As members of the Hinsdale Historical Society capped a year in which they celebrated the organization’s 50th anniversary, they received some good news in the form of a grant from Landmarks Illinois, which will help their efforts to preserve the R. Harold Zook Home and Studio.
“The society’s board of trustees is immensely grateful to Landmarks Illinois for its continued support of the society’s preservation work and for its countless preservation advocacy work not just here in Hinsdale but throughout Illinois,” said Alexis Braden, historical society president.
The grant, awarded in December, was for $2,500 from the Barbara C. and Thomas E. Donnelley II Preservation Fund for Illinois, which provides money “to preserve or protect significant structures and sites in Illinois that are under threat of demolition, in imminent deterioration, in need of stabilization, in need of structural or reuse evaluation or in need of evaluation for landmark eligibility,” according to Landmarks Illinois.
The money will be used to help the society’s efforts to get a National Register of Historic Places nomination and a building assessment of the home and studio of Zook, a renowned Chicago architect who lived in Hinsdale from 1889 to 1949 and was a force behind many notable structures there.
“R. Harold Zook is to Hinsdale what Frank Lloyd Wright is to Oak Park. Zook designed 80 homes and 12 municipal and commercial structures in Hinsdale alone during his time as an architect, and all are architecturally significant,” Braden said, calling him “one of the most prolific residential architects in the western suburbs.”
He also contributed to the village as a member of the Architectural Committee of the Hinsdale Plan Commission from 1932-49 and was “responsible for the village master plan in 1932 — adopting the Georgian style for our municipal and commercial buildings,” Braden said.
Zook also designed the Pickwick Theatre in Park Ridge and St. Charles City Hall, and in 1924 finished his home and studio on Oak Street in Hinsdale, she said.
That campus, now ensconced in Hinsdale’s Katherine Legge Memorial Park, consists of “a signature English Cotswold cottage-style residence, his architecture studio and a garden wall,” she said.
Suzanne Germann, director of reinvestment for Landmarks Illinois, said Zook had a very distinct style.
“It’s often called whimsical. It’s an English cottage style — textured masonry, roofs are very characteristic of him, bringing nature into his design,” she explained. “But he’s also influenced a lot of architects coming up after him, in Hinsdale specifically, and what’s been designed there as a nod to his work and the influence he’s had as a community. This was his home — he designed it for himself.”
Germann called the money a “seed grant” because of its small size. But it could lead to more resources down the road.
“Putting a building on the National Register puts them in a place to leverage other funding,” she said. “It also will help to spell out needs and wants, so when they go to other funders, they’ll have that in their pocket.”
A building assessment looks at overall condition and will help the historical society prioritize what needs to happen right away and in three years, she said, as the historical society wants to adapt the building so it can be turned into a community gathering house.
“I don’t know their plan specifically, but reusing the building and allowing them to reuse the interior, we always want to see that,” Germann said. “We want to see historic buildings in use and this is bringing the community in. It’s not for one owner. They are really trying to use it for community space. The best way to preserve (buildings) is to use them.”
The grant is just one way the historical society is raising money for the property. It’s already officially begun its Zook Legacy Campaign, a multimillion-dollar fundraising initiative hoped to enable them to transform the Zook Home and Studio into the “Zook Commons, a vibrant community gathering place with a museum, cafe and numerous multipurpose areas at Katherine Legge Memorial Park,” Braden said.
“It will be a place where neighbors connect and groups can gather and learn. Zook Commons will serve Hinsdale neighbors and all patrons. We are fortunate to have nationally recognized and award-winning architect Michael Abraham as a society trustee. He is utilizing his immense talents to reimagine the interior spaces to transform the home for its many public uses.”
The society envisions public events featuring speakers and workshops that focus on wellness and community for people of all ages.
“Programming will cater to outdoor and recreation enthusiasts, writers, artists and even animal lovers — especially dog lovers,” Braden said. “Our patrons will also be able to gather in the cafe, where they can purchase premade pastries, sandwiches and coffee/teas while enjoying a warm atmosphere. The cafe will be dog-friendly with treats to welcome the park’s many four-legged friends.”
This isn’t the first time the historical society has earned a grant from the nonprofit organization. Back in 2005, the Zook Home and Studio was placed on Landmarks Illinois’ “Ten Most Endangered Historic Places List,” and after the structures were moved to the park, it received the Richard H. Driehaus Foundation Preservation Award for Advocacy, said Katie Crotty, historical society treasurer.
Moving the building to its home at Katherine Legge Memorial Park was a huge project. “During the move, the society was fortunate to see so many volunteers, architects and buildings come together to make this project a reality. We could not have done this without the significant donations from members of the community as well,” Crotty said.
“However, with 20 years down, the Zook Home and Studio is in dire need of updates or we fear they will be forever lost,” she added. “Over the past two decades, the society has worked tirelessly to maintain the buildings and to protect them from the elements. Even though the buildings have served as a mainstay and an exterior backdrop for countless photography shoots and picnics, the Hinsdale Historical Society’s goal is to open its doors and welcome people inside.”
Germann said Landmarks Illinois’ previous interaction with the historical society helped its grant application stand out.
“The Hinsdale Historical Society has been around for a long time and is a successful organization. I’ve been with Landmarks Illinois since 2004, so I remember Zook House and how much work the historical society did 20 years ago to save it,” she said. “They are still coming back to it 20 years later. As a historical society as a whole, they are very active in their community in telling their story, being involved and supporting historic buildings in their community, so overall it’s a successful organization.”
It’s the overall story of the group, which was founded in 1975 and now has nearly 200 members, along with their efforts 20 years ago that led to the grant.
“When a developer wanted to demolish it, the society and city stepped in to save it,” Germann said. “I called them the trifecta. They received a grant to film the move of the house and they won an award for advocacy, so they went through all our programs and achieved it all. They went through successfully and quickly, so that’s why I remember it. They were very involved.”
All Landmarks Illinois grants require a match and “buy-in” from the recipients. “Our grants are small — our heritage fund only gives up to $5,000 — so coming up with a $5 million project is hard for us” to help with, Germann said, so having an itemized budget is helpful.
As an example, she said Unity Temple in Oak Park underwent a $10 million or $15 million rehab, and her organization provided a grant to restore the sanctuary’s lighting — a $10,000 project. “Our board members were able to point to those light fixtures and say, ‘We did that.’”
The historical society’s multiyear Zook fundraising campaign is off to a good start, but they’re looking for more donors. “Every dollar counts,” Braden said.
But, she said, the society’s 50th anniversary boosted their confidence in the support of their neighbors. Braden called it “a testament that the community recognizes our work as a nonprofit to bring history to life.”
Melinda Moore is a freelance reporter for Pioneer Press.
Melinda Moore
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