Schmidt-Burnham Log House

Research indicates that the Schmidt-Burnham log house is the oldest log structure in Cook County and that it was most likely built in 1837 by Alexander McDaniel, one of the first settlers in the area. It is also distinguished as the only home in the area to be continuously occupied for nearly 165 years. Originally located on the grounds of the Indian Hill Club, local artist and author, Anita Willets Burnham, "discovered" the log house while on a painting trip in the spring of 1914. She purchased the home in 1917, relocated it to 1407 Tower Road and restored it to its original condition.


Ensuring that this historically significant gem would be available to the public has been a long-held hope of the Society. In spring 1998, the Society was contacted by Ann Hibbard Burnham Smith, daughter of Anita Willets Burnham and owner and resident of the log house, to discuss its gifting to the Society.

Mrs. Smith gifted this historic structure to the Society upon her death in August, 2001. The log house was officially donated to the Society in spring, 2003, when the house was moved to Crow Island Woods, just west of Crow Island School, on land generously provided by the Winnetka Park District. The landmark Crow Island School, designed by Eliel Saarinen in conjunction with Perkins, Wheeler and Will in 1939 has been a powerful influence on school design worldwide and is an ideal educational neighbor.

The Society plans to highlight the original front portion of the house as an opportunity to step back in time and experience life in the Illinois wilderness. With its prairie-like setting, the Crow Island site is similar to its original location. The rear portion of the home, built as a 1917 art studio addition, will be used to tell the story of the Burnham family through their art, writings and world travels.

WHS is completing preservation and ADA compliance work on the log house and hopes to open to the public as a living history site by 2006. The first floor will be ADA accessible including washrooms which will be available at an existing facility at Crow Island Woods. The house will not contain any offices. The Society has a number of period furnishings and artifacts in its collection which are earmarked for the house. The Winnetka Historical Society will act as steward of this important public resource.

In June of 2005, the Schmidt-Burnham Log House was listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The National Register is the Nation's official list of cultural resources worthy of preservation. The basis for the listing was the significance of Anita Willets Burnham's life as an artist and writer. The Log House is the 4 th building in Winnetka to be listed on the National Register.  The others are the Henry Demarest Lloyd house, the Orth house and Crow Island School.

Click on any photo for a larger view
 

Anita Willets Burnham with her children Anne and Willets.	Master bedroom c.1840 rope bed.	Ceiling in Burnham 1917 addition with painted stars.	Main room fireplace.
Master bedroom.	Master bedroom with stairs to attic level.	Exterior shot of windows with wagon wheel iron hinges.	Anita Willets Burnham drawing of house move in 1917.
Alfred Burnham, husband of Anita Willets Burnham.	Anita Willets Burnham, artist, writer and lecturer.	Carol Lou Burnham, daughter and artist.	Main room fireplace.
"Mother at Work" drawn by Alfred Burnham.	Log house in its Tower Road location.	Log house move to Crow Island woods, Spring 2003.	Log house move to Crow Island woods, Spring 2003.
Log house move to Crow Island woods, Spring 2003.	Log House Restoration in Progress, February 2006.	Log House Restoration in Progress, February 2006.	Log House Restoration in Progress, February 2006.
Log House Restoration in Progress, February 2006.