3007 W. Hollywood Avenue
Architect: Melvin A. Nelson
First owner: George Cobden
Second owner: Valerie "Violet" L. Schumacher
Third owner: Nick Bart and Sarah Heffle
2014 House Tour Booklet, page 11, Sunday, September 14, 2014
Built in 1928 for George Cobden, the owner of Union Linen Supply Company, this fabulous home was designed by architect Melvin A. Nelson, who together with Clarence Hatzfeld designed the Portage Park Field House. Hatzfield is remembered as the architect of Indian Boundary Park, Greenbriar Park, Independence Park and Chippewa Park fieldhouses. Nelson also designed homes in the Chicago area. The present owners Nick Bart and Sarah Heffle bought the house from the estate of Valerie "Violet" L. Schumacher (Friday, August 7, 1914-Monday, April 1, 2013), the owner of Northwestern Business College, who died in 2013 at the age of 98. She was only the second owner of the house.
The house is located on a large corner lot at the corner of Sacramento Avenue and Hollywood Avenue. Entering a two-story turret, guests encounter a bridal staircase and an 18-ft. high great room with tall windows and a fireplace. The 4-bedroom, 5-bath house has many features unusual for the 1920s, including en suite bathrooms. Every bathroom is a different color to coordinate with the adjacent rooms. The master bedroom is on the first floor, as are the formal dining room, and office, and a family room. An added feature is a fully-finished basement with a pub and wet bar. Designed to accommodate a domestic staff, the house includes a private staircase, top floor bedrooms with speaking tubes, and a still-working dumb waiter connecting the upstairs kitchen to the dining room.
Next spring, Ms. Haeffle, a horticulturalist, plans to create a formal design for the spacious grounds.
Chicago Landmarks Historic Resources Survey
Architect: Nelson, Melvin A.
Historic Name:
Community: West Ridge (02)
Address: 3007 W. Hollywood Avenue
Constructed: Started in 07/01/1932
Classification: Building
Style:
Type: Single-Family Residence
Color Code: Orange
Landmark? N
National Register? N
Major Tenant:
Building Details: Romanesque
Pin: 1301324012
