864 W. HIGHLAND AVENUE

HISTORIC SIGNIFICANCE

864 W. Highland Avenue was built for Dr. Raymond and Marie Dowell in 1927 for $7,000. Dr. Dowell was a Lieutenant Colonel in the U.S. Army during World War II prior to becoming a General Practitioner in Elgin. His practice was on Highland Avenue in downtown Elgin above Bloemke’s Luggage (167 E Highland). Interestingly, when his patient’s couldn’t make the stairs to his upstairs office, he saw them in his own home!

Marie was a French Teacher at Elgin High School prior to marriage and then became a librarian at Elgin Academy. They had one child, Dr. James Dowell who was born in 1926. He attended Elgin Academy and Northwestern University prior to becoming a medical Doctor.

In 1953, the Dowells took a job opportunity in Morocco, North Africa and sold the home to Paul and Melba Schickler. Paul’s father owned Schickler’s Hobby & Tobacco shop on Chicago Street in downtown Elgin. Interestingly, Paul’s Grandfather, Philip Schickler, was the leading tobacconist and cigar manufacturer in Aurora in the 1890s.

ARCHITECTURAL SIGNIFICANCE

864 W. Highland Avenue was built by Darwin Phillips who was born in Elgin in 1885. He was a home builder in Elgin for many years building several homes including a Tudor Revival Cottage located at 710 May Street that has very similar characteristics as seen at 864 W. Highland.

This home is an excellent example of a Tudor Revival home. It is considered a front facing gable with wing sub-type and makes up about 40 percent of Tudor houses. This style became widely popular during the 1920s – 1930s and harkened back to a variety of early English building traditions. Typical of the style includes half-timbering, steeply pitched roofs, rounded archways, and diamond shaped paned windows. This home expresses those characteristics as well as a unique use of skintled brick and quoining at the corners. In addition, this home boasts its original slate tile roof and copper gutters which are rare features in the Midwest.

Sources: 2017 Heritage Plaque Application; Audio: TextAloud