Today, 27 miles isn’t a great distance, but in the 1890s, it was far enough to take city-weary Chicagoans to places of rest and relaxation. For banker Oscar Foreman and his sisters and brothers-in-law (including Nathan Leopold, whose son notoriously committed murder with Richard Loeb in 1924), that place was then-tiny Highland Park, where they built a family compound overlooking a ravine. The last of their getaway homes still standing, at 390 Hazel Avenue, is now on the market, at just under $1.5 million.
Christened Wildwood, the little resort once comprised four Queen Anne–style houses plus another building that served as a dining hall and communal living space. The remaining five-bedroom, six-bath house dates from 1900 and was updated over the years. Two-story-tall Corinthian columns lend gravitas to the exterior, a vibe that continues inside, with amply spaced rooms appointed here and there with fireplaces and decorative millwork. The entry hall sports classic black-and-white marble. Hardwood runs throughout the rest of the house. Bay windows add depth.
The 14 chambers in this 5,000-plus-square-foot residence include capacious living and dining rooms, a family room, an office, and a large primary suite with a dual bath. Certain touches — rustic wood paneling in the finished basement, beadboard walls in a bathroom — evoke a simpler time, while the sizable laundry room and kitchen are utterly up to date.
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Set on just under an acre, the house features a broad patio at the entrance, a wraparound terrace on the second floor, and a dining gazebo off the living room. Highland Park may no longer be “the country,” but when you kick back here, those days don’t seem so far away.
Thomas Connors is a freelance writer for Chicago magazine.