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Theater, Bakery, Schwinn Bicycle Founder's Home Among Endangered Places

By Kyla Gardner | April 22, 2015 11:51am

CHICAGO — Among the most historic endangered places in Illinois are a North Lawndale theater, a South Side industrial bakery and the home of the founder of the Schwinn Bicycle Company.

Landmarks Illinois released its 2015 list of the most endangered historic places in Illinois Wednesday to call attention to "the potential for reuse and revitalization of these historic places."

Here are the three Chicago places that made the list:

(Landmarks Illinois/John Morris)

The Arnold-Crowe House, 3329 W. Washington Blvd. in Garfield Park, made the list because of its architecture and connection to two notable Chicagoans. The home was built for Adolph Arnold, a "sucessful meatpacker" and Schwinn Bicycle Company's co-founder, and then was home to Robert E. Crowe, a prominent lawyer. Due to its deteriorated state, the home has a demolition notice from the city. The current owner coudn't get financing to restore the home in 2011 and fears a new buyer may face the same challenge, according to Landmarks Illinois.
 

(Landmarks Illinois/Matt Cole)

Central Park Theater, 3535 W. Roosevelt Road in North Lawndale, was built in 1917. It "is one of the earliest theater designs of the noted architecture firm Rapp and Rapp" and was designed in the style of a European opera house. The theater saw the debut of Benny Goodman, and showed movies until it was bought by the House of Prayer Church of God in Christ in 1971. The small congregation still worships there, but can't afford critical repairs, according to Landmarks Illinois.

(Landmarks Illinois/Frank Butterfield)

Schulze Bakery, 40 E. Garfield Blvd. in Washington Park, was built in 1914 and once held the title of the highest-producing bakery in the country. The building "retains a high degree of its historic integrity" but has been vacant since 2005. The site would be prime for large retail stores due to its location near major streets and the expressway, according to Landmarks Illinois, but financing is an issue.

Other historic, endangered places on the Landmarks Illinois 2015 list were:

Black Hawk Statue, Lowden State Park, 1411 N. River Rd., Oregon (Ogle County)

Bowen Building, Peoria State Hospital, 4125 W. Pfeiffer Rd., Bartonville (Peoria County)

Condell House, 605 S. 4th St., Springfield (Sangamon County)

William H. Coventry House & Barn, 7704 Rt. 14 N., Harvard (McHenry County)

Historic Properties in the River Edge Redevelopment Zones:
Elgin Tower Building, 100 E. Chicago Ave., Elgin (Kane County)
The Hobbs Building, 2 N. River St., Aurora (Kane County)
Madison Theater, 500 W. Main St., Peoria (Peoria County)
The Murphy Building, 234 Collinsville Ave., East St. Louis (St. Clair County)
Ziock Building, 416 S. Main St., Rockford (Winnebago County)

Mid-Century Modern Houses, Statewide

St. James Academy, 220 Illinois St., Lemont (Cook County)

State Historic Preservation Office, Springfield

Thatchcot House, 515 S. 13th St., Herrin (Williamson County)

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