671 MCCLURE AVENUE

Front-facing brick bungalow with a covered porch, four columns, central front door, dormer window, and bare shrubs under a clear blue sky.

Brick one-story brick bungalow with covered front porch supported by four brick columns, small dormer window, driveway and leafless shrubs under a clear blue sky.

Brick two-story brick house facade with a central bay, three windows including a decorative transom, white trim and clear blue sky.

Brick brick bungalow with a covered porch supported by brick columns, grassy front yard, and neighboring houses under a clear blue sky.

Brick bungalow with front porch on a grassy corner lot in autumn, sidewalk and a green "Lawrence Av" street sign.

Black-and-white photo of a brick bungalow with a covered front porch and snow on the ground.

Horizontal timeline (1880–1970) with markers at 1926 and 1938.

Sources: 2018 Heritage Plaque Application; Text Aloud

HISTORIC SIGNIFICANCE

The first owners of 671 McClure Avenue were Charles Fred Giertz and his wife Sophie who built the home in 1909. Charles was a Mason by trade and so his house was constructed by brick. Charles was a member of the Charles E. Geirtz and Son Constructions firm. After Charles passing, Edward his son, moved in with his mother until her death when he inherited the house. Upon Edward’s passing the house was held in trust by the 1st National Back of Elgin until 1969 when it was purchased by Alexander Tarnawski and his wife Jarlath.

ARCHITECTURAL SIGNIFICANCE

671 McClure was listed as a 7-room brick bungalow. It’s currently a 6 room. The master bedroom used to be 2 rooms. By looking at the photos of the house through the years, the exterior has not changed since it was built. The soffit was replaced with aluminum at some point, but the rest of the exterior is original. All the windows are original plaster and lathe for the most part. The floors are the original 2” plank Pine wood floors with 2X8 plank underlayment. The two back doors are the original doors. The stairs to the basement door have been rebuilt at some point. There is an original stained glass window in the dinning room. All the trim in the interior is original, Door hardware is original. The front porch and steps have not changed. One of the attic windows was replaced by the last owner because it was cracked, and the mulleins are different. The only improvement the owners have done to the house has been updating the water heater to a tankless unit.