Feb 11, 1982
Arthur J. Dunham House (Lucile Evans House) - National Register of Historic Places
Statement of Significance: The. Arthur J. Dunhc13im hous1e (built ca. 1907) is a significant example of "Prairie School" architecture. It was one of the first buildings designed by the architects Tallmadge and Watson, two architects who emerged from the office of D.H. Burnham and Company. Tallmadge and Watson followed the teachings of Wright and Sullivan and became major figures in the Prairie School. They formed their firm in 1905. The firm later became renowned for ecclesiastical architecture, although initially specialized in residences, many of which were built in Evanston and Oak Park. The Dunham house is the only one of its kind in Berwyn. The massing and detailing of the house are characteristic of the Prairie School of Architecture. Horizontal lines and broad open planes are stressed (in the spirit of the Midwestern prairie) through the use of long, low hipped roofs, a lateral wing and porch, horizontal banding of windows and oak trim, and an open plan which maximizes the sense of space. Both the use of an attached garage at the rear of the house and a picture window in the living room were new concepts in 1907. Through its execution the Dunham house reflects clearly the modern ideals of the Prairie School--to create a truly American architecture, with an honest use of materials, rejecting imported historical styles. The building is stripped of classical ornament and expressed with clear precise angles and a continuity of line and surface. Enrichment is achieved through textural expression of materials, stucco, oak, and brick. The Dunham home has been owned and cared for by the family that built it for three generations (73 years), and as a result has remained essentially intact. The current owner possesses blueprints of the 1907 plans done by Tallmadge and Watson, as well as the specification sheets for the house. Photo by Charles Hasbrouck
Arthur J. Dunham House (Lucile Evans House) - National Register of Historic Places
Statement of Significance: The. Arthur J. Dunhc13im hous1e (built ca. 1907) is a significant example of "Prairie School" architecture. It was one of the first buildings designed by the architects Tallmadge and Watson, two architects who emerged from the office of D.H. Burnham and Company. Tallmadge and Watson followed the teachings of Wright and Sullivan and became major figures in the Prairie School. They formed their firm in 1905. The firm later became renowned for ecclesiastical architecture, although initially specialized in residences, many of which were built in Evanston and Oak Park. The Dunham house is the only one of its kind in Berwyn. The massing and detailing of the house are characteristic of the Prairie School of Architecture. Horizontal lines and broad open planes are stressed (in the spirit of the Midwestern prairie) through the use of long, low hipped roofs, a lateral wing and porch, horizontal banding of windows and oak trim, and an open plan which maximizes the sense of space. Both the use of an attached garage at the rear of the house and a picture window in the living room were new concepts in 1907. Through its execution the Dunham house reflects clearly the modern ideals of the Prairie School--to create a truly American architecture, with an honest use of materials, rejecting imported historical styles. The building is stripped of classical ornament and expressed with clear precise angles and a continuity of line and surface. Enrichment is achieved through textural expression of materials, stucco, oak, and brick. The Dunham home has been owned and cared for by the family that built it for three generations (73 years), and as a result has remained essentially intact. The current owner possesses blueprints of the 1907 plans done by Tallmadge and Watson, as well as the specification sheets for the house. Photo by Charles Hasbrouck
Feb 11, 1982
Posted Date
Mar 31, 2022
Historical Record Date
Feb 11, 1982
Source Name
United States Department of Interior - National Park Service
