Lake Forest home, Aurora building among 15 sites added to National Register of Historic Places

A Lake Forest home and an Aurora commercial building were among 15 Illinois sites added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2021, the Illinois Department of Natural Resources announced Thursday.

The Abel E. and Mildred Fagen House at 1711 Devonshire Lane in Lake Forest was designed in 1948 by the prominent Chicago architecture firm Keck & Keck. The home is an example of the Modern movement in residential architecture influenced by legendary architect Frank Lloyd Wright, according to the Illinois Historic Preservation Division.

The home's flat roof with overhanging eaves gives it a horizontal emphasis that reflects the area's flat landscape. The use of natural materials, such as wood, glass, and limestone and its lack of ornamental features allow it to blend with its surroundings. The inside features, such as a large dining room, stone fireplaces and a narrow hallway leading to the bedrooms were typical elements of Wright's work at the time, according to the preservation division.

The Hobbs Building at 2-4 N. River St. in Aurora is an eclectic mix of architectural styles. The building is made of monumental brick, limestone and terra cotta and exhibits characteristics of Romanesque, Queen Anne and Exotic Revival elements, according to the agency.

Albert Hobbs, a businessman and local civic leader, had it built in 1895 for his furniture and undertaking businesses. The building has had several owners since Hobbs' death in 1926. It has been vacant since 1990. Last year, the Aurora City Council approved a $13 million redevelopment agreement for the structure.