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The oldest home on our tour this year is this beautiful Queen Anne, which was built for Martin Anderson in 1897. The home is painted in Rookwood green with red and lighter green accents. This was the original color of the home, according to the current owner. The name Rookwood comes from a pottery made in Cincinnati, Ohio. At the time the home was built, the street was empty and probably unpaved. The owner of the property agreed to certain covenants prior to construction. These included: no sale of alcohol spirits, a requirement to construct a stone wall along the back of the property and a restriction on multi-unit buildings. This may explain why so little construction occurred in the area of Andersonville until 1900.

The craftsmanship of the building is impressive. It has the original, rusticated stone foundation. The chimney is a recent addition. The porch, with oak flooring, is detailed with triple column supports and ornate, faceted spindles. The symmetrical design of the home includes five bays and a turret. The turret, in typical Queen Anne style, is embellished with fishscale shingles. Other details include brackets and a Palladian attic window.

When you enter the home, note the grand staircase. The newel post at the base has an unusual carved design of interlaces leaves. One of the three original stained glass windows is in the alcove behind the piano area of the hallway. Great care has been taken with the interior furnishings and appointments to complement the graceful design of the home.

The living room, or visiting parlor, features a fireplace mantel of blood red marble dating from mid-19th century France. It was purchased to be added to the house during a restoration in the 1980s. The decorative spindles in the doorway were also added as a part of that renovation. The rich, oiled wood that accents the interior of the home is enhanced by the colors and fabrics used in the decorating. The second parlor is colored in a deep Victorian red. You will note how the color enriches the beautiful wood.

On the second floor is the master bedroom and adjacent den. The woodwork is mahogany-stained birch with egg and dart molding in the crowns above the doorway and windows. The guest room features a bay window with another original stained glass window. Down the hall is the main bathroom, with a remarkable wall covering from the Museum de Collectif de Paris, which carries out the French influence felt throughout the house.

The dining room walls are covered in a faux texture paper. At the back of the room is a built in bench and replacement window. The kitchen features the original beadboard ceiling. Also original to the home is the ceiling fixture, along with another original fixture in the pantry.

After you exit through the back porch, you can enjoy the backyard English garden. Along the side and toward the front of the home is a more formal garden, typical of Victorian design with a statue of Diana, the Huntress. This home is considered a potential landmark by the City of Chicago Landmarks Commission.