1. 15 South Clay (1874 Italianate) - The starting point for the Bike Tour is the Historical Society's Museum
House. In 1981, it was donated by School District 181 and moved from the 200 block of South Lincoln
(the Middle School athletic field). Visit the museum on Wednesdays, between 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. (Use side door).
South on Clay, right on Chestnut to Madison.
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2. 46 South Madison (1872) - The Park Hotel was located northwest of the tracks at Washington
where the commuter parking lot is now. After it closed in 1911, the hotel was cut in two sections. This is the
left section of the former hotel. The right section was relocated to 549 North York Road where it remains today
(not on tour). North on Madison to Maple, right on Maple.
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3. 11 West Maple (The Unitarian Church) - In 1870, resident Oliver Stough donated this site for a small wood
frame church that subsequently burned. In 1888, it was rebuilt in this heavy masonry style.
Next home on opposing corner.
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4. 103 North Washington (1904) - Frank Lloyd Wright originally participated in the drawings for this structure
but the design was modified prior to construction. Hinsdale has only one Wright designed home (121 South County
Line Road, circa 1894, not on tour).
North on Washington.
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5. 133 North Washington (1870) - Locally referred to as the "Tiffany House," this home was renovated in 1998.
Judge Joel Tiffany and family lived here for 11 years. As first president of the village, it is said he addressed residents
gathered in his rose garden from a south side porch.
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6. 206 North Washington (1890) - Built for Herman Fox, one of Hinsdale's early merchants, this Queen Anne has a turret that runs from the attic to the basement. Inside are a true butler's pantry and dumb waiter.
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7. 304 North Washington (1875) - George Talmadge, an early village trustee, built this Victorian and lived here
until 1890. Walter Hawtin, one of the founders of the Hinsdale Golf Club, next took up residency here.
Continue north on Washington to Ayres.
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8. 7 West Ayres (1866) - An early developer of Hinsdale, Anson Ayres, bought this property and many
acres from the original homesteader, Marvin Fox. In 1914, the Regnery family of publishing fame purchased the
home.
West on Ayres to Grant, then South.
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9. 306 North Grant (1867) - Oliver Stough, a prominent early developer of Hinsdale, built this home
for himself (smaller at the time) originally at 122 North Grant where it sat on 12 acres. He moved it to this
location in 1885.
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10. 122 North Grant (1886) - D.K. Pearsons made a fortune selling land for the Illinois Central Railroad.
In his will, Dr. Pearsons gave his home to the Village of Hinsdale as a possible site for its library.
The trustees wanted a more central location and sold the property.
Left on Maple. Left on Lincoln.
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11. 119 North Lincoln (1866) - Oliver Stough built this house as a rental property. In 1869, he sold it to
David Perry, who worked for him as a real estate salesman. Mr. Perry became the village president in 1882.
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12. 137 North Lincoln (1868) - Known locally as the "old Stough farmhouse," it was later owned by the
Symonds family. Nathaniel Symonds was a president of the village. However, the first owner was Issac Bush.
He is credited with naming the town "Hinsdale" after the town in New York where he was born.
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13. 134 North Lincoln (1893) - Built for the President of the American Terra Cotta Co., almost every part of the
exterior is made of the material. Local myth has it that the building was transported in pieces from the 1893 Columbian
Exposition, but this has been proven false.
Right on Walnut. Cross Garfield to Walnut and Elm.
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14. and 15. 207 and 209 North Elm (1876) -According to the current owner, this house was split into two
sections in 1938, one section being moved to the corner of Elm and Walnut. The property was subdivided to
raise funds during the Depression years.
South on Elm towards the fire station.
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16 and 17. 217-225 East Symonds - Before crossing the railroad tracks at Park, be sure to inspect the
water well drilled in 1924 and the horse-drawn fire truck displayed in public works buildings along Symonds.
At Park, cross tracks. East on Chicago.
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18. 222 East Chicago (1867) - It is said that in 1871 many villagers gathered on this porch to view the
Great Chicago Fire as this was the highest location in town. The foundation walls of this wonderfully maintained
Victorian are 30-inches thick.
Right on Elm to southeast corner of First and Elm.
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19. 306 East First (1890 Romanesque) - This house was one of the first in the village to be electrified.
It is said a man was hired for a party whose only job was to watch the fuse box.
This was a location in the movie, "Backdraft."
East to northwest corner of First and Orchard.
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20. 317 East First (1888) - Paul Butler, the founder of Oak Brook, was born in this house in 1892.
His parents, Frank and Fannie, briefly owned the home before selling it to Frank's parents, the Julius Butlers.
They lived here until 1923. Frank donated the chimes in the bell tower of Union Church in memory of his father, Julius.
Right on Oak to Third.
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21. 348 East Third - This home was built for the Eugene Kettering family. Eugene's father was Charles Kettering,
the founder of Electromotive and the inventor of the electric ignition starter for automobiles. Mrs. Kettering was a
strong fundraiser for the Hinsdale Hospital, her interest being heightened by the polio epidemic.
Enjoy the seasonal plantings!
Left on Oak to northeast corner of Oak and Fourth.
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22. 327 South Oak (1924) - Architect R. Harold Zook designed this home for his own family, who lived here
until 1949. Zook's love of privacy caused him to design the interior with no room directly above or below another
room. His signature "spider-web window" is in the studio apartment, which is not visible.
West on Fourth, second block, south side.
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23. 202 East Fourth (1886 Queen Anne) - This magnificent Victorian is locally referred to as the Nabisco
House as the man who rented it at the turn of the century was president of the National Biscuit Co.
Right on Park, corner of Park and Fourth.
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24. 333 South Park - A daughter of village founder William Robbins, Belle Knight, lived here.
Belle's granddaughter recalled a carriage house with four to five horses and several wooden carriages,
one being a surrey with fringe on the top, another closed carriage for night travel and a lightweight buggy
for day trips.
Continue north on Park.
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25. 134 South Park - This is the third home built on this lot, the first two having burnt to the ground.
Picture-perfect, the screened-in porch was used as the Garden Society's meeting location in the
movie, "Dennis the Menace," with Walter Mathau. The front of the house was used in a television commercial for
Jewel Foods.
Next home, southwest corner of Park and First.
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26. 142 East First (1869 Italianate) - Known as the Hallmark House because the Hallmark Card Co.
filmed a commercial here, this Victorian is one of two in the village listed on the National Register of Historic
Places (the other is at 318 South Garfield). In 1875, the owner, William Whitney, deeded the west lot to his
daughter and son-in-law. The house they built is currently being used as the rectory for the Grace Episcopal Church.
East on First.
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27. 230 East First (1898 Colonial Georgian Revival) - Paper magnate Frank Butler bought this property,
tore down an existing house and built this stately residence. It stayed in the Butler family for 28 years. In 1903,
Frank was the president of the Hinsdale Golf Club. His son, Paul, founder of the Village of Oak Brook,
was raised here.
Right on Elm to Seventh, East.
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28. 324 East Seventh - This was originally a boiler building for the Bassett and Washburn Greenhouses
that covered the block. The business was the first to produce the American Beauty Rose for the commercial market.
The building was converted into a home in 1927.
Left on Oak to Sixth, right on Sixth, north side.
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29. 425 East Sixth ("Woodside") - William Robbins, the "Father of Hinsdale," built this home in the early
1860's. In 1865, he laid out the original town and was responsible for planting most of the shade trees in
the southeast section of the village. The home originally faced Woodside Drive, hence the street name.
The Duke of Windsor is said to have been entertained here.
Turn around, and take Sixth west.
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30. 329 East Sixth (1899) - This grand home was built by Orland Bassett at a cost of $25,000.
There is a third floor ballroom and a billiard room in the basement.
The Bassett and Washburn families, both of Hinsdale, founded a large and prosperous commercial
floral business in town.
Right on Park. Left on Fifth.
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31. 120 East Fifth (Early 1860's) - "Tall Trees" is one of the oldest homes in Hinsdale.
Village founder William Robbins lived temporarily on this site while contemplating his new town.
Cross Garfield to northwest corner of Garfield and Fifth.
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32. 33 East Fifth (1867 Queen Anne) - The owner at the turn of the century, Charles Crosette, is
credited as being the first subscriber to the fledgling newspaper, The Doings. A later owner, Burridge Butler,
was an American success story. He worked his way up from a cub reporter to owning 15 newspapers as
well as the WLS radio station. The present owners have restored the home.
Right on Washington.
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33. 402 South Washington (1869) - A notable owner was Linus Ruth who lived here from 1891 to 1940.
Mr. Ruth was village attorney in 1890 and became a county judge in 1902. A son, Linus Ruth, Jr., was killed in
France during WWI. Ruth Lake and Ruth Lake Country Club are named in his honor. At one time, the house
had an entrance on what is now the second floor.
Continue to southeast corner of Washington and Third.
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34. 8 East Third (1889 Queen Anne) - This mansion was built by George Robbins, son of Hinsdale's founder.
Later, Stuyvesant Peabody, president of Peabody Coal Co., owned this home until he moved to Oak Brook (Mayslake).
Alexander Legge, another owner, was president of International Harvester, and received President Herbert Hoover
and Henry Ford here.
West on Third to Grant. Use road, no curb cuts.
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35. 302 South Grant (1900) - 'I'he former Immanuel Evangelical and Reformed Church is now known as
Immanuel Hall, "Hinsdale's first historic landmark." The church received its charter in 1898 with seven
German families as its founding members. Note the simple Gothic style and the stained glass windows.
The Hinsdale Historical Society played a crucial role in saving the church from demolition in 1999.
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Congratulations! You have completed the Hinsdale Historical Society Bike Tour. We hope the ride was fun,
interesting and informative. Many other houses could have been on this tour, and likely will be added in future
versions. If you are not already a member of the Society, please consider joining. Call 630-789-2600 for more
information. Your comments on this tour or other Society programs and activities are welcome. Thank you!
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