654 Ash

The Greek Revival house at 654 Ash was built by 1860 reportedly as a loose replica of Abraham Lincoln’s home in Springfield, which was built c. 1839. The original owners of the house were Mary and Jacob Conrad, whose name is still well-known amongst local history and shipwreck enthusiasts today.

Jacob and Mary Conrad were born in Germany in the late 1820s. While it’s unclear when they immigrated to the U.S., we know that they were living in Winnetka and had purchased the house at 654 Ash by early 1860. In addition to this house, the Conrads also owned some farm lands in the village. Jacob grew their farming business by selling hay to breweries in the city. Brewers don’t typically use hay to make beer anymore, but it wasn’t uncommon back in the 1800s.

Today, Jacob Conrad is primarily remembered as one of the heroes who helped rescue survivors of the Lady Elgin when it sank off the coast on September 8, 1860 after a collision with the schooner Augusta. In the wee hours of the morning, Conrad tied a rope around his waist and plunged from the shore bluff into the lake to help the struggling survivors. His efforts saved as many as 28 lives.

In the weeks and months after the disaster, Jacob collected several relics from the Lady Elgin that floated ashore. Notably, he saved a damaged door from the sunken ship, which is now part of the Winnetka Historical Society’s archival collection.

The Conrads lived in the house at 654 Ash for over 30 years. After both Jacob and Mary died in the 1890s, it seems that none of the Conrad’s four sons chose to live in the family’s home. By 1900, only their oldest son Peter, who was born at 654 Ash in 1863, was still living in Winnetka in a house on Chestnut. Peter eventually became Winnetka’s oldest native-born resident.