April 22, 2005
The date for moving the Zook house from its original location, 327 S. Oak St., to its new one, Katherine Legge Memorial Park, 57th Street and County Line Road, is now scheduled for Tuesday, May 24.
The new date was requested by the Village of Hinsdale to avoid conflicts with activities and events scheduled at KLM, which is village-owned and managed.
The new date is welcomed by Com Ed, SBC, Comcast, the moving company, Dillabaugh, Inc., of Crown Point, IN, and others, who appreciate and can use the breathing room to make the move as safe, secure and successful as possible.
Thanks in this regard are also due the owner-builder of the Zook site, who has worked cooperatively with the Society on the relocation project from the beginning.
Joining the marvelous team of advisors and supporters for the Zook move is Harold B. Zook, the son of R. Harold Zook, and, like his father, an architect. Mr. Zook's keen memory and eye have helped as only a family member's could in identifying and confirming various features, uses and placements concerning the original house and grounds.
He remembers floating his toy sailboats in the reflecting pool in the backyard, the placement of lilies and other water plants in and about the pool, a flagstone terrace and walkway at the back of the house and much more.
This information will be especially helpful in recreating both the look and feel of the original house at its new location, which is doubly important in order to gain National Register of Historic Places status for moved buildings.
The big news at the Zook house site this week included the demolition of the large flat-roof addition at the rear of the house and the enclosed breezeway between the garage-studio and the house, revealing much of the original 1924 look of both buildings; two successful tests of the elaborate securing and lifting method to be used for moving the "many-tonned" backyard and driveway walls; and the beginning of the placement of large steel beams beneath the sections of the house to prepare it for lifting from its foundation.
We must note that the initial phase of the long-anticipated rehabilitation of the Society's historic Immanuel Hall, 302 S. Grant St., will begin the first week of May with restoration of the front steps to the way they appeared in the early-1920s after the building (a former church) was lifted to construct a full basement. The Hall, a classic frame building, is a local landmark and on the National Register. For more information, see hinsdalehistory.org.
Along with the Zook house and Immanuel Hall, the Society also owns the well-known and highly-acclaimed 1874 house Museum, at 15 S. Clay St., where it has its offices.
We're as amazed as anyone that a local historical organization could have the opportunities and good fortune that we do to own three remarkable historic buildings.
We thank our many friends and supporters, all the more in this, our 30th anniversary year.
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