The book on Lake Forest: The graceful mansions and historic buildings that give Lake Forest its unique character are profiled in a new booklet published by the Lake Forest Foundation for Historic Preservation. The most difficult part of preparing the book may have been choosing which of the city`s homes and buildings to include.
Planners decided to focus on 83 properties, all of which are either included in the city`s two historic districts or are listed individually on the National Register of Historic Places. The book was two years in the making, noted foundation president Linda Shields.
”Preservationists are funny people. We collect books from all over. We looked at a lot of others, both for content and style, so we had a pretty good idea of what we wanted to do,” Shields said.
The book also is a primer on Chicago area history, because many of the city`s wealthy movers and shakers-the McCormicks, the Armours and the Schweppes, to name a few-built their homes in the well-to-do suburb.
The work of some of the most prominent architects of the time, most notably and most prolifically Howard Van Doren Shaw, also is represented.
One of the most interesting, and most impressive, properties profiled is the old Schweppe estate. The enormous lakefront mansion sat vacant for 40 years until new owners bought and restored it in the mid-1980s. Photographs for the book came from foundation archives, private citizens and the collection of Jean Grost, whose parents, Ward and Mary McMasters, were Lake Forest`s ”official” photographers for many years.
All of the research and writing was done by foundation volunteers, many of whom also have professional expertise in architecture and historic preservation, Shields said.
The book, priced at $12, is available at Helander`s, the Lake Forest Book Store and the Gorton Community Center, all in Lake Forest. Proceeds from the book`s sale will be used to finance local preservation projects.