In 1900 Redmond acquired the remainder of the original lot, sold the house at 426 Forest to William R. Harvey for $12,500, and hired Roberts again to design a grander house at 422 Forest.
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| Original Owner: | Andrew Jackson Redmond #1 |
| Address: | 426 Forest Ave. |
| Architect: | E. E. Roberts |
| Year Built: | 1897 |
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Andrew Jackson Redmond
was the town attorney for Cicero Township, which included Oak Park until 1902.
What is now both 422 and 426 Forest was originally one large lot; Redmond
acquired the north 50 feet of it and commissioned Roberts to design a Queen
Anne house for him. The third floor has Palladian and fan windows, and
the front porch is supported by triple Ionic columns. Since the house was
built on a narrow lot it was uncomfortably close to its next door neighbor to
the north, one Frank Lloyd Wright. Wright blocked off the lower windows
of the bay of his dining room to enhance his privacy after the Redmond house
was built. Anxious not to antagonize his neighbor and fellow architect,
Roberts apparently tried to keep his involvement in this house quiet;
Robert's son Elmer, a frequent playmate of the Wright children, was
unaware that his father was the architect of this home. In 1900 Redmond acquired the remainder of the original lot, sold the house at 426 Forest to William R. Harvey for $12,500, and hired Roberts again to design a grander house at 422 Forest. |
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