May 22, 1992
Joseph P. O. Sullivan House - National Register of Historic Places
Statement of Significance: The Joseph P.O. Sullivan House meets Criterion C for listing on the National Register of Historic Places. It is architecturally significant as Maywood's best representative example of a Proviso Land Association house; all of the others has been demolished or substantially altered. The Proviso Land Association was second only to the Maywood Company in the development of the village. They purchased land west of 9th Avenue to 21st Avenue and built street after street of 2-1/2 story houses with broad front porches. Although few of these homes remain, old photos of streetscape s show that the y built up previously vacant land with many of these houses. The Proviso Land Association, with office s in Chicago, was just as aggressive in marketing as their predecessor, running street cars to their company's local office and publishing promotional booklets. In fact, the Maywood Company appears to have ceased operation around the time the Proviso Lane Association embarked on their successful venture. Today there are relatively few Association homes left; the Sullivan House is one of them. Examining the area today shows that the Proviso Land Association was a typical development company. They built homes with simple variation s of different models. Their pamphlet, “Facts about Maywood: Its Advantages as a Residence Location, with Views and Plans of Modern Homes Built and for Sal e by Proviso Land Association " clearly shows examples of the various types the y built. Of the examples remaining, all have lost their historic detailing and/or have been sided. The Sullivan House has the best integrity of any house built by the Association. Stylistically, the houses built by the Association are, like so many Maywood homes, difficult to categorize. Most are variations on the Simplified Queen Anne style or the Foursquare type. The Queen Anne style houses had towers, dormers, gables and a picturesque outline, but often were without much if any applied ornamentation. The Foursquare houses appeared more balanced on the exterior ye t were often more rectangular than square. Al l were large r than Maywood Company homes and had a higher profile. A great many Proviso Land Association houses displayed Classical detailing on the exterior—columns, friezes, Palladia n windows. The wave of interest in classicism m swept in by the 1893 World's Columbian Exposition clearly influence d the design of these homes. The Sullivan House fit s into the category of the Foursquare. With its prominent front dormer and paired second-story windows, it displays an overall sense of symmetry. Although it is highly simplified, the inclusion of a Palladia n window is a nod to classicism. On the interior, comfort and efficiency prevails. There are only the simples t of details, requiring no extraordinary maintenance. The Sullivan House is Maywood's best representative example of a Proviso Land Association House. The integrity of its exterior is excellent. The house underwent changes over the years, like the porch enclosure, modification into arches of the first-floor room openings and the modernizing of the kitchen. Yet, in relation to other houses built by the association, the changes are few, and they were made by only one family to accommodate their needs. Sullivan bought the house when it was first built, and his daughter die d there (a t age 90) in 1984. The present owner has live d there since and through constant repair, shows a commitment to its preservation.
Joseph P. O. Sullivan House - National Register of Historic Places
Statement of Significance: The Joseph P.O. Sullivan House meets Criterion C for listing on the National Register of Historic Places. It is architecturally significant as Maywood's best representative example of a Proviso Land Association house; all of the others has been demolished or substantially altered. The Proviso Land Association was second only to the Maywood Company in the development of the village. They purchased land west of 9th Avenue to 21st Avenue and built street after street of 2-1/2 story houses with broad front porches. Although few of these homes remain, old photos of streetscape s show that the y built up previously vacant land with many of these houses. The Proviso Land Association, with office s in Chicago, was just as aggressive in marketing as their predecessor, running street cars to their company's local office and publishing promotional booklets. In fact, the Maywood Company appears to have ceased operation around the time the Proviso Lane Association embarked on their successful venture. Today there are relatively few Association homes left; the Sullivan House is one of them. Examining the area today shows that the Proviso Land Association was a typical development company. They built homes with simple variation s of different models. Their pamphlet, “Facts about Maywood: Its Advantages as a Residence Location, with Views and Plans of Modern Homes Built and for Sal e by Proviso Land Association " clearly shows examples of the various types the y built. Of the examples remaining, all have lost their historic detailing and/or have been sided. The Sullivan House has the best integrity of any house built by the Association. Stylistically, the houses built by the Association are, like so many Maywood homes, difficult to categorize. Most are variations on the Simplified Queen Anne style or the Foursquare type. The Queen Anne style houses had towers, dormers, gables and a picturesque outline, but often were without much if any applied ornamentation. The Foursquare houses appeared more balanced on the exterior ye t were often more rectangular than square. Al l were large r than Maywood Company homes and had a higher profile. A great many Proviso Land Association houses displayed Classical detailing on the exterior—columns, friezes, Palladia n windows. The wave of interest in classicism m swept in by the 1893 World's Columbian Exposition clearly influence d the design of these homes. The Sullivan House fit s into the category of the Foursquare. With its prominent front dormer and paired second-story windows, it displays an overall sense of symmetry. Although it is highly simplified, the inclusion of a Palladia n window is a nod to classicism. On the interior, comfort and efficiency prevails. There are only the simples t of details, requiring no extraordinary maintenance. The Sullivan House is Maywood's best representative example of a Proviso Land Association House. The integrity of its exterior is excellent. The house underwent changes over the years, like the porch enclosure, modification into arches of the first-floor room openings and the modernizing of the kitchen. Yet, in relation to other houses built by the association, the changes are few, and they were made by only one family to accommodate their needs. Sullivan bought the house when it was first built, and his daughter die d there (a t age 90) in 1984. The present owner has live d there since and through constant repair, shows a commitment to its preservation.
May 22, 1992
Posted Date
Apr 07, 2022
Historical Record Date
May 22, 1992
Source Name
United States Department of Interior - National Park Service
