In most cases, it’s the people who move and the houses that stay put, but that’s not the case for one home on Elgin Avenue.
In 1913, the Murray family — John S., 34; Gertrude, 32; Loretta, 6 and John, 3 — moved to 825 Elgin in Forest Park, a home that had been built between 1911 and 1913. That same year, they increased their family to five with the birth of Clara. Soon, the family members became intertwined with the community, particularly at St. Bernardine’s Church — which was convenient, since they basically lived next door. John was one of the founders of the first church board and Gertrude served on the Altar and Rosary Society. Gertrude also became a member of the Woman’s Club of Forest Park while John worked with village youth groups. John’s occupation was book binder at Sears and Roebuck (presumably on the well-known catalogue).
Loretta made the papers when she attended her friend Dorothy’s 9th birthday party in 1918. The party at 606 Marengo Ave. included singing and dancing. Loretta again graced the paper in a photo of the St. Bernardine’s class of 1921.
In 1922, John and Gertrude helped organize races at an “old fashioned” picnic for the Daughters of Isabella (a Catholic women’s group.) The couple arranged contests based on ages five to 20 and even scheduled a race for “married and fat ladies.”
Following in her sister’s footsteps, Clara was seen in a photo of the St. Bernardine’s Class of 1927. Owning a radio was a unique enough occurrence that it was included in the house’s inhabitants’ details on the 1930 census. At that time, John, 50, was still working as a book binder, Gertrude, 48, didn’t have an occupation listed, Loretta, 22, was working in advertising as a stenographer, John Jr. was employed as a bank clerk, Clara was 16 and probably at school, and a new addition to the family, Joseph, was 11 years old.
The Century of Progress World’s Fair in 1933 was a big occurrence in Chicago. Clara was a member of the queen’s court, attending to the village beauty queen, Miss Florence Blum (also of Elgin Avenue), on Forest Park Day at the Fair.
Clara married Fred Trage in 1937 – the Review called them “one of the most popular couples in the community.” In 1939, John Sr. was reelected to the park board. A year later, Loretta married Arthur A. Broenen. Arthur worked as a jeweler at CD Peacock on State Street. A couple of years later, they welcomed baby Carol.
At the age of 65, Gertrude died from thyroid cancer. After Gertrude’s passing, Loretta, Arthur and Carol moved into the house with John Sr.
In 1953, St. Bernardine planned an addition to the school along with a convent housing 22 sisters. That’s when the house at 825 took a stroll down the block to its current location at 847 Elgin. Reportedly, St. Bernardine’s owned a plot of land at 847 Elgin and a property exchange was arranged with the family. The house was then lifted off of its foundation and rolled on large dollies down the street. (Around this time, other houses in Forest Park had to be moved to make way for the Eisenhower.)
The 1954 revision of the Sanborn Fire Map Vol. 32 shows that a change was made to the map — an editor pasted over the property at 825 and added the building to the lot at 847 (now with an enclosed porch). Further investigation of the map shows that the lot at 821 has two “paste-overs” of its own showing the house changing from a residence to a convent and then later to a vacant lot.
Community activities at the house continued at the new location. In 1958, the Forest Park Infant Welfare Society’s executive board held meetings there, and the Circle Eleven members held a Christmas party “for their husbands.” Like the birthday party 40 years earlier, there was dancing.
John Sr. died at the age of 82 in 1961. He was praised for his work with civic organizations and youth groups. Besides his children, he left behind 12 grandchildren. The Broenen family remained in the home. Carol received her nursing degree in 1963 and she continued to live in the house after her parents died (Arthur in 1977, Loretta in 1989). In 1993, she sold the house to the current owner, Catherine Heagarty.
When Catherine wrote to the Review about her home, she was hoping to confirm some of the stories she had heard about it. She also shared photos of some elements original to the home, many of which can be found in Sears, Roebuck and Co. catalogues of the time. (Maybe John Sr. had a discount!) Parts of the basement contain evidence of the move as well as the yellow and green color scheme that at least one long-time Forest Parker remembered from the parties held there. Catherine didn’t mention if she is currently hosting any dances there.
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If you’d like to work directly with Jill Summers to explore the history of your home, check out previous house histories online at https://www.facebook.com/OrdinaryHousesFB/ and reach out to her at ordinaryhouses@gmail.com.