Current
Capital Improvement Projects
Pleasant Home
Masonry and Roof Repair Project
A Historic Property of the Park District of Oak Park
Project Summary
In mid-May 2009, the Pleasant Home Foundation and the Park District of Oak Park began an important restoration of the masonry surfaces of historic Pleasant Home. This project was completed in mid-July 2009.
Pleasant Home, also known as the John Farson House, was designed by architect George W. Maher in 1897 for investment banker and philanthropist John W. Farson. The Farson family resided in the home until 1910. In 1911, the Herbert S. Mills family bought the home and lived there until 1939 when the home was sold to the Park District of Oak Park. Of the 300 structures designed by Maher across the nation, Pleasant Home is the only one open to the public.
Pleasant Home Foundation, a 501(c)3 non-profit organization formed in 1990, is entrusted with the preservation, operation and restoration of the home. Pleasant Home was named a National Historic Landmark in 1996 for its national significance as one of the earliest examples of Prairie School architecture.
In 2001, with funding from the State of Illinois, a Historic Structure Report was created to prioritize and manage the interior and exterior restoration of the home. The current masonry and roof repair work will include repointing all exterior limestone, resetting stone bases at the foundation, refastening stone on the chimneys, sealing masonry joints on all brick surfaces, resetting the limestone planting bed at the main entrance of the home, and restoring the northeast corner of the front porch wall.
This extremely important restoration is crucial to keeping water from penetrating the home.
Restoration Contractor
The Park District released a Request for Bids in February 2009 for the masonry and roof repair work. Mark I Restoration of Dolton, Illinois was contracted to complete this project.
Mark I Restoration specializes in the masonry work on historic structures. Examples of their work include historic buildings in Chicago, such as the Tribune Tower (1925), 219 East Lake Shore Drive (1912-1929), the Reliance Building (1890-1895), and the Blackstone Hotel (1908-1910).
Funding Sources
Funding for this restoration project was made possible through the generosity of a number of organizations and individuals:
- Tourism Cares Worldwide
- Landmarks Illinois
- Partners in Preservation through the National Trust for Historic Preservation and American Express
- The Richard H. Driehaus Foundation
- Mrs. Jeanette Fields
- Park District of Oak Park Capital Improvement Funds
Project Team
The Working Group for this project was comprised of Laura Thompson, Executive Director of Pleasant Home Foundation (PHF); Frank Heitzman, AIA, restoration architect and President, PHF Board of Directors; Carol Yetken, PHF Board of Directors; John Thorpe, restoration architect and member of the PHF Restoration Committee; and Michael Grandy and Neil Adams of the Park District of Oak Park.
Frank Heitzman volunteered his professional services on a pro-bono basis to assist in the formulation of the construction plans, as well as architectural specifications and management for this project.
Mark I Restoration of Dolton, Illinois completed the work in mid-July 2009.
For more information contact Laura Mercier Thompson, Executive Director, Pleasant Home Foundation, (708) 383-2654.
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