BAPA Home Tour Features Architectural Gems In Historic Beverly-Morgan Park

CHICAGO–The Beverly Area Planning Association will present its renowned Beverly/Morgan Park Home Tour on Sunday, May 17, commemorating the 50th anniversary of the designation of the Ridge Historic District on the National Register of Historic Places. One of Chicago’s oldest and most anticipated annual tours of private homes is closely linked to the district's milestone that recognizes the distinctive architecture and deep-rooted history of Chicago’s Beverly/Morgan Park neighborhood.

BAPA’s recognition that the neighborhood’s architectural treasures are uniquely important and need to be stewarded led to the creation of the Home Tour in 1971. Through initiatives like the Home Tour, BAPA reinforces its mission to protect, restore and reimagine historic spaces as vital parts of modern community life.

“The Ridge Historic District tells the story of generations who have cherished and preserved the character of Beverly/Morgan Park,” Katie Durkin said chair of the home tour committee. “This year’s Home Tour celebrates the homes, craftsmanship and stories that have made the District a living museum of architectural diversity.”

In addition to the spotlight put on the 50th anniversary of the Ridge Historic District, the anniversary is being celebrated with a Chicago City Council Proclamation sponsored by 19th Ward Alderman Matt O’Shea. The Ridge Historic District banners will be installed along with the opening of a new exhibit dedicated to the Ridge Historic District at the Ridge Historical Society, 10621 S. Seeley Ave.

Showcasing Timeless Architecture and Neighborhood Charm

Four of the five featured homes on this year’s Home Tour are located within the Ridge Historic District, offering tour-goers a rare inside look at beautifully maintained residences spanning an assortment of architectural styles.

“Tour-goers will experience how preservation and thoughtful restoration continue to shape the District’s future, blending history with livability,” Durkin said.

The four houses located within the Ridge Historic District that are being showcased on the Beverly/Morgan Park Home Tour are:

A stately Prairie-style home built in 1909 and designed by the prolific and innovative architect Henry K. Holsman and situated on an acre of land atop the hill. The current residents are the third owners of this fabulous house where exceptional original design elements—down to the smallest details—have been carefully preserved. The house itself is the perfect canvas for a stunning collection of works by Chicago area artists done between 1890 and 1930 and exhibited throughout. Period antiques, lovely William Morris reproduction wallpapers, and craftsman stained glass windows are just a taste of this home’s feast for the eyes.

An exceptional American foursquare built in 1908 and designed with a Prairie style influence that is carried throughout the interior with beautifully crafted woodwork, windows, and architectural details. Improvements were made mindfully to protect this home’s original styling. This house is also part of Chicago’s Longwood Drive Historic District.

From the street, the Colonial Revival house, designed by Anders G. Lund, looks much the same as when it was built a century ago. Inside the house has been seamlessly remodeled and updated, including additions that—without sacrificing the home’s architectural integrity inside or out—enabled expansion of the kitchen, creation of a stunning family room with a heated floor and wall of glass doors that open into the backyard, and construction of a fabulous spa bathroom.

Robert Skilleter Smith, a local architect influenced by Frank Lloyd Wright when he was working on the Ridge, designed the Craftsman house to beautifully suit its natural forested landscape along winding streets of North Beverly. The homeowners love the strength and beauty of their historic home and spared no detail to retain the original 1913 construction, material, and styling. when making updates. The home is filled with eclectic works of art that add color and vivacity to each room.

Just outside the boundary of the Ridge Historic District is the Art Moderne house that is certainly worthy of historic attention. Built of brick and limestone in 1939, the house was designed by Kocher & Larson, architects known for their commercial and apartment buildings. The current residents view themselves as stewards; they are the only second owners in this home’s history, and worked with a designer to make updates that flow seamlessly and emphasize a choice to refresh rather than replace.

Event check-in and the first showcase on this year’s Home Tour is the Walter R. Barker House, located within the Mercy Home for Boys and Girls, Walsh Girls Campus, located at 11600 S. Longwood Drive. This impressive hilltop Tudor Revival house is located just steps outside the Ridge Historic District, but is an indelible part of local and Chicago history. Built in 1925-26 for a prominent local family, the house was designed by Harry Hale Waterman. It was later owned by Charles Walgreen Jr. of the drugstore chain before being donated to the Archdiocese of Chicago in 1948 for use as a retreat house for the Cenacle sisters. In 1987, it was repurposed as the girls campus of the Mercy Home for Boys and Girls.

At the houses, visitors will enjoy Home Tour hospitality, experiencing tastings from local businesses, decorating ideas, neighborhood history and more. All tours must start at The Mercy Home for Boys and Girls, where participants will receive their house admission materials and list of Beverly/Morgan Park Home Tour locations, which will be open from noon to 5 p.m., Sunday,

May 17. All tours must begin by 3 p.m., and featured locations are not within walking distance. Parking is available at the starting location on the west end of the building.

BAPA’s preservation efforts include partnering with the Ridge Historical Society (RHS) on the Historic Buildings Committee, which works to protect structures throughout the neighborhood as well as the historic districts and landmarks that contribute to the community’s visual and cultural identity. RHS will be open during the Home Tour, inviting visitors to learn more at a new exhibit about the Ridge Historic District.

Purchase Home Tour tickets online at BAPA Home Tour for $30 in advance or $35 at the door for BAPA members, or $35 in advance or $40 at the door for non-members. Information about BAPA’s Beverly/Morgan Park Home Tour is available at 773-233-3100, at BAPA Home Tour, and on social media.