This island of beautiful homes was purposely built on wider lots to compete with the tonier mansions farther south and was meant to appeal to the burgeoning middle class at the turn of the century. Gradually the tennis courts disappeared from unpaved Wayne Street, and the cabbage farm at Glenwood and Catalpa gave way after 1905 to stately homes. In a brochure published in 1899, Cochran offered “some of the best examples of English Gothic, Colonial, Arts & Crafts, Classic Colonial, Queen Anne and French Renaissance of the transition period.”
Other common designs are American 4-Square, Prairie, and 2-flats of brick or stone construction.
Residents of Lakewood Balmoral would say that it’s an awesome place to live, with friendly neighbors, a strong neighborhood block club, wonderful parks and schools, and a convenient location between the beach and Red Line CTA stations just blocks to the east and Andersonville shops and restaurants a short walk to the west. The local public schools are top-rated Helen C. Peirce School of International Studies (K-8) and Nicholas Senn Achievement Academy (9-12). Together they offer seamless academic excellence through their coordinated K–12 IB program. This is the only K-12 IB program in the entire city! Excellent private schools are nearby as well, including Sacred Heart, Rogers Park Montessori, Lycée Francais, Waldorf School and St. Thomas of Canterbury. Within a mile, there are major grocery stores – Jewel, Mariano’s, and Whole Foods, as well as all the shops and restaurants in Andersonville. With new businesses moving in all the time, Clark and Broadway are exciting bookends for residents of Lakewood Balmoral. Historic data used with permission from the Edgewater Historical Society.
For more information about local history or Museum hours,
Preservation
Being named a Historic District is more than an honor. It’s a responsibility to keep alive the stories, the homes, and the history that make a place special. This is our challenge as stewards of one of the last intact neighborhoods in Chicago. Community support saved this iconic home from being torn down. Understanding all the options may save the next.
Historic Home Plaques
There are two steps to this process.
Step 1: Researching your building. Go to the Edgewater Historical Society’s web site at
Research your home | Edgewater Historical Society
Once on their site, you will see that you have two options to research your home. Edgewater Historical Society can research your home for a fee. If you choose this route and you are not already a member, you will need to become a member as low as $5.00. Or, you can research your own home. All details for both options are on this site. Once your home has been researched and you have the information for your plaque, the year your building was built and who the architect was, you are ready for step 2.
Step 2: Ordering your plaque. Go to Erie Landmark Company’s web site at
https://www.erielandmark.com/pricing-request/
Once on their site you will fill out the form and submit.
Fill out your name, street address, city, state, zip code, e-mail and phone number.
Customer Type: “Retail”Inscription: Lakewood Balmoral,
Year: Your building was built, and Architect.
Material: Bronze
Border: (leave blank)
Background Color: Black with Clear Lacquer Protective Coating.
Mounting: Your options will be Front or Rear.(1) Front mounting will have four holes, one in each corner in which you will screw from the front. You may screw into wood or masonry.(2) Rear mounting can be drilled into brick or masonry.
Dimensions: Width is 5”, Height is 7”
Font: (leave blank)
Once you submit your form, you will be sent a quote ($154.00) and final mock up for your approval. Once approved you may mail your payment or use a credit card by phone. Once your payment is received your plaque will go into production.
