615 Elm

The attractive Queen Anne Victorian house at 615 Elm was likely designed by local architect and civil engineer Frank Windes. Windes arguably contributed more to the structural development of Winnetka than any other single individual and as such, has been referred to as “Mr. Winnetka.”

Windes was a longtime resident who served as Village Assessor, Village Engineer, and Village Marshall. He was a member of Winnetka’s Board of Education, was active in organizations such as the Freemasons and the Rotary Club, and taught Winnetka’s first manual training courses at Academy Hall. Windes was also a founder of the Winnetka Historical Society.

In 1900, Windes founded his own engineering firm. He was one of the first proponents of the track depression and Skokie Lagoons projects in Winnetka. As an architect, Windes is responsible for several recognizable buildings and structures. His first Winnetka design was likely his parent’s house at 530 Cherry, which he designed when he was a teenager. By 1900, Windes had designed a number of houses in Winnetka, including his own at 873 Spruce.

While we know that the house at 615 Elm was built by 1896, we don’t know the exact build date. In addition, because the build date is unknown, we can’t say for certain who the first residents were. It is likely, though, that the first residents were Charles and Anna Weeks, who owned the property from 1892 until 1908.

Anna Weeks was particularly interesting. Considered an “early pioneer in the feminist movement,” she was involved in a number of progressive organizations. In 1889, she was a member of the committee that presented the Mayor of Chicago with a request that one or more women be appointed to the City Board of Education. She later became active in fighting for women’s right to vote.

While a large addition was built onto the east side in the 1960s, this house nonetheless stands as a good example of the simplified Queen Anne style that was popular in the late 19th century.