Lake Forest, Illinois
Designed in 1910 by the noted architect Edwin Hill Clark of Otis
and Clark fame, the French style manor served as the summer residence
of Mr. and Mrs. James Ward Thorne, a prominent Chicago couple. Descendents
of the Montgomery Ward family, Mrs. Thorne is perhaps best known
for the design and construction of dozens of miniature rooms which
portray interior design through the ages, which are now on display
at the Art Institute of Chicago.
Time was unkind to this once magnificent Lake
Forest Estate. The south wing was demolished in the early 1930’s,
and unsympathetic additions were built to the north of the house.
Eifler & Associates were retained by the current owners of the
property to not only rebuild the missing wing (right, above), restore
the original stucco, shutters and exterior trim which was removed
or altered over time, as well as a new kitchen, family room and
coach house addition. The Thorne House has now reestablished itself
as one of the great residences of Lake Forest.
