A Historic Rehab and a Newer Home Rehab

BY MAUREEN CALLAHAN

Oak Brook has a wide variety of home types, and one of the best things about this town is its respect for older home restoration. Some are added onto gradually as years pass, and some are gutted and remodeled in one fell swoop. There’s no right or wrong answer; it’s all a matter of preference.

For our design issue, we’re taking a close look at one house of each type – the historic Harger Estate and a Saddle Brook remodel from the 80s.

The Harger Estate

According to current owner, Jan Davis, this is one of the oldest homes in the area – the early part of it is pre–Civil War. “I love history, as did my late husband Champ,” said Davis. “We kind of fell into this treasure about 42 years ago. So it’s been a lifelong love.”

One thing is for certain – it’s loaded with charm!

“Artifacts dating back around 5,000 years have been found on the property,” said Davis. The oldest section of the house was built after the 1833 Land Grant Act by early DuPage County settlers David and Sally Talmadge. The family farmed a 165-acre plot of land north of present-day 22^nd Street between York and Spring Roads until the Civil War.

In 1865, Heinrich and Dorthea Ehrenpfort and their nine-year-old daughter Maria bought the land and remodeled the frame house while they lived in a log cabin on the property. A newly arrived German immigrant named William Harger helped the Ehrenpforts build a barn, windmill, and several other buildings on the property. Harger and Maria’s wedding reception was held in the new barn.

At some point, the road leading to the dairy farm was renamed Harger Road. By the early 1900s, the home had a hot water heating system, indoor plumbing, and an electric power plant. The family lived on the farm until 1924. By the time of the Great Depression, the area was less agrarian, and the Harger family sold the farm.

Harold Zook incorporated the
barn beans into an addition.

Nobel Snyder bought the property in 1936. Snyder renamed the homestead – with its creek flanked with oak, poplar and evergreen trees – Happy Creek Farm. He hired local legendary architect Harold Zook to remodel the house in honor of its centennial year. In keeping with the Swiss style of his homeland, Zook brought the hand-hewn barn beams and hay racks into the home and incorporated them into the home’s great room. “He did a wonderful job working with the history that was already here,” Davis acknowledged. Further updates included a spiral staircase and a two-story stone fireplace. He created additions of large rooms leading on to smaller ones while incorporating wood paneling and molding, in his signature style.

Next came owner Henry Owen, who added the south and west wings to the house. Eventually, the property was sold to developers who turned the house into their sales office. While it was slated to come down, a financial setback prevented it. The house became neglected as it sat empty for a period of time.

Current owner Jan Davis and her late husband Champ bought the house in 1985. “The bank had wanted the house closed, but Champ was very persuasive! We had to relocate the raccoons from the attic and the family of geese living on the front porch when we arrived,” Davis recounted as she laughed.

Davis believes that things often find their way into the right hands. “This has been a story house for us,” said Davis.

A Saddle Brook Gut Rehab

Ron and Carol Ariana were looking to gravitate from Western Springs. “Like many other people, I had driven by many of the neighborhoods over the years but had never really driven ‘into’ them.”

As they began seriously looking at Oak Brook, they noted the lack of village taxes, excellent police and fire protection, good infrastructure, and recreational amenities. They also noticed the fiscally responsible local government and its plans for future capital improvements.

The winding tree-lined streets and large homes and lots in Saddle Brook caught the Arianas’ eye. As the couple had experience building homes and also remodeling existing ones, they chose to remodel as they liked the idea of taking something already built and putting their own stamp on it.

They were attracted to their 1981 build for several reasons. The half-acre lot, layout, and room sizes checked a lot of boxes. “We knew right away it was something we could work with and reconstruct,” said Ron.

Reconstruction projects involved the laundry/mudroom, the primary bath, and closets, and the addition of a bathroom to the second floor. The master bathroom, which had a large jacuzzi tub, was surrounded by wooden trellises and faux greenery! “We knew we would be gutting that bathroom down to the studs. It was a large space to work with, along with a vaulted ceiling and skylight.” The former tub is now a walk-in steam shower. Heated flooring, tile, cabinets, and lighting gave the room a total makeover.

“The kitchen had been remodeled 15 years ago, but other than that, we knew just about every aspect and finish would have to be changed,” said Ron. New hardware and tile flooring throughout the first floor, new trim throughout the house, light fixtures, door hardware, and carpet and paint in the bedrooms gave the older home a brand-new look.

The biggest change outside the master bathroom overhaul was the family room, which had been part of an open floor plan adjacent to the kitchen. The natural wood beams were painted, and the brick facing on the fireplace was covered with gray basalt stone from floor to ceiling. The basement – often the biggest part of a rehab – only needed new carpet and paint.

With little to no landscape at the time of purchase, Ron worked with a landscape designer to lay out planting beds and shrubs. Seating areas and a fire pit nestled among evergreens and native trees were added to the backyard. Painted brick, gutters, a new driveway, front door, and exterior lighting made it look like a completely new house.

All in all, the entire interior remodel took about 8 months. “Gratefully, there were no mid-project showstoppers,” said Ron. “We are very happy with the results.”

The Arianas know they won’t be the last to gut an old home. “Considering the size of the homes and lots in this town, Oak Brook is bound to be a destination for younger families.”