30 | February 22, 2018 | The Northbrook tower news northbrooktower.com time lines Memories all that remain of historic homes along Shermer Dan Kaye Northbrook Historical Society It did not take long for a large chunk of visible Northbrook history to vanish. In what likely ranks as one of the biggest demolition projects ever in Northbrook, six buildings recently disappeared (and two others will soon do the same) along the south side of Shermer Road between Waukegan Road and Church Street. The six came down during late January as work began on the Gateway project that eventually will feature 68 luxury townhomes. Though the old structures disappeared quickly and quietly, memories of how they helped shape an entryway to downtown Northbrook will remain a part of Village history. Just a few weeks ago, six homes, two commercial buildings, and two vacant lots — all with large yards backing up to those on Chapel Court — occupied this area along Shermer. The oldest building to come down was the house at 1249 Shermer, which had been the fourth-oldest structure remaining in the Village, according to Northbrook Historical Society records. The 1249 house was built in 1882 — 19 years before the incorporation of the Village of Shermerville — by Herman Mentzer. More recently, it had served as the site of the Escape Salon. Before its demolition, the house was one of only 25 structures left in the Village that were built before 1900. Now, of course, that number is down to 24. Two of the other buildings now gone were commercial structures at 1251 and 1275 Shermer. A number of medical offices had occupied the 1275 building. The 1251 structure began as a family home built in 1955 by Herbert E. Smith, a well-known Northbrook optometrist for many years. Dr. Smith and his family later moved to another home in Northbrook, and he expanded his optometric offices in the building on Shermer. Robert Misener eventually purchased the optometric business and the building. Four of the five other demolished or soon-to-be demolished buildings had been constructed when the Village was called Shermerville (the name change to Northbrook came in 1923). After the pre-1900 home at 1249 Shermer, the next-oldest building on the tear-down list is the home at 1205 Shermer. It was built in 1905, and at one point was the residence of Albert Werhane, who served as a Shermerville Village Board member from 1912-21. More recently, the 1205 building was the office of attorney Joseph C. Johnson. Built in 1882, this house that once stood at 1249 Shermer Road was the fourth-oldest structure still remaining in the Village before it was demolished in late January. Photo Submitted A more recent extensive remodeling had left the house at 1199 Shermer looking like it was almost new, but it actually had been built in 1909 and once was the home of George Eberlein. Before demolition, the small house at 1183 Shermer was nearly hidden by trees and bushes for a number of years. It dated to 1920 — just two years before construction of the larger, stucco house at 1239 Shermer. The other building that came down was the house at 1179 Shermer, which had been built in 1925. The two vacant lots included in the current construction project once had houses that were removed many years ago. Those houses also had dated back to Shermerville days, with the one at 1229 Shermer built in 1903 and the neighboring one at 1235 built in 1922. Three historic homes will remain along the south side of Shermer between Waukegan and Church. The best known of these is the Kiest House at 1297 Shermer. Built by George A. Kiest in 1890, it continues as one of Northbrook’s most historic structures. Kiest was one of Shermerville’s earliest Village trustees, a member of the Shermerville Volunteer Fire Department, and donated the land at the corner of Church Street and Chapel Court on which Hope Union Church (now the Historical Society’s Hope Union Heritage Center) was constructed in 1892. The building next to the Kiest House, at 1291 Shermer, also is staying. It was built in 1917 and once was the home of Edgar Wessling, who served as Village Clerk for an amazing 44 years. Also remaining is 1163 Shermer, A 1920 house that features a front porch with two stately pillars and once was the home of Henry Pfingsten. If you would like to find out more about your house, neighborhood or any Northbrook buildings, visit the Historical Society at 1776 Walters Ave. or the Hope Union Heritage Center at 1812 Chapel Court, or call the Historical Society at (847) 498-3404.
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