259 VILLA STREET
HISTORIC SIGNIFICANCE
259 Villa Street was built in 1886 by Henry Jensen for Jesse Anderson Townsend at a cost of $4,500. Jesse was employed by the Elgin National Watch Factory and worked his way up from assistant foreman to head of the Escape Department. Jesse was born in Illinois in 1858. In 1899, he married a Ms. Anna Bobzien Hart. Anna was born in New York in 1860. They lived at 259 Villa Street with their two daughters Nadia and Norma and had a few lodgers including Samuel Parke, Walter Minster and Laura Nielson. Jesse passed away in 1916 whereas Anna outlived him another 37 years, passing away at the age of 93.
When Anna passed away, she left the home to her daughter, Norma E Townsend. Norma married Russell W. Root who ran as a Republican candidate for Mayor of Chicago against Richard M. Daley. Norma and Russell remained at 259 Villa Street until 1964.
ARCHITECTURAL SIGNIFICANCE
259 Villa Street is a great example of high Victorian Queen Anne style with Eastlake details. It is a two-story building built with cream colored brick, limestone banding and decorative terracotta found at the 2nd floor arched windows as well as under the first floor bank window. Queen Anne influences include the large window with leaded glass transom, the stained glass, and the arched windows. Eastlake touches include the heavy, carved porch columns, the sunburst motif and geometric designs created in pressed metal panels at the cornice and steeply pitched balcony gable as well as the decorative terracotta panels. Other stylistic architectural elements includes the Stick style lattice work at the balcony designed out of metal rods and wood cubes that forms a unique screening.
TIMELINE OF PREVIOUS OWNERS
Sources: 1986 Heritage Plaque Application; Gifford Park Association's Housewalk Booklet; Audio: TextAloud