Charles Hitchcock House

“As such, the style lent itself well to the rural and suburban developments occurring throughout the East and Midwest. Sited on a large corner lot, the strongly vertical proportions of the wood-frame Hitchcock House, together with its elaborate and artistic detailing give the house a commanding presence.”

“Although many of these former suburbs have been absorbed by the city through annexation, important examples of the architecture that reinforced the sylvan ideal still remain. Prime among them is the Italianate structure built by Charles Hitchcock in the far West Side in the former suburb of Austin.”

“Large-scale development did not resume until the following decade, by which time domestic architectural styles had evolved from the formal, historic revival approach seen in the Hitchcock house to the more abstract interpretations, such as the Queen Anne and Shingle styles, which are characteristic of the late Victorian period.”