Historic Glencoe FAQ

The survey meets the mission of the Historic Preservation Commission, which includes the following duties as noted in the Glencoe historic preservation ordinance:

• “To inform and educate the Village residents concerning the historic and architectural heritage of the Village by publishing appropriate maps, newsletters, brochures, and pamphlets, and by holding programs and seminars;

• To conduct a survey of structures, buildings, sites, objects, and areas in the Village in order to identify those with architectural, historical, archaeological, or cultural significance; and

• To keep a register of all structures, buildings, objects, sites, and areas that have been certified as a landmark or an historic district, including all information required for the approval of each landmark or district.”

The Historic Preservation Commission (HPC) is an advisory body of appointed residents that reports to the Village Board. Information about the mission and membership of the HPC is available here.

All structures in the Village were initially surveyed by architectural historian Susan Benjamin in 1985, preceding the adoption of the historic preservation ordinance. This first effort identified approximately 300 structures – an inventory that came to be known as the “300 List”.

Due to the age of the “300 List”, and due to the fact that a number of structures originally on the survey were lost to demolition, an update was necessary in order to determine the following:

• What structures have been altered or demolished?

• What structures were overlooked in 1985 that should be added?

• What additional information can be added to listed properties where data is missing? 

In 2012 architectural historian Carla Bruni was hired to prepare an update to the survey and limited research.

Members of the HPC enriched the updated survey with additional structures, landscapes and more extensive research. This effort occurred over a three year period. Members of the HPC walked every block in the Village to review listed structures and to identify possible additions to the survey. All data was fact-checked by staff, commissioners, and members of the community.

• Building permits, city directories, and telephone records were used to establish the Historic Name, usually the first owner or occupant.

• The Architect and Construction Date were established through building permit records, published books and periodicals, and other available sources.

• Available historic information for each structure was added to the Notes column. 

Missing, or unknown, information is due to incomplete or lost building permit records or the need for further research. For example, the Village’s earliest building permits did not include the name of the architect. Also, some of the oldest homes in Glencoe were built prior to the requirement for a building permit, which contributes to missing information.

The HPC will use the survey as a tool for educating residents, realtors, prospective buyers, architects, and builders about the significance of Village structures and sites, and in some cases before important decisions are made regarding their alteration or possible demolition. The Commission is hopeful that the survey will build community pride around the history of the Village and the significance of its buildings and environment.

The survey properties are showcased on the Village website as a Story-Map. Visitors to the website may view photos and historic details for each listed property. The HPC has also developed a promotional brochure that describes the survey and encourages those interested to access the Story-Map.

The easiest way to determine whether a particular structure or site is listed on the survey is to access the Historic Glencoe Story-Map. You may locate the structure or site in one of two ways: (1) Alphabetically by street name from the columns on the left side; or (2) Geographically from the map on the right side.

Additional information may be obtained through a variety of resources available at Village Hall, the Glencoe Historical Society, area libraries, and online research.

• The Village’s Building Department maintains a “House File” for each structure that includes original building permit records and, in some cases, additional historic information about the property.

• The Glencoe Historical Society has various records in their archives including ownership history for any address in the Village dating back to 1871.

• Area libraries may be a resource too as many Glencoe homes and buildings have been published in architectural books and periodicals.

• Online research is often helpful in locating information about specific architects and other details.

Your house is listed on the survey because it is recognized as a significant piece of Glencoe’s architecture or history. This may mean one or more of the following:

• Your house is considered an excellent example of a particular architectural style.

• Your house is part of a grouping of structures that have similar characteristics.

• A person that lived in, designed, or built your house made noteworthy contributions to the Village of Glencoe, State of Illinois, or United States.

Approximately one-third of the 300+ houses listed on the survey have landmark status. These houses were nominated by their owner and completed a review process to become designated by the Village Board as an Honorary or Certified Glencoe landmark. Others completed a process to be listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

The remaining (non-landmark) houses could be eligible for landmark designation should an owner decide to pursue that process. However, houses listed on the survey without landmark status are not subject to additional restrictions or requirements.

For nearly a century, Glencoe children have been running to South School to begin their public education.  And every school morning since 1926, this weathervane atop the original six-room school has gazed down upon a scene very much in its own likeness. The weathervane was the gift of John A. Armstrong, Glencoe parent and architect of South School.

The Glencoe Historic Preservation Commission salutes South School as Glencoe’s oldest public building, and the first to be designed in the Georgian Revival style, which became the standard for Glencoe’s public buildings. Despite changing trends in education and in architecture, South School has handsomely maintained its integrity through the years.