31 N. WORTH AVENUE

HISTORIC SIGNIFICANCE

31 N. Worth Avenue was built in 1910 for Tony and Elma Salomone for $2,100. Like many residents in this area, Tony worked at the watch factory along with Elma’s brother Fred Bolenstenger. Tony was born in Italy in 1883, and immigrated with his family to Elgin in 1890. His wife was born in Wisconsin in 1885. The family owned the property for 16 years before selling it to Dr. Martin Hubrig and his wife, Ida.

Prior to moving to Elgin, Dr. Hubrid was the only doctor in Algonquin and became one of ten doctors in Elgin, which had a population of around 30,000 at that time. His office was located at 165 E. Highland Avenue. After Ida’s death in 1928, Martin remained in the home until 1941 when he moved to 485 Wing Street and then to 909 W. Highland Avenue.

ARCHITECTURAL SIGNIFICANCE

31 N. Worth Avenue is built in the American Foursquare typology, which became a common building type at the turn of the 20th century and into its first decades. It reflects simplicity and symmetry and was a relief from the "busy-ness" of the proceeding Victorian era. 31 N. Worth Avenue is a square, two story house with a hipped roof that features a central gable with a cornice on a pediment at the front façade and small hipped dormers on its sides. The second and first stories are separated by a horizontal band.

The entire home is clad in narrow, clapboard siding that also emphasizes horizontality. A small hipped roof porch that covers half of the width of the façade is enclosed but exhibits the same narrow, clapboards found throughout the home. The home contains original one-over-one double-hung windows with a unique divided-lite semicircular window centrally located at the front gable.

This home exhibits many characteristics found with Sears and Roebuck Catalogue houses, however it is difficult to confirm. At the time that this home was built in 1910, Sears already was selling houses for two years, though, it wasn’t until 1916 that the houses were “precut” exhibiting the tell-tale signs such as stamped lumber or shipping labels found on the back of millwork.

Sources: 2016 Heritage Plaque Application; Audio: TextAloud