The California city of San Francisco may brag about its famous row of “Painted Ladies” homes, but the Village of Flossmoor has its own bragging rights with the presence of two historic “Grand Ol’ Dames” on Sterling Avenue.
one of six homes built in 1903
by Illinois Central. (Provided
photo)
The California city of San Francisco may brag about its famous row of “Painted Ladies” homes, but the Village of Flossmoor has its own bragging rights with the presence of two historic “Grand Ol’ Dames” on Sterling Avenue.
The elegant, three-story homes, at 912 and 926 Sterling Ave., were built by the Illinois Central (IC) railroad in 1903 as summer homes for the families of IC executives, allowing them to escape the summer heat of the city.
Historical records indicate that they are two of the original six homes built in Flossmoor by the IC, which had purchased 160 acres of land in 1893. According to Karen Dal Santo, who along with her husband, Jack Edelbrock, has owned 926 Sterling Ave. since 2001, there were no other structures between the two Sterling Avenue homes and 183rd Street in Homewood.
Eric Crump/H-F Chronicle)
“The original owner of the house was Louis Matz, and according to the history, he was very involved with the Ravisloe Country Club located at 183rd Street and Park Avenue in Homewood. He also was an importer of Belgian horses, and they were stabled in what is now our garage. We found a horse trough at the back of the garage,” she said.
To that she can add an interesting bit of history. She said that the building was the site of the 1924 meeting where Flossmoor was incorporated as a village.
Dal Santo said she and her husband purchased the house, but did not move in for two years while they updated the home.
In the remodeling process, they restored interior woodworking, including original pocket-style French doors on the first floor, and the original siding on the exterior.
A unique aspect of the house was left untouched. The third floor has a huge room with a knotty pine ceiling and walls. Lining the walls are built-in cabinets and drawers.
“It is like a charming cottage. It was the selling point for me, even though we knew the house needed a lot of work,” she said.
There have been only four owners of the home, and the previous family lived there for 40 years. Dal Santo, who has two adult children still in the area, plans to remain in the home.
“I love the house and this community, and I have no immediate plans to leave,” said the art teacher and owner of Dal Santo Design located on Flossmoor Road in downtown Flossmoor.
Just a few doors away at 912 Sterling Ave. is a second unique piece of Flossmoor history owned by Ron and Mary Little. The three-story house, described as Colonial Revival, is also one of the original six homes built by the IC.
The six-bedroom home has three full- and two half-baths; large closets, a very unusual feature in a house over 100 years old; a living room; dining room; and family room addition on the first floor.
An outstanding feature of the home is a large bonus room on the third floor which was originally planned as a ballroom.
Mary said it was strange for a ballroom to be designed for the third floor.
“Imagine showing your guests to the third floor for a party back in the day when there was no air-conditioning.”
She also said that the house was precisely built with excellent craftsmanship and that the carpenters had signed and dated portions of the woodwork.
“They don’t build them like this anymore,” she said.
Another unique aspect of the property is a remodeled coach house at the back of the property, adjacent to its huge backyard.
“It was formerly a garage, and we remodeled it into an apartment for my mother, who lived there for 18 years,“ said Mary. “It was perfect for a related living situation and my mother loved it.”
The Littles have lived in the home for 28 years. For many of those years, they have lovingly restored much of the original details ― hardwood floors, claw-foot tubs, five-panel wooden doors and moldings.
While the heating system has been updated, the heat is distributed through the original radiators. Air-conditioning has been added. The house is furnished to capture the original ambiance of the early era and includes pieces found in the home when the Littles bought it.
“It is a great home for raising a family, and our grandchildren love it,” said Ron. Sadly, however, the couple’s three children and their grandchildren now live in the far northern suburbs. “We miss them, and we have decided it is time to downsize. We love this house, but it is a huge place for just two people.”