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Wicker Park Caton Street Victorian Mansion To List For $1.5M: PHOTOS

By Alisa Hauser | February 8, 2016 9:50am
 An 1890s-era Victorian mansion for sale at 2138 W. Caton St. in Wicker Park.
House for Sale at 2138 W. Caton St.
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WICKER PARK —  An 1890s-era Victorian mansion on one of Wicker Park's most historic and well preserved streets is going up for sale, offering a chance to "own a piece of history," says the Caton Street home's longtime owner Mark Yee.

Located at 2138 W. Caton St., the 3-bedroom, 4-bathroom brick and limestone home is scheduled to be listed for $1.5 million on Feb. 15 by real estate agent Jennifer Ames, according to Yee and Ames.

The home features a finished basement with a circular couch at the base of a turret, which also provides sitting areas in a first floor living room and second floor library. In the attic, the turret serves as a play area for the family's three children.

During a tour last week, Yee said the library could be converted into a fourth bedroom.

Designed by architect firm Faber & Pagels in 1891, the home's turret with six curved glass windows is at the eastern end of the residential block. 

In the May 2014 "American Institute of Architects Guide to Chicago," Caton Street was known for the fact no two homes were alike on the unique street.

Situated on a near double lot with a stone fence yard that abuts a city park, the home was built in 1891 for Marius Kirkeby, a businessman and real estate investor interested in promoting Norwegian pride and heritage, DesignSlinger previously reported.

Three fireplaces, gold-plated lighting and door brackets, plus 11 original lead glass windows are among the home's many highlights. Inside, plaster crown molding showcases medallions containing the same oak lea motif carved into the front porch's limestone pillars.

(l to r.) Entry way highlights and lighting in 2138 W. Caton St. [DNainfo/Alisa Hauser]

Yee said the home has double brick insulation that "softens" the sound of the nearby CTA Blue Line "L" train, which runs just a few dozen feet from the home.

Prior to Yee buying the house in 1994, another family owned it in the 1980s and rehabbed the home, which had fallen into disrepair in the 1970s.

"It has had two owners in the past 40 years. People leave us letters in our mailbox asking us to let them know if we are ever planning to sell it," Yee said.

Yee, a painter who curates a gallery inside of the Bucktown-Wicker Park library, said his family plans to move into a larger home on Hoyne Street that took almost two years to find.

"We have decided to find a bigger space even though the [2138 W. Caton St.] house could have worked for our growing family...  We will have a hard time leaving. We know all the neighbors and the neighbors know each other," Yee said.

Yee created a website for the home based on his research, which can be viewed at sites.google.com/site/2138caton/

Yee said he is hopes the new owners will allow for his family to come back and share in a backyard cherry tree's harvest.

"We hope to negotiate into the sales contract that the kids and I can come back to harvest the cherries from the tree in the backyard in the spring. We make muffins and brownies with the cherries. We only have a couple bags left from last season and we are saving them," Yee said.

Yee's children in the backyard with their cherry harvest and the tree in winter '16/ [Provided]

For more 2138 W. Caton St. photos, check out the slideshow or a few of our favorites, below:

(l-to-r) A half bathroom, the library and the finished basement. [Provided]

Art deco wallpaper from the 1950s in a 2nd floor bathroom [DNAinfo/Alisa Hauser]

One of 11 panes of leaded glass that Yee says is original to the home. [DNainfo/Alisa Hauser]

The living room.  [DNAinfo/Alisa Hauser]

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