See the listing.

 

 

 

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