IL0897

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Historic American Buildings Survey/Historic American Engineering Record/Historic American Landscapes Survey

10 drawings
1 data pages

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TITLE:
John Farson House, 217 South Home Avenue, Oak Park, Cook County, IL

CALL NUMBER:
HABS ILL,16-OAKPA,6-

REPRODUCTION NUMBER:
[See Call Number]

MEDIUM:
Measured Drawing(s): 10 (24 x 36 in.)

DATE:
Documentation compiled after 1933.

CREATOR:
Historic American Buildings Survey, creator

NOTE:
Survey number HABS IL-1210

Unprocessed field note material exists for this structure (N603).

Building/structure dates: 1897 initial construction

National Register Number: 72000454

0.2001

Significance: The John Farson house, known as Pleasant Home, was designed by George W. Maher (1864-1926) and is on of the earliest examples of a Prairie School residence. Situated in Oak Park, Illinois, it was commissioned in 1897, by John Farson, a locally prominent banker. The house exhibits typical Prairie School stylistic elements including the use of Roman brick, low-pitched hipped roofs punctuated by tall vertical chimneys, simple rectangular window frames and a wide entrance. These features lend an overall horizontal emphasis to the building. The elements are allied with Maher's highly personal motif-rhythm theory to make a unique combination. The hand craftsmanship, simplicity and the natural forms of the Arts and Crafts Movement are brought together with the classical details and geometric patterns. Maher drew design inspiration from the personality of the owner and surrounding environment. His motif-rhythm in the house uses symbols like the American honeysuckle, the lion head, geometric patterns of alternating circles and squares, and especially on elongated shield or badge, to unify architectural exterior details executed in stone and wood with ornamental wood carving, art glass and plaster details inside the house...

SUBJECTS:
ILLINOIS--Cook County--Oak Park
brick buildings
houses
domestic life

OTHER TITLE:
Pleasant Home

COLLECTION:
Historic American Buildings Survey (Library of Congress)

REPOSITORY:
Library of Congress, Prints and Photograph Division, Washington, D.C. 20540 USA

DIGID:
http://hdl.loc.gov/loc.pnp/hhh.il0897

CONTROL #:
IL0897

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