Buehler_collection

This collection consists of four books--three leather-bound, boxed folio photo albums, containing one-hundred and six color 8 X 10 inch photographic prints in excellent condition, and one loose-leaf binder listing of 1980s interior contents of the Rumsey estate house and landscape. The photographs have been keyed with marked stickers to link to the appropriate sections in the fourth, descriptive volume, and vice versa. They were donated to Special Collections March 22, 2006.

The Henry Rumsey estate and manor house of 1911, 900 East Illinois Road, was the home of a prominent Board of Trade businessman (grain commission operator) in Chicago, the son of I.P. Rumsey, 404 East Deerpath (The Evergreens), in the late 19th C., also a prominent member of the Board of Trade. Rumsey was a member of Lake Forest College’s Class of 1894, though he attended only for two years, 1890-92, before transferring to Williams, where he graduated with the Class of 1894 there. According to the College’s 1931 General Register…, Rumsey married Marion E. Dudd, June 12, 1906. Rumsey was a member of Onwentsia and also of the Casino, in the city, as well as the University Club there. Special Collections also has a collection of family records and accounts assembled by the late Jean Rumsey.

The Rumseys’ architect for their 1911 house was Charles Coolidge, of Shepley Rutan & Coolidge, Boston architects, and with Coolidge active in the period in Chicago working on additions to the University of Chicago in Hyde Park, specifically the Harper Library on 59th St. and the Hutchinson Commons nearby, both outstanding works of Collegiate Gothic in this country. In Lake Forest, Coolidge also designed the Russell house, 808 East Deerpath in 1910, a Georgian style brick home as well but in a simpler New England revival vein. This 1911 house, modeled on an English Renaissance manor for the Rumseys, recalls more the classic stateliness of the firm’s and Coolidge’s 1893 Art Institute building, Michigan Ave.

The original landscape, which extended west to Sheridan Road and north to the south part of Maple Court, in both instances across the deep ravine which defines the northwestern boundary of the property today, was designed by Prairie Style founder Jens Jensen, and remnants of the original “restored” moraine limestone stratified material survives on the east and north peripheries of the property today, or at least it did a few years ago. Jensen’s plans on file at the Bentley Library, University of Michigan, include two ink on linen and one ink on tracing paper drawings. Shown on these are the plan for “ravine, arbors, kitchen garden campfire, children’s playground.”

The Rumsey house, for its design quality, scale, and setting, represents a highpoint in North Shore estate architecture in the early 20th C., prior to the 1913 re-instatement of the federal income tax. The house’s local prominence was underscored when Rumsey served as mayor of Lake Forest, 1919 to 1925; Rumsey also oversaw construction of the late 1920s Board of Trade building, serving as president of the organization then. The Depression of the 1930s, though, cost the Rumseys their house, and it sat empty until it was used by naval officers for living quarters during World War II. The outlying auxiliary buildings across the ravine were sold by an owner then in the early 1950s. In 1963 postcard king Curt Teich and his wife purchased the property, and she had erected a Japanese tea house in that period, later demolished though recorded in these photographs from the years when Mignon Buehler and her spouse owned the property. Their three-year restoration of the estate and house reflected the ending economic trough of the mid-20th C., just in time to prevent the house from decaying beyond redemption.

These pictures chronicle the now quarter-century old restoration, renovation, and refurnishing of the house and the rejuvenation of the long-derelict landscape. The third album, which mostly records views of the gardens in four seasons, may be the best (size, color, technical sophistication) surviving record of an early 1980s restored landscape and gardens in this very garden-conscious community, which a decade later was getting national and international recognition and documentation. Ms. Buehler left the house in 1987, and it was sold to Mr. and Mrs. Douglas Chapman, and then again in 1996 to the Doug T. Valassis family, and recently again has changed hands.

Because of subsequent changes to the house and landscape, these photographs record the first revitalization of the house after its long hibernation during the high-income-tax era, from the 1930s to the 1980s. Most notably the 1960s tea house, Jensen’s long meadow south of the house, and significant aspects of the interior character of the house have undergone further alterations and additions. This extensive, high-quality collection recording the 1980s period state, with its interior collections, provides the best images known of the historic, architecturally significant house. Since 1976 it has been a contributing structure to the east Lake Forest National Register Historic District, and since 1998 the local Historic District.

Album 1

1.1: Clifford Manor in Warwickshire, England which inspired the design of Henry Rumsey’s manor in Lake Forest in 1911 (4.2)

1.2: a sketch of the main entrance, two views

1.3: the main entrance

1.4: a sketch of the house in Lake Forest, south façade

1.5: the house’s south façade (4.2)

1.6. The house’s south façade (4.2)

1.7: the west façade with new garage

1.8: a sketch of the west façade and the garage

1.9: sketch of the north façade

1.10: the north façade entrance

1.11: the north façade and the entrance, closer view

1.12: a sketch of the entrance located at the north façade

1.13: three sketches of the designs of door knob, handle and the lamp used at the entrance

1.14: the lobby and stairs

1.15: a hallway in one of the floors

1.16: a painting titled “Le Jeune Eleve” (the young student) by Francois H. Drouais (1727-1775). (4.4)

1.17: Ladies’ Chamber room decorated with wall paper, an antique writing table/ book case, a pair of chairs, and a couch (4.8)

1.18: The drawing room with a fireplace, two sofas and many antique pieces (4.18, 4.22, 4.23)

1.19: the painting placed in the drawing room above the fireplace titled “A Mediterranean Port Scene” (4.22)

1.20: one of the two cabinets placed on either side of the fireplace in the drawing room (4.20)

1.21 A roman marble head of Faustina the Younger on a bronze stand from 2nd century; located in the table in the center of the drawing room (4.23)

1.22: flower painting on the left side of the fireplace, “Flower Still Lifes” by Jean Baptiste Monnoyerin hand carved gilded frames (4.22)

1.23: another flower painting on the right side of the fireplace, “Flower Still Lifes” by Jean Baptiste Monnoyerin hand carved gilded frames (4.22)

1.24: a painting of a lady dressed in blue entitled “Self Portrait of the Artist, Drawing”

by Marie G. Capet (4.19)

1.25: Drawing room with secretaire (4.18)

1.26: black and white painting of boats at sea (pair) signed by Adam Van Salm (4.20)

1.27: black and white painting of boats at sea (pair) signed by Adam Van Salm (4.20)

1.28: the fireplace wall at the library with antique mini chandeliers, and many other antique items (4.11)

1.29: the 18th century painting directly above the fireplace wall in the library entitled “Street Scene in Amsterdam”(4.15)

1.30: a painting, “Ice Skating Scene” by Charles H. Leickert (4.16)

1.31: a room with cabinets displaying china (4.12, 4.13)

1.32: plates and cups made of china

1.33: plates and jugs made of china (4.12)

1.34: some more china plates and bowls (4.13)

1.35: the music porch overlooking the garden, with an ebonized Steinway living room grand piano, an Italian staghead chandelier and many other antique items (4.10)

1.36: the dining room with an original George III mahogany dining table, and many other pieces from the same era including four silver candlesticks, eight mahogany ladder back chairs; also includes a fireplace (4.25, 4.26)

1.37: an oil painting by Severin Roesen from 1850, entitled “Fruit Still Life with a glass of Lemonade”, located above the fireplace in the dining hall (4.27)

1.38: elegant silver dishes and a pair of silver candlesticks (4.27)

1.39: silver dishes (4.27)

1.40: a pair of silver jugs with brown handle and another pair with black handle (4.27)

Album 2

2.1: a wooden carved eagle stand

2.2: a painting of a bouquet of flowers

2.3: a silver teapot

2.4: painted dishes

2.5: painted dishes

2.6: painting of grapes

2.7: painting of a bouquet of flowers

2.8: The breakfast porch complete with antique French table, chairs candlesticks, and dishes (4.35)

2.9: the view from of the garden from the breakfast porch (4.35)

2.10: a painting of fruits

2.11: the stairs and second floor hallway (4.29)

2.12: second floor main hall (4.29

2.13: oil painting entitled “A southern port scene with figures on the Quayside” by Abraham Stock (4.29)

2.14: an oil painting titled “Still Life of Flowers in a Sculptured Vase” by John-Baptiste Drechsler from 1785 (4.33)

2.15: Bedroom No. 1 with walnut tester bed of double size, antique chairs and tables, cabinet and other items (4.33, 4.34)

2.16 Bedroom No. 2 with a fireplace, antique chairs, cabinet, a pair of antique bronze lamps and a pair of extra long mahogany twin size Hepplewhite reproduction beds along with many other antique items (4.39, 4.40, 4.41)

2.17: an oil painting entitled “River Landscape” by Jan Van Goyen (1596-1656) (4.39)

2.18: west bedroom porch with an antique six light chandelier, diamond, beehive brass candlesticks, among other antique items as well as a custom made carpet with scroll border

2.19: painting

2.20: painting

2.21

2.22:

2.23: Master bedroom and office porch with a fireplace, a mahogany king size four poster bed, George III Sheraton period mahogany armchairs, queen Anne burr-walnut bureau on stand and queen Anne brass candlesticks, antique walnut chest among other antique items that decorate the room (4.47, 4.48, 4.49)

2.24:

2.25: East guest suite bedroom with Queen Anne walnut winger chair, George Barr walnut chest of drawers with brushing slide and an English reproduction of burl walnut bed in Queen Anne style among other antique pieces (4.53, 4.54)

2.26: champagne bottles

2.27: wine cellar

2.28: kitchen, redone for Ms. Buehler

2.29: Through window in new construction wing, looking east across new blue stone terrace and bench up ravine edge to wooded original Jensen landscape, with morning light.

2:30: West side of new gate post, from Illinois Road, with ravine edge in background.

2:31: Sketch of east side of pair of gate posts, with wrought iron gate and wood s behind.

2:32:Vew of south façade of the house, east end, from south of garden gate.

2:33: Entrance to tea house bridge form the meadow, with the stone stream underneath and with a view of the tea house from the northeast. Demolished 1990s.

2:34: Another view of the now demolished 1960s tea house (for the Curt Teichs) from the northeast, but further east and showing the garden gate and stone path, in summer with hosta.

2:35: Sketch of tea house from near Illinois Road, southeast of it, behind foliage.

2:36: Sketch of southwest corner of the house, where the old meets the new construction, framed in foliage.

2:37: Same angle but further back, to allow view of entire south façade in spring late morning light.

2:38: Spring view of new brick drive looking south, with ravine edge behind, and which masses of yellow tulips.

2:39: White magnolia bush, perhaps northeast of the house?

2:40: Drive following north from the gates with lamp post and ravine edge on the left, in spring with tulips close up on lower left.

2:41: Close up of one bed of yellow tulips and pink azaleas at the ravine edge, looking southwest from the drive near the house.

2:42: View north from near the street in spring, with the south façade glimpsed through flowering foliage, with the tea house on the left.

2:43: View of the west side of the south façade from the Asian rock garden, on the southeast side of Jensen’s meadow south of the house.

2:44: close-up of south formal garden wall of new garden east of new wing, with topiary small flowering trees; the wall is in stratified white/yellow limestone, in the manner of Jensen’s restoration of native features such as moraine rock outcroppings.

2:45: View of woodland garden southeast of new walled garden, showing Jensen’s original 1910s planting and new spring bulbs. This space was built up subsequently with a pool house.

2:46: Yellow primroses on woodland floor, a close-up.

2:47: Red primroses, a similar view. Primroses were sometimes native to the region, and also were native in England where they were part of the Arts & Crafts gardens of William Robinson and Gertrude Jekyll. In the 1910s there were similar gardens just east toward and along Mayflower Road, and the well-known Warren Manning woodland garden for Clyde Carr (pictured in The Golden Age of American Gardens…, 1991, by Griswold and Weller, and also in Classic Country Estates of Lake Forest…, 2003, by Coventry et al.

2:48: Dogwood in flower against the still bare branches of trees in the ravine to the west or northwest.

2:49: Flowering bush (pink) with meadow and woodland garden behind, in early spring.

2:50: Intersection of original 1911 house and 1980s addition, with a bed of pink azaleas.

Album 3

3.1: Teichs’ Japanese tea house exterior and bridge from the north, in spring (flowering trees), with arch on left.

3.2: Same view, from a little farther east

3.3: “ “ “ “ “ “

3.4: Bridge and arch, with asjacent azalea garden, flowering trees

3.5: Japanese and azalea gardens

3.6: Daffodils at base of trees, looking north toward the house

3.7: Azalea bush in bloom

3.8: Boulder in foreground, with woodland garden, azaleas and daffodils

3.9: View of the long meadow edge, from near the southwest corner of the house

3.10: Daffodils by the boulder

3.11: Boulder, azalea, and daffodils

3.12: Azalea in flower, and rhodys, not yet blooming

3.13: Container garden near house wall (terrace?), with Daffodils, ivy, etc.

3.14: sketch of Italianate classic breezeway to new garage, Geudtner architects

3.15: photograph of breezeway, with spring flowers

3.16: terrace with container gardens/planters, bench, wall, and flowering shrubs behind.

3.17: Azalea in woodland garden setting

3.18: another view of this

3.19: View of south facade of house, with bluestone terrace

3.20: Sketch of wrought-iron lantern on drive

3.21: Photo view of drive looking north, with lanterns on edge of ravine, autumn

3.22: another view of brick drive, autumn

3.23: curve in drive, from north, looking southwest, autumn.

3.24: Brick entry court, looking northeast, with northwest corner of house

3.25: west façade of house, looking south, autumn

3.26: West side of entry gate structure, from lawn across drive, autoumn

3.27: West side of entry gate and brick/stone structure, winter (snow)

3.28: East façade of house and new garage, from terrace, winter (snow)

3.29: South façade of house, from drive to the south, lit with morning (east) sun, winter (snow)

3.30: sketch of east façade (addition?) detail

3.31: East façade with addition?, new terrace, winter (snow)

3.32: Entry brick courtyard, from new garage, winter (snow)

3.33: View north to south façade from east of the tea house, in garden, winter (snow)

3.34: Tea house from southeast, winter (snow)

3.35: walled garden with evergreen shrubs, trees, low plantings, winter (snow)

3.36: Dining room interior decorated for the holidays, Christmas tree and arrangements, table and mantle

3.37: Wrought-iron lantern and post, west of drive near entry gates, with wreath, winter (snow)

3.38: South façade lit at night from the south, summer (with leaves on trees)

Prepared by Deepti Sharma ’09 and

Arthur H. Miller

Archivist and Librarian

For Special Collections

Donnelley and Lee Library/LIT

Lake Forest College

555 North Sheridan Road

Lake Forest, IL 60045-2399

847-735-5064 voice, -8296 or 97 fax

amiller@lakeforest.edu

September 13, 2006; rev. September 19, 2006