Bungalows & Blooms Tour – July 24 July 19th, 2010
Elgin is well-known for its Painted Ladies, but in the 1920’s a new style of house began sweeping the nation–the Craftsman Bungalow. First developed in California, the Craftsman Bungalow was 1 to 1-1/2 stories high, with a low pitched roof with a wide, unenclosed eave overhang, and a full or partial width front porch. The Southwest Area Neighborhood has a stunning collection of Craftsman Bungalows plus several gardens which we, once more, invite you to see.
Please join us for Part Two of our Bungalows & Blooms Walking Tour this coming Saturday, July 24, at 9:30 AM. We will meet in the driveway of 626 Orange St. on the corner of Orange and Gertrude. Parking is on both sides of Gertrude and on the north side of Orange. We will visit 27 bungalows–exterior only–plus 5 extra gardens from Wabash to Orchard this time. It is a little over a mile long and will take approximately 1 -1 1/2 hours to complete. There will be more “jerkinhead gable roofs” and “piano windows” to see. As last time, a booklet telling about the architectural features of the houses and the historical information of the first owners will be furnished. This is a joint effort of SWAN and the Elgin History Museum.
Jennifer Fritz-Williams, Historic Preservation Specialist with the City of Elgin and Pat Hill, neighborhood resident and bungalow owner, will lead the tours.
Tickets are $5 and may be purchased the day of the tour.
Bungalows & Blooms Tour on May 15 May 7th, 2010
SWAN and the Elgin History Museum will present a walking tour of some of the bungalows and gardens that make SWAN a wonderful place to live. Join us on Saturday, May 15 at 12:30 PM at Zion Lutheran Church (330 Griswold Street).
See the “Bungalow Belts” on Orange Street and Morgan Street that contain Chicago Bungalows, and Sears Bungalows on Orange and Oak Streets. What are the characteristics that make a bungalow? What decorative features are unique to bungalows? There are 7 different types of bungalows, defined by roof type and all are present in the Southwest neighborhood. Architectural specialist Sarosh Saher will be your guide.
Tickets are $5 each and can be purchased the day of the tour.
Hats off to the Preservation Committee for organizing a spectacular tour!
SWAN Newsletter: Upcoming Events April 26th, 2010
There are several events going on over the next couple weeks! Here are some of the highlights:
May is Preservation Month
May is Preservation Month in the City of Elgin, and there are several activities planned for all interests. Besides our own Bungalow & Blooms Tour on Saturday, May 15 (contact Pat Hill to volunteer, or Liz Marston at 847-742-4248 to register), there are several other events. For details, see the full brochure.
Mayor’s Awards
Join us on Thursday, May 13 in the Heritage Ballroom of the Centre to celebrate the Mayor’s Awards. Not only will twelve (!) more SWAN homes receive plaques, but our very own Dawn Hartney, Kathy Moore and Stacey Reynolds will receive Mayor’s Awards for their stellar efforts to further historic preservation through last spring’s Trolley Tour and their plaquing campaign. This is a huge achievement, and we should all be very proud, so join us to celebrate! For more information, visit the City’s site.
The Great Unveiling
We’ll be kicking off Preservation Month on Saturday, May 1 with the Great Unveiling. We’ll be teaming up with NWNA to remove vinyl and aluminum siding from some local homes. We’ll kick off the event at 9 AM at 318 South Street! We’ll then move on to 248 Michigan and 221 Michigan. Th city will provide donuts and coffee at each house. Please bring gloves, ladders, and safety goggles and wear appropriate clothing. Of course, the more people that show up, the faster we will get done, so spread the word! For more information, contact: Jennifer Fritz-Williams (847) 931-6004 or fritz-williams_j@cityofelgin.org
Bikes on Parade
Make sure you stop by Gail Borden Library to see the bike decorated by our very own Dawn and Kathy. Great job, ladies!
Councilman Rich Dunne Town Hall
Councilman Rich Dunne will be holding a town hall meeting to mark the 1st anniversary of his swearing in on the City Council. The event will be held on Thursday, April 29th, 7PM at the VFW Hall on Weld Road. Please come to learn what is going on in City Hall.
National Street Area Planning Meeting
This is the third in a series of meetings during which residents can voice their opinions about the future of the National Street coridor and area around the Metra station. The first two meetings have been eye-opening, with proposals for major rezoning and redevelopment. At this meeting, on Tuesday, May 4 at 6:30 PM at Gail Borden Library, the consulting team will present the final concept plan of the National Street Station Area. This will be your last opportunity to share your thoughts with the consulting team regarding the growth and development of the area, prior to its final adoption by the City Council. For more information, visit the Downtown Neighborhood Association blog.
Stay in Touch
If you’re on Facebook, join the group here so you can see the latest and add pictures. You can also follow us on Twitter at http://twitter.com/ElginSWAN,
We’ll see you at the next membership meeting on Monday, May 17 at 7 PM.
Join Us to Plant Some Trees April 16th, 2010
Just before Earth Day, join SWAN”s Preservation Committee as we spend a beautiful Saturday planting trees at Burnidge Woods. We’ll meet at noon on Saturday, April 17 and should be done by 3 PM. The city has selected this site for new trees near the new Sherman Hospital.
To reach the site, head west on Big Timber, and then turn turn right (north) onto Lyle. Then, you make an immediate left onto Monday Dr. You can park near the corner of Monday and Banks.
We hope to see you there!
May is Preservation Month – Mark your Calendars! March 17th, 2010
Once again, May will be Preservation Month in Elgin. SWAN will be hosting our first-ever Bungalow Walk on May 15, and there will be many other activities throughout the city, including:
More details will be available in the coming weeks.
To get involved with SWAN’s Bungalow Walk, contact Pat Hill.
Tonight: Retrofitting Your Home to Save Green, Be Green March 16th, 2010
Attend tonight’s Elgin Alive Workshop sponsored by Elgin Community Network. Retrofitting Your Home: Save Green, Be Green will teach you how to improve energy efficiency through cost-effective updates, including tax credits, ComEd incentives and other city programs.
The program will take place tonight, Tuesday March 16 from 6:30 – 8:30 PM at Gail Borden. Refreshments will be available, and all attendees will receive a CFL bulb.
National Street Station Area Plan Public Meeting #2 – March 2 February 19th, 2010
The City of Elgin Community Development Department and Gail Borden Library will host the second public meeting regarding the National Street Station Area Plan. The meeting will take place on Tuesday, March 2 at 6:30 PM at the Gail Borden Library, Conference Rooms A & B.
You are invited to share your thoughts with the consulting team regarding the growht and development of the National Street Station Area Plan.
After several months at the drawing board, the consulting team is ready to present the two concept plans being proposed. Resident input is essential.
For more details, visit the website: http://www.landvision.com/elgin/index.html.
This meeting impacts a vital part of our neighborhood, and the area immediately adjacent. Come make your voice heard on March 2!
Elgin to get recognition for food drives October 18th, 2009
Bright lights came to Elgin’s Fire Station 2 Friday afternoon, but it had nothing to do with an emergency call.
Elgin spruce-up part of international climate event October 18th, 2009
You’ve probably seen bumper stickers that urge folks to “Think globally, act locally.”
Depression screening today at library October 8th, 2009
Daily Herald Report
Is it just the blues or is it depression? Are you or someone you care about suffering from depression? Find out. Join Provena St. Joseph Hospital Behavioral Health Services for a free depression screening and lecture series from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 8 at Gail Borden Public Library, 270 N. Grove Ave., Elgin. It will take approximately 15 minutes. Screening is available in both English and Spanish. When complete, your results will be reviewed by a trained mental health professional who will make recommendations for follow-up care if needed.