Charles W. Austin House

Construction date: documented 1905*

Architect:

Charles E. White, Jr.

Style:

Prairie influenced, Prairie School

Historical Summary:

This simple, gabled-roofed, Prairie style house with wood-trimmed stucco shows the influence of the architect's employer, Frank Lloyd Wright. The watertable creates a strong base. Two parallel, wooden stringcourses extend the length of the front facade, wrapping around the porch. Wood trim on the second floor frames and unifies the window sections.

When White designed this dwelling for Charles Austin, a mathmatics teacher, the arhitect had not yet formed a personal style. He designed a number of houses in the district in cluding an apartment building at 23-32 Washington Blvd and the 1933 Oak Park Post Office (Ridgeland Revealed, p27).

Significant Owner(s):

Charles W. Austin

Status of Historic Designation:

Designated at National level : Ridgeland/Oak Park Historic District 1983
Designated at Local level : Ridgeland/Oak Park Historic District 1994

Rating or Rank:

Contributing

Evaluation of Potential Eligibility:

Potentially eligible as a contributing resource

Architectural Description:

This is a 2-story single-family residence in the Prairie School style built in 1905. The building is rectangular in plan. The structural system is frame/stucco. The foundation is stone. Exterior walls are original stucco. Horizontal wood banding and trim. The building has a side gable roof clad in replacement asphalt shingles. There is one rear, rear slope, stuccoed chimney. Windows are original wood, 6-light casements. There is a platform/stoop.

* Date source: Village of Oak Park building permit archives.

Description generated by RuskinARC^™.

Located in:

420 Clinton Ave Oak Park, Illinois USA

Charles W. Austin House

Construction date: documented 1905*