Pleasant Home

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John Farson House
(U.S. National Historic Landmark)
The John Farson House from the rear.
The John Farson House from the rear.
Location: 217 Home Avenue, Oak Park, Cook County, Illinois
Coordinates: 41°53′7″N 87°48′2″W / 41.88528, -87.80056Coordinates: 41°53′7″N 87°48′2″W / 41.88528, -87.80056
Area: 4.7 acres[1]
Built/Founded: 1897
Architect: George W. Maher
Architectural style(s): Prairie style
Designated as NHL: June 19, 1996[2]
Added to NRHP: June 19, 1972
NRHP Reference#: 72000454
Governing body: Pleasant Home Foundation

Pleasant Home, also known as the John Farson House, is an historic home located in the Chicago suburb of Oak Park, Illinois, United States. The large, Prairie style mansion was designed by architect George Washington Maher and completed in 1897. The house was added to the U.S. National Register of Historic Places on June 19, 1972. Exactly 24 years later, in 1996, it was declared a National Historic Landmark by the United States Department of the Interior.[2][3]

Contents

[edit] History

Pleasant Home, historically known as the John Farson House, derives its common name from its location, at the intersection of Pleasant Street and Home Avenue in Oak Park.[4] It was built and designed by prominent Prairie School architect George W. Maher in 1897.[5] The house was constructed for John Farson, who lived in the house from 1897 until 1908. In 1908 the home's most recent private owner, Herbert S. Mills, bought the house and stayed there until he sold it to the Park District of Oak Park in 1939.[5]

Restoration began on the house in 1966 with a US$26,000 rewiring project.[5] In 1970, at a cost of more than $40,000, a number of tasks were completed in the restoration process. On the home's exterior, the fascia and soffit were rebuilt as needed and the roof was repaired as well. Also on the exterior, the wood surfaces were repainted. The repairs were conducted in a manner consistent with the original design and construction of the building.[5]

[edit] Significance

Pleasant Home is an important example of early Prairie style. The house is listed on the U.S. National Register of Historic Places; it was added on June 19, 1972.[6] In addition to the structure's individual listing on the National Register it was listed as a contributing property to the Ridgeland-Oak Park Historic District when the district was added to the National Register in 1983.[6][1] On June 19, 1996 Pleasant Home was declared a U.S. National Historic Landmark.[7] Two days prior to the National Historic Landmark designation the village of Oak Park's village board declared the John Farson house an Oak Park Landmark.[4] The Farson House is among the earliest of the Prairie style buildings. The house is considered the finest surviving example of Maher's work.[7]

[edit] Notes

  1. ^ a b "Pleasant Home," Property Information Report, HAARGIS Database, Illinois Historic Preservation Agency. Retrieved 27 May 2007
  2. ^ a b John Farson House. National Historic Landmark summary listing. National Park Service. Retrieved on 2007-10-09.
  3. ^ Kathleen Cummings (January 13, 1992), National Historic Landmark Nomination: John Farson House / Pleasant HomePDF (164 KiB), National Park Service . Accompanying 16 photos, exterior and interior, from c.1901-1905, c.1920 and 1972.PDF (3.27 MiB)
  4. ^ a b "Pleasant Home/John Farson House," Oak Park Landmark Nomination Form, HAARGIS Database, Illinois Historic Preservation Agency, pp. 12-31. Retrieved May 27, 2007.
  5. ^ a b c d "Pleasant Home," Illinois Historic Sites Survey, HAARGIS Database, Illinois Historic Preservation Agency, pp. 1-11. Retrieved May 27, 2007.
  6. ^ a b National Register Information System, National Register of Historic Places, National Park Service. Retrieved May 25, 2007.
  7. ^ a b "John Farson House," NHL Database, National Historic Landmarks Program. Retrieved May 27, 2007.

[edit] External links

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U.S. National Register of Historic Places
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