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By Sherry Thomas
PHOTOGRAPHY COURTESY OF PARK & OAK INTERIOR DESIGN
Built in 1923, this meticulously restored "sister house" in Wilmette is one of four North Shore residences that will be open for the Community House Woman's Board's sold-out Home Tour on May 17.
In 1923, renowned architect George Maher and his son, Philip, were commissioned to build a pair of connecting houses for two sisters on Chestnut Avenue in Wilmette. Helen Bichl and Dorothy Schager were the daughters of German immigrants Wendelin and Agnes Seng, who built a thriving furniture hardware business in the 1870s. Helen’s husband, Gerard, and Dorothy’s husband, Edward, both worked for the family business.
Together, the pair of palatial Italianate homes formed a family estate complete with a shared swimming pool, sunken gardens connected by a bridge, and a tennis court symmetrically located for each sister’s family. Those who are familiar with Stuart Cohen and Susan Benjamin’s 2004 tome North Shore Chicago: Houses of the Lakefront Suburbs, 1890-1940 may recognize one of those “sister houses” from the book’s cover—a home that today has been lovingly restored to its flapper-era splendor.
On May 17, that century-old gem will be one of four architecturally unique and aesthetically beautiful North Shore residences featured on the Community House Woman’s Board’s third annual Home Tour. Proceeds from the event, which includes a luncheon at the Community House, benefit Winnetka’s nonprofit Community House and its many programs.
“While I am very proud of all the homes we have had on the tour, this residence in particular is just outstanding,” says Kate Kligora, who is chairing the tour and luncheon. “It has been meticulously preserved back to its original grandeur and the former owners kept a number of historical touches, including the fountain in the sunroom—which was the height of fashion in the 1920s.”
Though the original pool is no longer there, the historic tennis court remains intact and a new pool and pool house has been added to complement the home. But according to Kligora, perhaps the most poignant part of the home’s story is how the couple who restored it chose the next family to be its steward.
“It was owned for quite a long time by the family who painstakingly preserved it and kept a lot of historical details,” she says. “They chose to sell the house to the couple next door because they knew they’d keep the history intact.”
That couple was Cassie and George Hartman, who recall having drinks with their neighbors on the home’s historic patio when they first moved in.
“We had a great time getting to know each other and got a small peek at their beautiful home. They had fantastic stories about the history of the mirror ‘sister houses’, the epic restoration project, and even Barack Obama giving a speech in their backyard,” says Cassie. “Less than a year later, we were on the verge of kicking off a major renovation of the house we had bought. The same neighbors invited us over one weekend and dropped some hints that they were considering selling.”
George adds that they told the couple that while they hoped they would stay, if they left, he and Cassie would be thrilled to purchase their home.
“They were a bit shocked that we were ready to pivot from our renovation plans, but liked the idea of passing stewardship of the home over to our family,” he says. “Coincidentally, our three kids were the same age that theirs were when they moved in over 20 years ago.”
One of the first things George and Cassie noticed about the property was the sunken garden.
“The shared arbor between the two homes looks over nearly three acres between the two properties. The open space resembles a park and sometimes people mistake it for one and unknowingly walk through our yard,” says Cassie.
“It is quiet and calm, and there is just a sense of peace from the moment you walk into the garden—even with a bunch of kids running around.”
Inside, the home’s character and unique historic features are just as impressive. The original fur vault is still tucked away in the hall. The vintage canvas fire hose remains intact on the second floor, along with the Deegan chimes for calling dinner (Downton Abbey style) and ice water taps in the bedrooms.
George, who has enjoyed digging into the home’s history at the Wilmette Historical Museum, continues to reveal previously unknown secrets from the past.
“Something that I found fascinating … and a bit eerie … was that the original family that constructed the home (the parents of the sisters) lived immediately next door while it was being built,” he explains. “That’s the very same home that we lived in for a year before moving next door into our current one. So, we’ve lived in two of their homes now, not just one!”
Catherine Wolf, a member of the Woman’s Board who is serving as house manager, says it is inspiring to see this landmark property being passed to a modern young family that values the importance of historic preservation. She has worked closely with the couple in preparation for the tour, along with the generous owners of the three other North Shore properties that lucky participants will get to walk through on May 17.
“We also have a unique new construction house in Glencoe, a grand 1934 Georgian in Winnetka, and another transformed 1990s build,” says Kligora. “That one is a great example of what you can do with creativity and vision in a smaller footprint.”
As an added bonus, this year’s tour offers the opportunity to meet the architect, designer, or builder behind the vision in each home. Kligora explains that the Woman’s Board began hosting the Home Tour in 2022 as an additional way to raise much-needed funds to keep programs strong and thriving at the Community House, a privately run nonprofit organization.
“Even though you can look at the Community House from a programming perspective and it can look a lot like a park district, it is actually an independent nonprofit organization that does not receive any support from local taxes,” she adds. “That’s why the Woman’s Board exists and why the Home Tour exists.”
Proceeds from the Home Tour supplement funds raised at the Antique & Modernism Show, a long-time favorite. Tickets to this year’s Home Tour are officially sold out but raffle tickets are still available for those who want to show their support.
As for the Hartmans, they are thrilled to be able to share their new home with the community and support the Community House’s fundraising efforts.
“The previous owner had put so much care into preserving the integrity of the house, and we are invested in doing the same as we live here,” says George. “We feel extremely fortunate that a few random events turned into us living here. This house has such an interesting story and we get to enjoy it and share it with our family and friends every day.”
The Community House Woman’s Board is grateful to the sponsors that made this year’s event possible, including Aaron Wealth Advisors; C & P Remodeling; Compass; Park & Oak Interior Design; M + M Interior Design; Mariani Landscape; Morgante Wilson Architects; Northern Fork Caterers; Scott Javore & Associates; Skyline Window Coverings; Terrazzo & Marble Supply Companies; Wintrust Mortgage; and Vivid Art Gallery. For more information, email [email protected].
