1430

The “castle,” as it is commonly known, is clearly an Andersonville landmark. It was built in 1904 for C. Christiansen at a cost of $6,000. The architect was George Pfeiffer. In this eclectic building period in Chicago, buildings such as this one exhibit several architectural styles. Here we see elements of English Gothic and Romanesque style. The rusticated limestone exterior and the large turret create the feeling of a castle. The carved stonework and the cluster columns with carved capitals indicate the craftsmanship of the builder, James P. Flick. The current owner is Ron Flores and he has embellished the site with his collections of architectural artifacts.

Entering the building, you will go through a small oak-trimmed vestibule to the oak staircase. As you come up the stairs you can see yourself and a reflection of the hallway framed in an ornate mirror. The current owner, a collector and fan of the Rococo style of 18th century France, has found the perfect setting for his collections. Beginning with the plaster moldings applied to the walls and carried through the striking color harmonies, the living room provides a setting which evokes the time of Louis XV. An original stained glass window with a floral design faces east in the living room. It was uncovered by the owner in the late 1970s. Other glass in the room is beveled and each has a story behind it.

The turret ceiling, embellished by the owner with applied angels and Beaux Arts detailing, shows clear glass in the top windows. Because of the damage to some of these windows, the faceted glass was removed. The turret itself is quite a curiosity since its main purpose seems to be to bring light into the area. Off the living room to the right is a small space - a sitting room.

The apartment is designed without a circulating hallway; to reach the back of the house from the front you must go through each room in succession. Towards the back of the living room is a doorway that has been altered to accommodate a modern door. Originally, this doorway may have had a velvet drape to prevent drafts. The next room is a music room. The next doorway has the original pocket doors. The chandelier is from the same time period but is not original. The east window displays another unique stained glass in a floral design. The built-in buffet/hutch is accented by unusual geometric columns. All the woodwork, ceiling beams, buffet and window trim is oak.

From the dining room are two doorways. One leads to a sitting-room/bedroom which was once two bedrooms. The ceiling light fixture is original to the house and gives an idea of what the other might have looked like. It carries both gas and electric service which was necessary at this time since the reliability of electricity as a power source was not assured.

The second doorway leads to the kitchen and bathroom. Note the fleur-de-lis pattern on the bathroom floor. The kitchen has been remodeled and redecorated but the pantry is still intact. The owner invites you to walk through the yard to view the beautiful stone fountain and the original garage. Please step carefully as not all walkways are level. The building is considered a potential landmark by the City of Chicago Landmarks Commission.