We would like to welcome two Queen Anne style homes to the Historic Home Program (HHP) program. This honorary program is sponsored by both the Downers Grove Museum and the Downers Grove Historical Society. As chance would have it, both homes were built around 1895. Also, both met the criteria of architectural and notable resident for historic home recognition.
The first home is 4703 Highland Avenue and was submitted by homeowner Ann Schuhmacher, who recently purchased the house. She chose the honorary name of The Aubrey and Anna Snow House to honor the 3rd mayor of Downers Grove, Aubrey Snow, and his wife, Anna Snow, who was an officer with the Red Cross in Downers Grove when it was first established in 1917. Aubrey was also the first village attorney. The house was also raised off its original foundation in the 1920s. If you drive by the front of the house you will also notice the remnants of a carriage stone. It is one of only three known to still exist in Downers Grove.
The second home is at 5217 Fairmount Avenue. Homeowners Marty and Carine Acks have been collecting information on their house for over forty years. The honorary name celebrates Guy and Cora Belle Wheeler who lived in the house for nearly 50 years. Guy worked for the CB&Q Railroad, which is now the Burlington Northern. They sold the house to Loyd and Marie Brady. Marie was a well known Chicago area character actress with a vast body of work including the soap opera Hawkins Falls, Population 6200 which was broadcast live from Chicago from 1950 to 1955. She also appeared in movies, TV commercials, and stock theater around the country.
