6110 N. Maplewood Avenue
First owner: Lewis W. Finley and Clara Finley
Second owner: William Kandelman and Bella Kandelman
Third owner: David Taylor
2014 Holiday House Walk Booklet, pages 7-11
This classic Chicago-style bungalow dates from the mid-1920s and provides comfortable shelter for its third owner. The home retains many features of its original design, including all the windows. Highlights original to the large living room are the stained birch woodwork and a colorful leaded glass "piano window." The kitchen provides a rare glimpse into the 1920s with its stained woodwork, built-in hutch, and swinging door. The original kitchen sink is still in use.
When he acquired the house, Mr. Taylor received the unexpected and delightful gift of four letters from the original owner of the home, Lewis W. Finley and Clara Finley, to the second inhabitants, William Kandelman and Bella Kandelman. The letters are both charming and informative. Written by Lewis W. Finley of Peoria, Illinois, where he moved to be near his son, David Finley, they cover the span of seven years after the sale, from 1956 to 1963, and indicate an ongoing correspondence between the owners.
Lewis W. Finley and Clara Finley had at least one son, David Finley, who was involved in scouting. (The current owner, also named David, was a boy scout as well.) The Finley family had abundant flower gardens in the back yard and a border along the sidewalk in the front. After the death of Clara Finley in June 1950, the gardens became too much for Mr. Finley, and he let them go.
One letter explains that Mr. Finley removed the original wall sconces in the living room because he felt they looked "date." He includes a drawing to illustrate where they were. It is believed that the fixture in the vestibule near the front door is one of these original lights.
In the last letter, dated March 1963, Mr. Finley wrote that he had long wanted to travel to Chicago to see his old home, but his health now made this unlikely; he had recently celebrated his eightieth birthday. This letter also includes a little polite dishing about some neighbors and mentions that Mr. Finley used to make wine in the basement. From reading these letters, Mr. Taylor, the current owner, understood the box of small panes of glass found in the basement and knows why he can't seem to put a shovel in the ground without finding a flagstone.
The Finleys were followed by William Kandelman and Bella Kandelman, in 1956. The one-page closing statement still exists, showing the purchase price of $22,000. The Kandelman family owned the home for over fifty years and raised two daughters and a son here. Mr. Kandelman owned his own Poultry Shop. The family maintained the home well, making few changes; Mr. Kandelman was said to be very protective of the woodwork in the house. He kept a vintage pickup truck in the garage. Mr. and Mrs. Kandelman lived to the ages of 84 and 85. Bella Kandelman passed away in June 2005. The house remained vacant for about three years while the heirs moved family possessions out and readied the home for sale.
Mr. Taylor moved here in 2008. He believes what's old is new again and hopes to preserve and enhance the original character of the house. He is returning period lighting to the bungalow. Luckily, Mr. Finley left the wiring intact when he removed the living room sconces; authentic vintage replacements were found and restored to the proper locations. The dining room chandelier was found in an Andersonville shop. It was rewired and the missing stained glass replaced. The light pendant in the foyer is original to the house. An exact match was found and now hangs in the small hallway between the bedrooms.
The home is furnished with a collection of furniture and accessories from antique stores, flea markets, and several lucky finds from thrift stores. Mr. Taylor collects depression era glassware and feels it is perfectly at home in this setting.
The front garden was planted in 2010 and continues to evolve and mature. In warmer seasons, the garden welcomes visitors with a lush and cheerful display. Several varieties of perennials and spring bulbs grow here, but the seasonal stars are azaleas in the spring and Annabelle hydrangeas in summer. A stairway urn and window box are placed where they were meant to be and are filled with colorful annuals from spring to fall. Custom address numbers were designed by Frank Glapa, a Roycroft Renaissance Master Artisan, West Ridge neighbor, and long time member of the Rogers Park/West Ridge Historical Society.
The back yard needed a bit of help when the home was purchased. An aging but sturdy wheelchair ramp was a challenge to dismantle. A very messy mulberry tree was inches away from the house and threatened the foundation. Peeling white paint was removed from the entire rear brick wall. The yard is now beginning to echo the time when the Finleys resided here.
Flowers and shrubs are being returned to create a pleasant environment for people, birds and butterflies. Pink peonies are assumed to be the ones mentioned in one of Mr. Finley's letters. They have been moved and divided in the new design. Divided plants have been shared with the garden of Green Briar Park. A fountain, trellis, and an arbor to hold a swing are recent additions to the yard. The back steps are also new and a vintage bungalow back door was located at the Rebuilding Exchange and installed.
