Jackson-Thomas Landmark House

Jackson-Thomas Landmark House was located at 7053 N. Ridge Boulevard as recently as 1995.

Andrew B. Jackson acquired the land to build 7053 N. Ridge Boulevard in 1872. He was one of the founders of the Rogers Park Building and Land Company and the first President of the Village of Rogers Park in 1878.

The stately two-story frame house built on an English-style raised basement was probably completed in 1873 and was promptly sold to Jackson's son, E. Gilbert Jackson in 1874. It remained in the Jackson family only a few years before Levi H. Thomas, a Rogers Park based-manufacturer and bottler of "Ink, Blueing and Mucilage" bought the property for $4000 in 1879. The Thomas factory was located near what would become 7063 N. Clark Street.

The house changed hands many times in the years that followed with several owners being notable. Annie E. Rice-Wray made extensive changes in 1909-1910 adding a well integrated Colonial Revival porch in front and similarly effective addition to the rear. A cupola was probably removed from the mansard roof at this time. Only two families held the deed for a 75-year period, Stanislaus Kempner (1916-1951) and Arsbag Killian (1951-1991). The Killian family were the longest term residents and in 1984, during their tenure, 7053 N. Ridge Boulevard was designated a Chicago Historical Landmark. In 1991, the Killians sold the house to Gary and Sean Brown and their firm Brown & Associates, undertook the first major updating of the property since 1910. They breathed new life into an elegant, but very tired, property.

Included in the 1992-1993 Rogers Park/West Ridge Historical Tour.

This house was featured in the 1995 Annual Fall House Tour booklet.

Photos

RPWRHS photo S013-0446 shows the Jackson-Thomas Landmark House at 7053 N. Ridge Boulevard in 1993.

RPWRHS photo S013-0447 shows the Jackson-Thomas Landmark House at 7053 N. Ridge Boulevard in May 1975.