Featured Local Landmark
Did you know that this local treasure at 600 Central Ave. is one of 30 landmarks designated locally by Wilmette?
Architectural and Historic Background by the village:
The W. Mead Walter House is significant because of its outstanding architecture. It is a wonderful example of the Queen Anne style and also shares many features of the Shingle Style that grew out of the Queen Anne movement.
Also the house, originally constructed in 1893, retains much of its integrity. The only significant change to the house was the enclosure of the second story porch in the 1950’s. Although this is an alteration to the front façade of the building, the change from screen windows to glass is one that has small impact on the architecture of the house. Also this change was approximately 50 years ago and is part of the change over time that occurs in any house’s lifetime. 600 Central was listed in the Illinois Historic Structures Survey conducted in the 1970’s. The house is also listed as “significant” in the Village of Wilmette’s Historic Sites Survey of East Wilmette.
In 1892 Hattie Walter bought the property at 600 Central that her husband, W. Mead Walter, would design a house for. Walter was a partner in the architectural firm of Walter & Goebel. The firm designed a number of homes in Evanston.
One house, 2135 Orrington, is an Evanston landmark home. With this one exception, the rest of the homes are rather plain. The house that Walter designed for his own family is strikingly different.
The Queen Anne style developed in England in the 1870’s as a combination of architectural styles. Features and ornaments were borrowed and combined from many different styles that became the style of Queen Anne. In America the Queen Anne style was altered to suit both climate and culture. The use of wooden shingles instead of tile led to the Shingle Style of architecture that is very similar in form to the Queen Anne style.
The Walter House is an amalgamation of styles, features, and materials that is Queen Anne in style with a heavy use of wooden shingles. The most striking detail of the house is three octagonal turrets. The shake shingles of the roof continue around the second story of the turret to the rear of the house.
The lower story of the house is tan brick and the front turrets and side elevation are sided with clapboard. The front façade is also dominated by a wide porch with classical columns which is overhung by the second story. The fenestration varies throughout the structure. This variety of features and styles blended together in this house makes it a unique and outstanding example of Queen Anne Architecture.
(Photo by flickr/chicagogeek https://www.flickr.com/photos/chicagogeek/)