{"nrhp_refnum":"03000941","name":"Bersbach, Alfred, House","other_names":[],"category":"building","location":{"address":"1120 Michigan Ave.","address_restricted":false,"city":"Wilmette","county":"Cook County","state":"IL","lat":42.08242446000003,"lon":-87.69421748099995,"geom_source":"nps_gis"},"listed_date":"2003-09-17","is_nhl":false,"nhl_designated_date":null,"areas_of_significance":["Architecture"],"significance_levels":["local"],"summary":{"what_it_is":"A two-story brick and stucco Prairie School house at 1120 Michigan Avenue in Wilmette, Illinois, on the Lake Michigan shoreline. John Van Bergen designed it in 1915 for Alfred and Helena Bersbach, and it was completed in 1916.","why_significant":"The nomination marks it as embodying the distinctive characteristics of the Prairie School (Criterion C) and as the masterpiece of architect John Van Bergen. Architectural historians regard it as his most innovative design and the one most influenced by Frank Lloyd Wright. It is also noted for its siting on the lake and for its largely intact interior and art glass.","narrative":"Overlooking Lake Michigan in Wilmette, this two-story brick and stucco house was designed by architect John Van Bergen in 1915 for Alfred and Helena Bersbach and finished in 1916. It has a long, low flat roof with deep eaves, bands of casement windows, a limestone base, and tapestry brick in blended tones. Art glass with geometric patterns appears throughout, and the stair hall is the main vertical feature. The principal rooms face the lake, and the lot slopes down to a private beach. Inside, mahogany trim, a central core of fireplaces, and built-in storage reflect Van Bergen's mature Prairie style. Alterations have been minor, mostly early enclosure of the veranda and sleeping porch and later redecorating. Architectural historians describe it as Van Bergen's masterpiece and his design most influenced by Frank Lloyd Wright, and it was sometimes mistaken for Wright's work. It was listed for its Prairie School architecture. The garage and guesthouse is counted as noncontributing.","period_of_significance":null,"architect_builder":"John Van Bergen (architect)","architectural_style":"Late 19th and Early 20th Century American Movements/Prairie School","criteria":["C"],"status_note":"Described as in excellent condition following restorations by its owners, with only minor alterations since construction. The original heating system is still in use. The garage/guesthouse is noncontributing.","vacant_flag":false,"machine_generated":true,"model":"claude-sonnet-5-5","prompt_version":"v1.0-2026-10-29","generated_at":"2026-10-29 02:55:37.291449-05","source_pdf":"https://s3.amazonaws.com/NARAprodstorage/opastorage/live/56/8920/28892056/content/electronic-records/rg-079/NPS_IL/03000941.pdf"},"photo":{"url_800":"https://nationalhistoricalregister.com/media/03000941/7842d9e005-800.webp","url_1600":"https://nationalhistoricalregister.com/media/03000941/7842d9e005-1600.webp","licence":"CC BY-SA 3.0","author":"Thshriver","credit_html":"<a href=\"https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Bersbach,_Alfred_House_1.JPG\" rel=\"noopener\">Thshriver</a>, <a href=\"https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0\" rel=\"license noopener\">CC BY-SA 3.0</a>, via Wikimedia Commons","source_page":"https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Bersbach,_Alfred_House_1.JPG"},"district":null,"sources":{"nps_snapshot_date":"2026-05-22","nara_catalog":"https://catalog.archives.gov/id/28892056","wikipedia":"https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alfred_Bersbach_House","wikidata":"https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q15179191"},"indexable":true,"url":"https://nationalhistoricalregister.com/illinois/cook-county/bersbach-alfred-house-03000941/"}