The house at 4832 Wallbank Avenue will be known as The Emil and Marie Sirp House, honoring the family who lived there the longest—from 1928 to 1950. The house sits within the Branigar Brothers’ Wooded Homesites subdivision, a development formally recorded on October 2, 1920. This neighborhood reflects an important era in Downers Grove’s growth, when wooded residential subdivisions began shaping the character and charm of many local neighborhoods.

Architecturally, the home is a fascinating example of Tudor Revival–Craftsman design and has an especially notable distinction—it is a verified Sears kit home, specifically the Sears “Rochelle” model. Sears once described this design as an “Americanized English Cottage.”

The property has evolved over time. A large addition in 2006 expanded the living space, added a deck and a new attached garage, replacing the original Sears garage The front porch has also been redesigned. Even with these updates, the home retains the distinctive character of its original kit-home design. The property has been verified by Sears kit home researchers and bears the Sears Kit Home plaque.

4832 Wallbank Avenue Historic Home Program application can be seen here.

Researched by Charlotte “Chuck” Holtzen and Nina Fuscaldo