I’m fully aware this substack is supposed to be about the architecture of Chicagoland. But if there is such a thing as a Chicago “North,” then it would have to be the shores of Geneva Lake in Wisconsin. Once called the “Newport of the West,” Geneva was first connected to Chicago starting in 1856 with daily trains on the Wisconsin Central Railroad. It took off as a vacation spot for wealthy Chicagoans beginning in the 1870s with early travelers stepping right off the rail platform to boat docks. Dozens of elegant yachts and steamers would take families with names like Wacker, Selfridge, and Seipp directly to their lakeshore residences. While many of those old mansions disappeared along the shoreline through the decades, there are a handful that have survived. Villa Hortensia, a twenty plus acre property that came with over 500 feet of lake frontage, was one of them until its demolition in early March.
Not horrible waste at all. If it were cost effective to renovate the old home it would have been done. It was deemed uninhabitable and was infested with mold. The new owner has removed fixtures and items of historical significance and will be donating some of these to the historical museum. Everything has a use life, including houses.
Horrible waste of a beautiful, historic home. Very, very sad and, yes, I wholeheartedly agree that Lake Geneva needs to step up and pass laws to protect these prestigious, historic homes! Not to mention holding owners and contractors accountable for repurposing materials from homes that are demolished. Shame on Lake Geneva for not doing the right thing for historic homes and the environment!!!
I have just read about the demolish of the estate Villa Hortensia. What a waste. I grew up on that estate in the '40 & '50 and my dad was the foreman. At least the house I lived in is still there. At least I have some great memories living there. Judy Faber Vanderslice. My dads' name was Emil Faber
Not horrible waste at all. If it were cost effective to renovate the old home it would have been done. It was deemed uninhabitable and was infested with mold. The new owner has removed fixtures and items of historical significance and will be donating some of these to the historical museum. Everything has a use life, including houses.
Horrible waste of a beautiful, historic home. Very, very sad and, yes, I wholeheartedly agree that Lake Geneva needs to step up and pass laws to protect these prestigious, historic homes! Not to mention holding owners and contractors accountable for repurposing materials from homes that are demolished. Shame on Lake Geneva for not doing the right thing for historic homes and the environment!!!
I have just read about the demolish of the estate Villa Hortensia. What a waste. I grew up on that estate in the '40 & '50 and my dad was the foreman. At least the house I lived in is still there. At least I have some great memories living there. Judy Faber Vanderslice. My dads' name was Emil Faber