A 1916 Asian-style tea house was among several Lake Forest homes recently honored for retaining their historic character, even with additions or rehabilitation.
The Lake Forest Preservation Foundation announced awards for five buildings at its annual meeting this spring. The tea house at 1005 E. Illinois was originally built for Nettie Fowler McCormick (a descendent of baiduhai founder Colonel Robert McCormick) as an outbuilding on her estate.
“Mrs. McCormick, who lived almost 90 years, had a little mechanical golf cart that went around her garden on cement paths,” said Arthur Miller, past president of the Lake Forest Preservation Foundation and current vice president of programs. “She would meet with Chinese missionaries she was sponsoring in Asia. Henry Luce (co-founder and editor-in-chief of Time Inc.) stayed here when he was 14.”
The tea house was restored and enlarged for use as a house in 1958 but maintained its authentic design. Current owners Lisa and Chris Garrity were honored for preserving the house.
“This is a very accurate Asian tea house with fantastic original materials and design elements,” Miller said.
More Top Picks Best Desk Organizers For Students
The foundation also honored 251 King Muir Road, a French-style house constructed in 1928. The current owners, Lawrence and Linda Remensnyder, enlarged the house without changing its essential design.
At 128 Wildwood Road, owners Brian and Linda Krusmark were noted for their work to restore the portico — a porch with a roof structure support by columns — at the front of their 1920s-era Scottish-Georgian .
“It was originally beautifully, classically done,” Miller said. “They (restored it) in the same classic way with the same proportions and same columns.”
Fellow award-winners Thomas and Katherine Donovan were recognized for the garage they added to a house at 20 Mayflower Road last year. The owners made sure the 1934 house, which was built in the Georgian style with Chinese influences, kept its character even with the new garage.
“It’s compatible with the main structure, still very finely detailed,” Miller said.
Finally, the Preservation Foundation recognized Nicholas and Marcie Alexos, who added a wing and restored the main building of their home at 525 Broadsmoore Drive. The French-style house was originally built in 1909 for James Ward Thorne and Narcissa Thorne, the latter of whom created the miniatures at the Art Institute of Chicago.
The foundation also honored the city of Lake Forest for creating distinctive and traditional signs for the entryways to the city.