355 JEFFERSON AVENUE
HISTORIC SIGNIFICANCE
Max Herman bought the land for 355 Jefferson in March of 1931 and began construction. Herman sold the house to Archie Wittingham in 1933. City directories list Wittingham as a jeweler. Four years later, the Wittinghams sold the home to Dr. Bruce Balding and his wife, Gladys. Bruce and Gladys lived in the home together until their divorce in 1946. Gladys subsequently resided in the home on her own from 1946 to 1949. After her three years alone in 355 Jefferson, Gladys sold the home to Fred Cramer, owner and operator of Cramer's Cleaners.
ARCHITECTURAL SIGNIFICANCE
Featured in the 1989 Historic Elgin House Tour, 355 Jefferson Avenue, built in 1931, is a Tudor Revival style cottage. While the Tudor Revival style takes some elements from the traditional Tudor style, it has many marked differences and sometimes include stylistic inspirations from contemporaneous styles of the day. Distinguishing features of the Tudor Revival style seen here include the steeply pitched roof; a facade dominated by a front-facing gable; the tall, double-hung, 6-over-1 paned windows; the rounded arch entry way, and the masonry exterior.
TIMELINE OF PREVIOUS OWNERS
Sources: 2006 Heritage Plaque Application; Audio: TextAloud