Explore Winnetka Stories: Winnetka’s Oldest Houses

1896 map of Winnetka. The black dots indicate all structures standing in 1896. The red dots indicate all pre-1875 houses that still stand today.

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830 Sheridan: Winnetka’s First National Landmark

First built c. 1850, 830 Sheridan became the home of famous journalist and political activist Henry Demarest Lloyd in 1878. Since then, the house has been remarkably well-preserved, thanks to many dedicated residents and its designation as a National Historic Landmark. Read more about the history of one of Winnetka’s oldest and most famous houses. CLICK HERE! And to watch a clip about the Lloyd House from the documentary Winnetka Story, CLICK HERE!

Image of 830 Sheridan (Wayside), 1897.

Image of 830 Sheridan, 2021. Credit: Landmarks Illinois

The Gage House: An 1850s Italianate Treasure

When banker Jared Gage moved to Winnetka in the 1850s, he built a number of stately homes for himself and his children. While Gage’s own house at 1175 Whitebridge Hill, built c. 1857, has undergone significant renovations, elements of original front façade remain. Read more about the long history of Jared Gage’s lakefront house. READ HERE! And CLICK HERE, to watch a clip about the Gage house from the documentary Winnetka Story.

1175 Whitebridge Hill, c. 1890

1175 Whitebridge Hill, c. 2015

Winnetka’s Oldest House: The Schmidt-Burnham Log House

Built c. 1837, the Schmidt-Burnham Log House is one of the oldest houses in Illinois. Thanks to a number of dedicated Winnetkans, including artist Anita Willets-Burnham and WHS board member Joan Evanich, the Log House survives today and is open to the public May through November. Learn more about the storied history of Winnetka’s oldest structure. CLICK HERE!

Image of the Schmidt-Burnham Log House, c. 1890

Image of the Schmidt-Burnham Log House, 2021

A Tale of Two Historic Houses: 510 Ash and 530 Cherry

When Judge Thomas Windes moved his family to Winnetka in 1879, he purchased a beautiful Victorian home at 530 Cherry Street. After living in the house for just over a decade, Windes moved the house to 510 Ash in 1891 and built a new house at 530 Cherry in 1892. Miraculously, both of these historic homes still survive today. Read more about the 19th century move and construction of the Windes homes. CLICK HERE!

510 Ash c. 1900 after the move from Cherry

The second Windes home at 530 Cherry, c. 1896.

Photo Gallery: Houses of the 19th Century

Winnetka has an impressive number of houses built before 1900 that still stand today. Scroll through the photo gallery to see historic images of some of the Village’s oldest houses. LOOK HERE!

695 Prospect a year after it was built, 1889.

Image of 695 Prospect, 2021

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