Many Forest Parkers have passed the beautiful brick home with the distinctive green tile roof on the corner of Marengo and Jackson and wondered about the history of this uniquely attractive home.
Luckily for us curious passers-by, current residents David Wallis and Eddie Ward, who have been in the home for almost 50 years, reached out to the Review to feature this striking home in our House History column.
And there is quite a story to tell. Let’s start way back then…
On Dec. 19, 1925, the Forest Park Review ran the Building Commissioners Report listing “Al Huemer (sic), 1 story bungalow, 547 Marengo Avenue for $11,000.” A year later, in September 1926, the Huemmer family (Alois, Louise, and daughter Eloise) moved in.
Alois (Al) had previously lived at “the old Huemmer homestead” at 7247 Madison (originally 49 Madison). The homestead was recorded at that location as early as 1895. Al Huemmer was born around 1873. His father was a wagon maker. By the time Al was 28, he was living with his family at the homestead and employed as a bookkeeper. (His father changed professions and was working as a saloon keeper.)
In 1908 Al married Louise Johnson whose stepfamily had a saloon and restaurant near Waldheim Cemetery at 844 Des Plaines. Al was 36 and Louise 23 when they wed. The couple had one child, Eloise, born in 1909. For a time, Al and Louise lived at 430 Beloit while Al’s father and brother still resided at the old homestead.
Al found work as an auditor at the Hawthorne Works, a large Western Electric complex located in what is now Cicero. (Interestingly, Al was employed at Hawthorne Works in 1915 when the Eastland Disaster occurred – a tragic boat accident that killed 844 people during a company picnic for the Hawthorne Works employees – but there are no records confirming if he and his family were at the Chicago River on that terrible day.)
Articles in the Western Electric publications tell several comical stories about Al including one where, as a young man, he was asked how much money he made. He responded, “Fifteen dollars a week,” which was nowhere near what his salary was. When his boss asked him why he had said that, Al replied, “All I said was that I earned $15 a week. I only get six of it.”
In 1923, Al and family were back at the Madison Street address but eventually moved to the new home at 547 Marengo. Al died at the home in 1937 at just 65 years of age. He retired four years earlier from Western Electric and is buried at Waldheim Cemetery. Louise and their daughter continued living together – Eloise working as a sales clerk. In 1941, Eloise was “installed as a worthy matron” in the Forest Park Chapter of the Order of the Eastern Star at the Forest Park Masonic Temple at 7509 Madison. A surprise party was held at the house by the Eastern Star where “A delightful buffet supper was served…”
In 1945, Louise passed away at the age of 58. Louise’s pallbearers included members of The Pythian Sisters (an auxiliary of the Knights of Pythias fraternal organization) and the “Rebeccas” (sic) (a branch of the Independent Order of the Odd Fellows, also a fraternal organization.)
After her mother’s death, Eloise married John Nielsen, a laborer with an electrical company who had come to the US from Denmark when he was 11 years old. Sometime after that, the couple turned the home into a two-story, with a rental on the top floor.
In 1950, the Hansens, William and Ida, were listed as living “upstairs” at 547 Marengo. The 1951 Sanbourn fire map shows an addition to the rear of the house and a new garage. (The current owners commented that the building design and construction seemed seamless and find it difficult to believe there was ever an addition added.) Ida held a luncheon at the home for past matrons of the Order of the Eastern Star (perhaps that’s how she knew Eloise). She also hosted an event for the Rebecca Parker West Suburban Club.
Nine years later, in 1959, the Hogrewes were living in the home and celebrated their 55th wedding anniversary as well as Henry’s 80th birthday. Henry was associated with the Forest Park Police Department and in 1968, the village honored him for 51 years of service. Henry lived to be 100 years old. In 1979, the village held a birthday party for him at the Mohr Center. The Historical Society declared that he was “Forest Park’s oldest male resident.” Money was collected for the occasion and when Henry died a short time later, he had bequeathed the remaining birthday funds to the Altenheim German Old People’s Home and the Forest Park Senior Citizens Club.
By 1965, Louis and Myrtle Peglau lived in the home. Louis worked for the Pullman Co. and was mentioned in the Pullman News as being a “financial wizard.” Louis was also a former acting postmaster in Forest Park and under his leadership in 1956, applications for women to work at the post office were accepted for the first time. Louis also “took the lead in the Metropolitan Miami Fishing Tournament” by catching a 51-pound grouper.
Over the next couple of years, other occupants lived at 547 Marengo. From 1969-1971, John Logan was at the address with the Peglau family. Then, in 1972, A. Kietzmann also resided at the address. (She continued to be an upstairs tenant until the current owners acquired the property.)
In 1974, Eloise passed away. That same year, Myrtle Peglau had to be taken from home by ambulance and later died. Truly a changing of the guard for the home on Marengo.
David and Eddie purchased the home in 1977. David previously worked at Oak Park and River Forest High School and Eddie is a retired graphic designer. They shared that the interior of the home still has original birch woodwork throughout – including the doors, windows, trim and baseboards. In the living room, dining room, and halls are intricate 5-piece mitered molding. The gorgeous outdoor landscaping on the 1.5 lot is certainly eye-catching and the product of Eddie’s hard work.
David and Eddie had heard rumors that the house was built for an executive at Western Electric. We were happy to confirm that rumor as well as their guess that the second floor had been converted into a separate living space.
The house on Marengo is a wonderful snapshot of how people have lived over the last 100 years. It embodies the importance of family, friends, and community in people’s lives.
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.