At 4901 Montgomery Avenue, The Naramore House has been stopping passersby for nearly a century. With its creamy stucco walls, red clay tile roof, arched windows, and wrought-iron details, the home is a classic example of 1920s Spanish Revival style. Inside, richly beamed ceilings, perfectly preserved stucco walls and original lighting fixtures add to its timeless charm.
Built in 1927, the house was constructed by Lord Lumber in collaboration with Louis S. Carpenter, a builder listed in the 1928 Downers Grove phone book with his wife Lucille. Although unrelated to the early pioneer Carpenter family, the couple were active in real estate and construction.
When the house was completed in 1928, the property taxes were $2,500, reflecting both its high value and the prosperity of the Roaring Twenties. But as the Depression took hold, Carpenter’s story took a curious turn: by the early 1930s he spent time in jail, and by 1940 he was working as a potato salesman. The house he built with Lord Lumber, however, endured as a legacy of that ambitious era. In spite of changing hands 16 times over the next 9 decades, much of the historic interior remained remarkably intact through every transition.
When the Zaeskes purchased the home in 2025, they were thrilled to find its architecture and details lovingly preserved. Cynthia Zaeske’s vibrant artwork now adds a new creative layer to the space.
“I knew I had to have this house when I saw the arched wall niche,” Cynthia said – captured in one of the photos shared here.
Nearly 100 years after it was built, the Naramore House remains not only a Downers Grove Historical Society Historic Home but also a testament to the enduring benefit of skilled craftsmanship, thoughtful care, and the passion of those who cherish and preserve historic homes.
The home takes its name from the Naramore family, who purchased it in the early 1930s. Edward and Edna Naramore lived in the house for more than a decade, longer than any other family in its nearly 100-year history. Their tenure gave the residence its enduring name and solidified its place in Downers Grove’s story.
See the 4901 Montgomery Historic Home Application here.
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