“House Beautiful” Magazine’s First Home!

“House Beautiful” Magazine’s First Home!

"House Beautiful" Magazine's First Home!

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"House Beautiful" was originally published in Chicago in 1896 to showcase the many beautiful homes in the area. Having recovered and rebuilt after the Great Chicago Fire in 1871 and the success of the Chicago World’s Fair in 1893, industry in Chicago was rapidly growing and in turn producing great wealth for many of its citizens. What better way to show off wealth and success than to display it by building elaborate homes, a signature of the well-to-do. There were a dozen industrialists who stood out from all the rest in Chicago toward the end of the 1800s. Some familiar names were Marshall Field, George M. Pullman, Philip D. Armour and William B. Ogden. The mansions they built were over-the-top in scale and grandeur and portrayed the success of the growing city.

The Gilded Age was a perfect time to create a publication depicting the elegant homes and gardens of Chicago’s rich and famous. Eugene Klapp and Henry B. Harvey started the first of the shelter genre publications in 1896 and named it "House Beautiful." They focused on interior design, architecture, home furnishings and gardens. It was purchased by the Hearst Corporation in 1934 and is the oldest still-published magazine of its genre.

The house chosen as the focus of the first issue of "House Beautiful" was a grand 3-story Tudor in what is now known as the sought-after Evanston neighborhood. Evanston is well located where residents are within easy walking distance to shopping, dining and Northwestern University. This home is only a block to Dawes Park and the much enjoyed doggie beach on the Lake Michigan shoreline.

The home recently sold in just one day from realtors’ waiting lists even before it had a chance to be placed on the open market. Still with its strong Tudor detailing both inside and out, the house has been lovingly maintained, restored and updated for grand scale modern living and entertaining. The 7 bedroom, 7 bath home sits on a prominent corner with seasonal Lake Michigan views. The home has 5 fireplaces, large chef’s kitchen, gym, formal rooms, professional landscaping and lovely covered and open outdoor living areas.

Chicago area home was the lead story in the first issue of House Beautiful magazine in 1896. Sold in one day for asking price of $2.25 million. Seller was asking 7% under their purchase price.

Source: www.redfin.com