Standing at an easel Sunday afternoon with a paintbrush and palette of bright colors, Carl Wilson decided to capture plein air — the act of painting outdoors. It was the first of many good things to come for a historic home near 91st Street and Longwood Drive.
Wilson painted the scene as about 150 supporters came to the property for Pike House Fest, an event hosted by the Beverly Area Arts Alliance to raise funds for the restoration of the Eugene S. Pike House as an arts and cultural center.
Constructed in 1894, the building is at 1826 W. 91st St., in the Cook County Forest Preserves’ Dan Ryan Woods.
Wilson said supporting endeavors like the Pike House plan has become even more important at a time when the federal government is ending support for outlets such as PBS.
“There are still going to be grassroots efforts like this happening to support the arts,” said Wilson, a creative production manager from Chicago’s North Side who grew up in the Englewood neighborhood. “There isn’t as much in the way of arts centers for south siders. And when people have to travel by bus, it might as well be in another state. This is much needed.”
Besides live music, food and drink, the fest featured a pottery demonstration, an auction of donated art and other items, and opportunities to draw and create original art. Proceeds will be added to a $1.5 million state grant, according to Sal Campbell of the Beverly Area Arts Alliance.
Efforts led by the Ridge Historical Society and the Beverly Area Planning Association Historic Buildings Committee resulted in the Tudor Revival home being declared one of Illinois’ Most Endangered Historic Places by Landmarks Illinois in 2022.
The subsequent formation of the Eugene S. Pike House Foundation yielded a plan for rehabbing and turning the house over for use by the Beverly Area Arts Alliance as an arts and cultural center with artists-in-residence quarters.
The home’s original owner, Eugene S. Pike, was a prominent real estate developer and financier who helped rebuild the city after the Great Chicago Fire.
The Pike family inhabited the home for two generations and eventually expanded it to 3,000 square feet. They also owned surrounding acreage.
The Forest Preserves of Cook County purchased the property in 1921, and the house served as a watchman’s residence until 2015, then sat unused.
Notable Chicago architect Harry Hale Waterman designed the original building.
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“Waterman designed 40 to 50 iconic homes in the Beverly Morgan Park area,” said Ridge Historical Society secretary and board member Tim Blackburn.
Blackburn, who recently curated an exhibition about the architect, also is a board member of the Eugene S. Pike Foundation. He and local historian Carol Flynn, who researched the history of the house, are serving as historical consultants regarding the restoration.
“It may be a couple of years before we have our first exhibition,” said Campbell. “There’s a lot of work to do.”
A tarp covered the roof. A metal cap topping the distinctive one-story tower showed signs of rust, and gutters appeared to be missing. White vinyl windows added in recent years seemed to clash with the home’s formidable stone base.
“The inside needs to be demolished, but we intend to keep the building tasteful and as close as possible to its original design,” Campbell said.
Sticking to those design details may include installing casement windows with a simulated divided light diamond grille pattern and a new cedar shingle roof.
“In 1899, the house (with its cedar shingle roof) was featured in an ad for Cabot’s creosote stains,” Blackburn said.
The center’s opening may be a ways off, but programming development is already underway. The Beverly Area Arts Alliance is partnering with other area arts groups to survey Chicago and Cook County residents as to what they would like to see for programming.
“Most of the completed surveys came back from the surrounding neighborhood but we’ve also received surveys back from Washington Heights and elsewhere,” Campbell said. “We intend to serve the whole region.” Pike House is situated steps away from the Forest Preserves of Cook County’s Headquarters for the Calumet Region.
That constituency includes Andrea Natay, a veteran and social worker deeply invested in Englewood and who organized Englewood’s first 5K. She met Pike House Foundation board member Bill Halvorsen through running enthusiast groups. “I came because I saw this event on Bill’s Facebook page.”
“I invited all my Facebook friends from the Greater South Side,” Halvorson said. “People are here from all over.”
So far, programming suggestions have included opportunities for pop-up dining, health and wellness workshops that would include meditation and yoga, art classes, artist talks, architectural talks, art exhibitions and music events.
Guy Wolgamott, of Chicago’s Morgan Park neighborhood, didn’t share any programming preferences but said, “I know some people who are here today, and it’s just a nice day and I wanted to show support.”.
The fest drew at least one person from Will County. “I went to high school here in Beverly and figured I’d drive in,” said Felicia Fitzgerald, of New Lenox. “I love supporting the arts.”
Several children and adults spent the afternoon creating mini-wall hangings. Working with them was Sheikess Bey, a program coordinator for Envision Unlimited, a care organization serving people with intellectual and developmental disabilities as well as mental health challenges
“From the looks of it, this (center) is going to come out absolutely amazing,” Bey said. “I’m seeing a lot of support, and a lot of people empowering themselves with art.”
Susan DeGrane is a freelance reporter for the Daily Southtown.