BEFORE AND AFTER
How Buildings Change Over Time
One
of the most difficult parts of learning your home's history
is determining what is original and what has changed over the
years. Homes are often transformed by owners for a variety of
reasons: changing architectural tastes, remodeling to create
more space, removing worn or damaged elements, etc.
The
end result can be a radical change in appearance from the original
form. The bane of historic homes is the remodeling that removes
those features that give them their charm and authenticity.
The advent of home remodeling centers has created a generation
of do-it-yourself "remuddlers" whose well-intentioned
efforts result in the loss of historic value. Those homeowners
who use contractors fair no better, as most lack the skill and
sensitivity to work on historic homes.
One
of the missions of the Ridge Historical Society is to raise
the consciousness of community residents as to the value of
our historic homes and the importance of maintaining their architectural
integrity. We are a community blessed with an abundance of distinct
and charming homes, and we are caretakers for future generations.
The
majority of "before" pictures are photocopies of postcards
that are part of a collection at the Chicago Historical Society.
The postcards were made around 1909 and show the homes in their
original condition. In a few cases the photos are from glass
slides taken in the 1880's. You may be shocked and surprised
to see the transformations.
These
"after" photographs are part of a long-term project
to document the architecture of the community. We encourage
local residents to participate by donating photographs of their
homes to this effort. We welcome your contributions and feedback.
David
Daruszka
Jennifer Kenny
Linda Lamberty
Select a sample to see the photo comparison
