Logan Square Preservation is a non-profit organization founded in 1980 and dedicated to educating citizens about three goals: architectural preservation, beautification and history. 

 

Architectural preservation, the first goal of the organization, was originally the inspiration of several local architects and photographers. Logan Square was chosen as the educational focus because it is a model neighborhood with many magnificent, well-preserved buildings from the early 1900s. Originally, a large eight by ten foot collage of pictures was created to exhibit at various city events. At this time “City House”, a conference sponsored by the City of Chicago, was one of the first places at which Logan Square Preservation received recognition. Here, members of the organization answered questions about the significant architecture in Logan Square and invited citizens to visit and learn about its wonderful architecture.

In 1981, the first Housewalk was sponsored, as a means of opening up representative homes to the public, so interior, as well as exterior, architectural details could be studied. Each year since, we have opened private homes and churches, to allow people to see life on the "inside" as well as on the "outside". Viewing beautiful buildings from the exterior is educational and aesthetically pleasing, but observing how homes are decorated and furnished inside adds greatly to that pleasure.  Since everyone has different tastes in home decoration and furnishings, we attempt to show a wide variety of houses and decor each year.

These Housewalks serve two purposes. First, restoration techniques are demonstrated by featuring houses that have been carefully restored to their original beauty, using materials and workmanship similar to that used in the early 1900s. Second, rehabilitation techniques are presented by showing houses that have undergone considerable modernization over the years and are examples of ways to change and update homes today. Each year we open several large, impressive homes on the boulevards originally owned by wealthy merchants, and we also showcase more modest houses on the side streets built for the working class. Many of the homes are decorated and furnished much as they were at the turn-of-the-twentieth century and portray how people lived at that time. The Housewalk is held in September on the first Saturday after Labor Day. Information or ticket purchase can be made by writing to Logan Square Preservation, 3024 W. Logan Boulevard., Chicago, IL. 60647-1708, tel (773) 252-4859.

The second goal of Logan Square Preservation, education of community beautification techniques, involves sponsoring various tree and flower planting sessions throughout the year. Using the boulevards as the educational model, we have worked closely with OpenLands, the Chicago Park District, The Chicago Department of Forestry and the Morton Arboretum to plant the boulevards from Humboldt Park north to Logan Boulevard and east to the Kennedy Expressway.

HISTORY

The third goal of Logan Square Preservation is to provide historical education.The Boulevard System in Logan Square, comprising Logan, Kedzie, Palmer and Humboldt Boulevards, represents the only intact example of the 28-mile Great Boulevard System of Chicago, often called the City's "Emerald Necklace". Historically, this System helped to beautify the City and added greatly in its outward expansion. Imagine if you can, beautiful, tree-lined boulevards lined with stately mansions, encircling the city and connecting the great parks. The Boulevard System began on the south side at the Lake in Jackson Park, connected Washington Park, Sherman Park, Gage Park, McKinley Park, Douglas Park, Garfield Park, and Humboldt Park and ended at Logan Boulevard and the river. The original plan to continue the system along Diversey Parkway back to the Lake at Lincoln Park was never completed.

This grand Boulevard System was home to some of the most famous and wealthiest families in the City. Over the years, unfortunately, most of this beautiful Boulevard System has been destroyed through neglect and intrusion. The only remaining portion that exists intact is the area remaining in Logan Square. Mansions built by Rath, Kimball, Goldblatt, Wieboldt, Michael Ryan, the Jefferson Ice Company, and many other notable families still remain as beautiful today as they were at the turn of the century. For this reason, in 1985 the Federal government designated the boulevards in Logan Square as a National Historic District, including them on the National Register of Historic Places. In 2005, the Chicago City Council designated them as a city landmark district. Such designations are indeed an honor, since they are restricted to truly significant neigborhoods.  These designations will preserve the boulevards and its historic buildings for future generations of citizens to enjoy and insure an historic legacy to the immigrants who built Chicago.

 

Over the past several years we have:

 

1.  Since 1981, conducted Housewalks to educate citizens about various architectural styles and ways to restore and preserve buildings.

 

2. In 1985, obtained National Historic District status for 2 1/2 miles of the boulevard system of Chicago (Logan, Kedzie, Palmer, and Humboldt  boulevards) to preserve part of Chicago's history.

 

3.  Worked with the City and private organizations to replant trees along the boulevards and educate citizens about proper methods of tree, shrub and flower planting and maintenance.

 

4.  Sponsored many educational activities about the history of Chicago and its neighborhoods.

 

5.  In 1997, obtained a grant to install vintage lighting fixtures along the Historic Boulevard District.

 

6. In 2005, obtained City of Chicago landmark district status for the historic boulevards in Logan Square.

 

If you agree with the above goals and would like to help in this very important educational effort, please join our organization. These dues provide the funds necessary to help us accomplish our goals. We have meetings at 7:00 PM on the third Thursday of every month.

 

To join Logan Square Preservation please select the membership form below. Should you have any additional questions concerning our organization, please call or write to the address below:

Telephone (773) 706-4129

 

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