Marie Schock House

“Again, as with the Schlect House, Schock uses the vocabulary of the Shingle Style, and the large wall surfaces of the Marie Schock House are handled with similarly adept skill.”

“In designing this house, the architect took on the mission of adapting the Shingle Style (which was associated with the grand country homes of the rich) to a simple, inexpensive house-costing a mere $3,000 to build.”

“The success of this effort led to it being published in a national architectural magazine, Building Budget, in 1888.”

“Although the house was small and economical, it holds its own with its much grander neighbors due to its unique combination of forms.”

“Schock sheathed the entire building in shingles (originally stained, now painted), and set it on a stone foundation.”

“The Marie Schock residence is an important survivor from a critical turning point in architectural history.”

“She thinks Wright's disparaging remarks about Schock in his autobiography are a bit disingenuous-Wright owed more of a debt to Schock than he would admit.”

“Even in a neighborhood known for its high-quality residential architecture, these buildings stand apart for their unique styles and gracious settings.”

“These four houses by architect Frederick Shock are among the city's best surviving examples of the Shingle Style-a rare style for Chicago and the Midwest.”

“Of the 23 Schock-designed buildings identified in the Chicago Historic Resources Survey as having high architectural significance, 16 are located in Austin.”

“In fact, in a gesture unique among Chicago neighborhoods, the local community group includes an architect's name in their identification: the Austin Schock Neighborhood Association.”

“There is also evidence that Schock's work influenced Frank Lloyd Wright, during that famed architect's early years in the suburb of Oak Park.”

“As such, the houses served as advertisements for the pastoral residential style that developer Henry Austin was promoting for his new development.”

“A century later, the four houses remain as focal points in the community, and are frequently featured in its annual architectural house tour.”