8544 Callie Ave
Morton Grove, IL 60053, USA

Herbert A. Dilg House - National Register of Historic Places

Statement of Significance:

The Herbert A. Dilg house, located at 8544 Callie in Morton Grove, is locally significant for listing on the National Register of Historic Places under Criterion B for the local significance of the building's original owner and commissioner, Herbert A. Dilg and under Criterion C for being a significant example of the Chicago Style Bungalow within the Village of Morton Grove. The building holds a familial connection to the early development of the Village, through its original ownership by a noteworthy Morton Grove businessman and civic leader. It is equally important for its distinguished architectural features, and uniqueness within a community of vernacular mixed building stock. The Dilg house displays exceptional integrity of form and detailing and stands out within its community as a significant example of the Chicago Bungalow style.

The home was constructed by third generation Dilg family member and Morton Grove Mayor, Herbert A. Dilg, cir. 1925-26;6 during his first term as Village President. Three generations of Dilg family members served as civic and business leaders in Morton Grove, influencing and guiding the growth and development of the community from its settlement in the mid-nineteenth century through the 1940s and the beginning of its transition from what began as a rural farming community into a predominately residential and eventually suburban area. The home's Chicago Bungalow styling distinguishes it among its' predominately stick built early twentieth century neighbors as a modestly progressive design that reflects the forward-looking spirit of its owner and builder Morton Grove Mayor, Herbert A. Dilg. The house survives as the only intact structure historically associated with Herbert Dilg, and is the site most associated with him and his community contribution.

The Dilg house is locally significant for its connection to a historically prominent Morton Grove businessman and civic leader; representing a commitment to place and community exemplified by the building’s original owner. While the Chicago Style Bungalow is an ever-present entity among the built landscape of the greater Chicago region, the Herbert A. Dilg house stands out as a significantly intact and elegantly appointed example of this type outside the context of a typical bungalow neighborhood, increasing its importance within Morton Grove and its specific neighborhood.

Herbert A. Dilg House: History and Significance
The Herbert A. Dilg house was built cir. 1925-26 by Morton Grove Mayor Herbert A. Dilg and his wife Elsie M. Dilg. The building's significance is closely tied to the developmental history of Morton Grove, and punctuated by the ethic of community dedication exemplified by Herbert Dilg who served his community in the tradition of his father and grandfather, as a civic leader and business entrepreneur. The physical location of the house marks the Dilg family's connection to this specific region of the community. Herbert's father Fred owned a general store and adjacent residence a mere three blocks from where Herbert would eventually build his home.

Herbert Dil9 was born in Morton Grove in June of 1888 he was the eldest of three children born to Fred and Seana Dilg. Herbert was a second generation American and third generation Morton Grove resident of German descent. He was a two-time Mayor of Morton Grove. Serving the office first from 1925-26 and again from 1931-44.8 During his second stay in office Morton Grove began a period of transition into a suburban residential and light industrial community. Herbert operated the Morton Grove Garage for over thirty years on the commercial lot that neighbored his home. During his time as Mayor the village hall (now lost) was located a mere block southeast of his home.

Herbert's grandfather, John Dilg, immigrated to the United States from Germany, settling first in Chicago and by 1850 was reportedly living in Morton Grove. 9 The details of how Dilg established himself are not clear; it is known that he settled on Waukegan Road and by 1856 purchased a trading post and tavern from fellow pioneer and German immigrant George Gabel. 10 Gable had been living in the Morton Grove area since 1843. Sometime during this period Dilg married Gabel's daughter Maria Magdalena Gabel, the couple eventually had thirteen children. 11 Dilg's Trading Post, as it was renamed, was located on Waukegan Road between present day Dempster and Church Streets; it seems that John Dilg's homestead and farm built up around this site, eventually totaling nearly 500 acres. 12 The trading gost was eventually passed to John's son Henry who operated a restaurant on the site through the 1930s; 3 a restaurant which incorporates the original building continues to operate on the site today.

John Dilg served his community as a farmer, business owner and community servant, and has historically been considered one of the prominent early setters of Morton Grove. When the first toll road was constructed by Henry Harms in 1858 John Dilg became the inspector of toll roads, a position he continued with subsequent road director Amos Snell. 14 John Dilg died in 1902 as a "highly esteemed" member of the community.

One of thirteen children, Fred Dilg was born to parents John and Seanna on their homestead on Waukegan Road in 1863. During the early years of his adulthood Fred followed in his father's line, working as a farmer. In 1885 Fred married Seana Torieck, the couple had three children, Herbert A. (June 1888), Lillian (June 1890), and Irwin A. (July 1893). He continued to farm through the first nine years of his marriage; eventually becoming a prominent and well-respected member of the Morton Grove Community; he served as a Village Trustee from the time of Morton Grove's incorporation in 1895 untill907; and was one of the organizers of the Morton.

Grove Fire Company.
In 1895 Fred Dilg left the farming trade and purchased a general store from his brother-in-law John Koller. Koller operated the store on Millers Mill Road (later Lincoln Avenue) at the railroad tracks, the store had also served as the Village post office since 1891. 16 In 1896 Dilg succeeded Koller as the ih postmaster of Morton Grove, a position he would hold until his death in 1909. Dilg's Morton Grove Exchange quickly became one of the cornerstones of the Morton Grove business community. In 1904 Dilg built an imposing new structure directly east of his store's original location. The new building located on the northwest corner of Ferris and Millers Mill Road was at the center of the Morton Grove business district and was the community's largest and most notable structure. The Dilg Building, was a four-level late Victorian brick structure oriented to the southwest. Its corner orientation and grand massing made it a prominent sight when approaching from the east or west on Millers Mill Road, the Village's primary thoroughfare. The store would also have been a notable sight from the railroad depot on the south side of Millers Mill Road. The Dilg Building housed a post office, hotel, general store, bank and tavern; and provided space for community gatherings in its upper-level ballroom. When Fred Dilg died in 1909 his daughter Lillian succeeded him as the first postmistress of Morton Grove; she held the position until 1936. 17 Lillian and her brother Irwin retained ownership of the building, eventually occupying it as their primary residence, until it was razed in 1970.

Herbert A. Dilg was born to parents Fred and Seana Dilg in June of 1888. 18 As a child he would have attended Morton Grove's early school house, located at Waukegan and Beckwith Roads, the Village did not have an organized school district until 1897. As a young man Herbert worked in his father's Morton Grove Exchange, inheriting management following Fred Dilg's death in 1909. It seems apparent that Herbert was drawn to business and public service, as his father and grandfather had been. In 191 7 he served a term as Village Collector. Sometime between 1909 and 1917 he opened the Morton Grove Garage, 19 located on Lincoln Ave. (renamed from Millers Mill Road in 1915).20 He also married during this period, and welcomed his only child, a daughter June, in 1917.21 The Morton Grove Garage was sited between Fernald and Callie, a location directly to the east of the Morton Grove Exchange and directly to the south of the lot on which Dilg would eventually build his home at 8544 Callie. From the 1920s through early 40s, Dilg also sold Studebakers on site. The location was listed in a directory of Studebaker dealerships included in the company's advertising campaigns which ran in the Chicago Tribune between 1925 and 1943.

In 1924 Herbert and his wife Elsie purchased lots 14 and 15 in Bingham and Fernald's original Morton Grove Subdivision.22 The double comer lot was separated by an alley to the south, from the large commercial parcel that held Dilg' s Morton Grove Garage. In 1925 Herbert was elected Mayor of Morton Grove, and served a single two-year term. It was during this period that Dilg apparently constructed his home at 8544 Callie. While no documentation survives to support why Dilg chose to construct a brick bungalow style home, it is likely that the current popularity of the style would have influenced his choice. His large comer lot offered an ideal site to implement a dynamic design that would showcase the home's multiple exposures giving the structure a sense of prominence within the neighborhood. The Dilg home's completed design includes several features that distinguish it among its vernacular style neighbors and the few other bungalows that are scattered within the subdivision. The home's octagonal bay represents a high style bungalow design. While typical bungalow neighborhoods featured rows of frontally oriented dwellings, the Dilg home's comer orientation and location within a traditional neighborhood of mixed building stock, places it outside the typical bungalow context. Given its location on a comer lot, near the southern bounds of the subdivision the home stood as a kind of visual gateway into the neighborhood; punctuating its visual importance when approaching from the Lincoln A venue commercial district.

The proximity of Dilg's Callie Avenue home to his place of business and the Village Hall is telling of his lifestyle and the dynamic of the Morton Grove community during the early twentieth century. Dilg's lifestyle was anchored to the function of his small centralized community and his choice of dwelling location illustrates his dedication to being an active, present and accessible member of his community. Once completed his home's dining room offered a view of the rear, or north elevation, of his Morton Grove Garage; an enterprise that helped to establish Dilg's favorable reputation within the community. The business received praise from the time of its opening. In 1917 a publication recalling the historical development and current activity of the Niles region featured a section on the Dilg family and complemented Herbert on the establishment of his new business, calling it, "One of the finest in Cook County." The piece goes on to describe his business ethic, "He has spared no expense nor effort in installing the latest equipment and finest machinery that can be put into a place of this kind. He safs that he is here to serve the people and give them service, showing no partiality but treating them all alike."2 It seems clear that Dilg enjoyed respect within his community from early in his career.

In 1931, two years after the stock market crashed and the country began falling into depression, Herbert Dilg was elected Mayor of Morton Grove for a second time; he would go on to hold the office until1944. Morton Grove's economy and local industry was significantly impacted by the Great Depression, loosing its largest employer, Poehlmann Brothers Company, in 1931. The greenhouse business had operated in Morton Grove since 1889, employing hundreds of local residents. It was this backdrop of community and economic challenge and change that framed Dilg's service as Village President. When Dilg presided over his first Village Board meeting on May 12, 193 1 the first order of business was to create a board of local improvements. 24 Throughout his career Dilg had been dedicated to service, as Village President service meant helping to reframe his community by encouraging growth through an expanded sense of local identity. Throughout its history Morton Grove had been an independent, self-sustaining community, in the 1930s it began a transition into what would eventually be a suburban residential setting, home to light industrial complexes, and inextricably connected to Chicago and surrounding communities.

Dilg championed the solicitation of light industrial business as a way of reestablishing Morton Grove's economic stability and growth. This nearly ten year campaign led to the establishment of Bell and Gossett in Morton Grove in 1941. A Village ordinance passed on March 25, 1941 encouraged the construction of a new factory through a vote by the Village Board to provide the company with $2,500 to establish on their new site and reimbursement for the expense of required permits.25 Even as change was being sought, the civic business of Morton Grove throughout the 1930s consisted of smaller endeavors aimed at improving the immediate workings of the Village. During Dilg' s tenure Morton Grove sought the construction of a water works and pumping station, installation of traffic lights, improved postal service, expanded its network of arterial streets and allowed for motor coach service through the Village. In 1938 the WPA constructed a new library in the Village and a new municipal center the following year.

Throughout his time in office Dilg maintained a favorable public persona with a reputation as a personable and accessible public official, illustrated by this quote from a Chicago Herald and Examiner of 1938, "Everyone drops in to see Mayor in his comfortable home study (on Callie Ave.) ... it is here that most of the villagers come to talk, rather than seek their mayor in his public office. "26 This account further anchors the important role that the Dilg home played within the context of its residential/commercial neighborhood.

Existing biographical information from the period indicates that he maintained proprietorship of the Morton Grove Garage and pursued civic and community leadership roles during his time in office. In 1940 he was founding president of the Morton Grove Lions Club; in 1944 he was an alternate delegate to the Republican National Convention. After leaving public office he served as vice president of the Niles Township Republican club.

County records indicate that Dilg sold his home at 8544 Callie in 1946.27 Perhaps seeking, in retirement, a change of scenery from the several square blocks that he had spent the majority of his life living and working in, Dilg presumably moved approximately one mile east to 5624 Crain Street; the address indicated as his place of residence in his obituary of 1951. The Crain Street residence was a cir. 1941 28 two story brick and frame home of modest proportions and styling. The home was comparably less ornate than the Callie residence. The location of the Crain Street home would have provided relief from the traffic and activity of the Lincoln A venue commercial strip that was just a block south of Dilg' s Callie bungalow.

During the ensuing decades the Dilg house changed hands several times. According to Cook Country records, the home had a series of three owners between 1946 and 1956. In 1956 Henry Jung purchased the home. During lung's ownership the house was used as a home for wayward soldiers and single mothers?9 In 1985 the house was purchased by James and Andrea Welch. The Welch's converted the home back to a single-family dwelling by removing temporary partition walls and an external staircase which had been built along the north elevation to create access to the second floor. The Welch's also made minor cosmetic changes to the homes interior and upgraded the kitchen and bathrooms. Current owners Robert and Jennifer Campanella purchased the Dilg house in late 2005.