House History

Went down to Prairie Ave Books on Wabash the other day and found a great piece written by Paul Sprague about the history of the Neighborhood. This house is known as a low cost "Cottage for Blount" it was designed as a 1 bedroom home with an unfinished upstairs that would be completed as you got the money. The developer (blount) lived not to far away in his own Griffin home and rented this property for 4 years before selling it to William Hornbacher. William had little to no interest in keeping this house original so in while the White Sox were throwing the world series in 1919 William was adding his own personal touches to the house.

• Built a family room on the back of the house (above)
• Added a dormer over the porch for a 3rd bedroom
• Finished the upstairs
• Enclosed the front porch
• Removed the "Griffin signature" fireplace
• Changed the original 1st bedroom on the main floor into a den
• Added a second dormer upstairs for a second bathroom

All of these changes were well intentioned and done with great quality. He just did not know what he was doing gave the house a lopsided appearance and lessened the praire style character of the house. Or perhaps he did know and was trying to lessen the style as times had changed and having a prairie style house in 1919 was like listening to all your favorite songs on 8-tracks.

Little to nothing was done to the house again until 1959 (the last time the Sox were in the world series) During this time the owner (hornbacher?) Did a little bit more to the house.

• Added wall outlets and 100 amp service
• Built a screen porch on the front of the house
• Expanded the garage
• Updated the kitchen with maple cabinets, plastic and metal tiles
• Updated the bathroom with plastic and metal tiles and added a peach colored toilet

The house would change hands in 1962, and then again in 2004 when I bought it. And according to schedule, the White Sox are well under way for world series appearances during the 2005, 2006, 2007 and 2008 repair and remodeling season.